The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-03
ST, PkTRICK,S CATHEDRAL.

Feast Of the ssPurification,' or s'Candle-
mas'-Origin of the Festival-Celcbra-
tion Neutrality-suspicious. by the Rev.
Father FarreIly-The Musical Services.
The Catholic Church yesterday celebrated the
s'Feast of the Publication Of the Blessed Virgin"
or, 1t is also called the "Feast of the Presenta-
ton, 'n commemoration OF the sentation Of the
child Christ at the temple. 1t is also called the
''Feast of the Meeting" IN allusion to SmeOn's
meeting the virgin mother and taking the Child
into his arms; but the most familiar name OF the
festival is ''Candlemas." The festival takes its
origin from the history of Mary's compliance with
the law OF Moses related in Exodus Kill, p ana
Numbers viii, 10, by which 1t required that the
frstborn should be offered or consecrated TO the
Lord in acknowledgment of lis delivering the chill
dren OF Israel, under Moses, out OF the land OF
Egypt The publication
CONSIDERATION OF THE FusT-BoRN
was ordained TO be made on the fortieth day after
birth OF the child thus bringing the publication
Of the Blessed Virgin on the % OF February In
Catholic countries the festival IS celebrated by
procession, IN which each person carries lighted
candle that has been blessed at the mass OF the
day. This custom is described In an Old English
document as follows ION Candlemas Daye 1t
shall he declared that the bearylnge OF candles is
done in the memorie Christie, the spiritual yghte
whom Simeon dyd prophecye ia light to tighten
daye" Besides this however, heather origin is
ascribed to the custom. The Romans were in the
habit OF burning candles this day TO the goddess
FeDrua, mother oil Mars; the regnng Pope, in the
fifth century, perceiving that u would be almost
useless to prohibit so old a CUSTOM ordained SIM
liar onering to be made before the shrine OF the
Blessed Virgin, thus turning to account very
PRETTY AND IMPRESSIVE PRACTICE.
At the present day the faithful present candles
to the church, some to be burned during the year
on the altar, and others, if they have all been
blessed. homes
blessed canulen may be found III the house OF al
most every faithful Catholic.
There Is another legend connected with Candle
mas Day which, although not strictly religious
VIII bear repetition. In most parts of Europe the
tradition is that fine Candemas portends a severe
Winter, or, as the Scotch have it,
Hh eaGH's ss swa S al5 sna SSs se year
Should there be any real foundation for this ira
dtion 1t is reasonable TO expect very severe VIM
ter this year, Tor yesterday was lair and clear
and cold enough to satisfy the require
ments of the distich. Despite the cold
ness, however, the crowds who worship at
places in the sacred ediice At the several masses
the church was crowded with devout attendants
and at the principal or last mass there was pre-
sent the usual 1umber OF communicates, who,
although now living at distance from st.
ratrck,s. still return to it to perform their re-
was delivered by the Rev. Father Farrely, the
McUoskey Lib took as his text the GOSPEL Of the
day. Luke H. 2--37. He explained the origin OF the
custom OF pur1cation. or the presentation of
which the Gospel treats showing that 1t took the
Christian back, far back-Iong before the Temple
had been built before stene had been laid upon a
stone, to the time when the plaques were sent
upon Egypt which ended with the slay-
ing OF all the 1rst-Oorn children of the Egyp-
tians, ana how AZ an evidence Of Thanksgiving
and gratitude the Lord commanded, through
Moses tue oIieIlne OF the frst-born to Him. He
demonstrated the humility and obedience of the
Divine Hedeemer and His Virgin Mother IN their
obedience TO the ancient law the word OF the
Heavenly Father, ana showed that the Church now
70 shllf la Uit tha
same authority as that possessed 10y Moses. From
this he illustrated the necessity OF obeying the
authority Of the Church IN all its commands, as
without
AUTHORITY AND OBEDIENCE"
the Church could not exist; that the breaking OF
one commandment destroyed al. lie showed how
disregard Ter one w0uid soon lead TO a total re-
beilfon against the Churcn and It's commands. as
In the case OF Luther. The worship OF God was
not enough. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin az the
immaculate Mother OF God was necessary. A man
to all outward appearances may be good Catholic,
may approach the sacrahents regularly, but there
must be that within him. that spirit OF faith which
does not At once appear to every body, but which
can be truly shown in his devotion TO the Mother
oil God. In Illustration OF this he quoted the story
OF the two roses brought by the queen Of sheba to
Solomon. Both we're alike as far as mems senses
could detect, the perfume was alike. yet enc was
artificial aud the other natural. None could detect
The difference. Solomon procured bee, which he
held over the two roses. The bee lowered over
mem but moment and Immediately lighted en-
not be deceived. Devotion TO All the laws Of the
ShuIch ana to the Blessed Virgin were the bees
when would discover the true from the artificial In
,ne pIactlce OF religion, and in pretty epilogue
ne exhorted his hearers to demean themselves
Una. eney would be almost discovered AZ the natu-
RAJ roses IN this liie that they might De assured OF
enJcyipg the presence Of Christ and His Virgin
Mother In the life to come
THE MUSICAL SERVICES
Wers SUCH as 10 deserve more than passing notice.
Desa . Tue oiuinary Cathedral quartet COM
basso; Nine. Chome, soprano and Nine. Unger'
ato tnere was powerful ana well selected cho. |
rus from the Church Choral linton ali under the a.
rection OF the able leader and organist Of the
Cathedral, Mr.. Gustav Schmitz The choir sung a |
choral mass by Melners and gave 1t with really |
nne erect. At the onertory the beautiful nraveyy
40 Esca Viatorum," from Rossinrs .'Moses ~
Egypt" was sung by Mr.. Urchs assisted nv |
the chorus, and at the elevation the rich soprans
OF Nine. Chome and the full, sweet voice OF Nine
Unger filled tie capacious ed1ce with the AVE
ycrum" The "Sanctus and "Agnus Deir were
choral pieces from Webcr's mass In G. The appro.
priateness and fine execution Of the music added
no little TO the impressiveness OF the ceremonies