The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-26
Impressive Ceremonies at St. Stephens Church,
Bouliguy.

After o long siege of rain and mud and gen.
eral gloominess, it was with q feeling of graft
, tude, as well satisfaction, that the good
people of Jefferson City saw last Monday
April Goth, open clear and bright, especially as
!, the following day had been appointed for the
First Communion and Confirmation of the
children of the parish. That blessed day for
, the little ones proved also favorable as
heart could wish, and at half-past six, A: M,
st. Stephens Church was crowded with long
files Of white-robed children, called thither by
the voices of Holy Faith and Love.
When we entered the building, our eyes, ac-
customed only to homely "facts and figures, !"
} could hardly realize the bewitching loveliness
of the scene before us. But like traveller,
weary of the dusty road, who determined to
rest while within q pleasant bower, we
determined to throw aside the tolls and cares
of one short, busy day, and enjoy the peace
and rest found only in the House of God.
Every altar in the church had become a
bower of living flowers, while the main one
was as beautiful as poets vision. This was
supported by columns ten or twelve feet high,
which were one solid mass of fragrant lilies,
roses, woodbines and jasmines, while cleaning
through the leaves and sprays and trembling
buds, hundred lights threw a bewildering
charm over the whole enchanting scene And
! at this moment, when ceasing to be a reporter
we became only poet, Father Abbott's voice
fell upon the silence, explaining to the chill
| dren the symbolic meaning of the dresses,
| tapers, crowns aud badges which they wore
We knew it all before, had heard it in our
childhood, but we realised anew the wisdom
of that Mother church who fills with mystic
| significance even the adornments of the chill
dren summoned to her knee. And it was with
sincere emotion recalled the explanations
we had heard years ago, of that white robe
which symboled purity of heart of that
lighted taper which betokened both the light
of truth and the warmth of love and of that
badge and crown which are but the emblems
of the laurels we must hope to win and wear
one day, in Heaven.
The 9amber of COMMITMENTS was very
large for so email ehurch-viz., ITO in all |
W TINS number so were boys and 60 girls |
from the parish. There were also seen the |
Sisters of Charity and the Christian Brothers, |
lowering like anxious doves around their ten.
der charge and who, having taught their
young to fly, seemed watching now to see them
spread their wings, o blessed fight, towards
the altar of their God.
Here, also, in their places, were the colored
children of the parish, equally cared for by
the Sisters and Brothers-dressed in the same
snowy robes and crowned with the same stain
less fowers-all equal in the eyes of God, par
Elephants of the same Sacraments, and equally
expectant of the divine reward promised to
those who love Him.
And we learned that these children were not
all the scholars of the Christian schools, but
the waits of fortune gathered from the public
schools, from the neglecte homestead from
the very waysde, to whom our jealous priests
ana Sisters and Brothers, devote their time and
talents, counting it all gain because it
brings the children nearer to Him who said
" Suffer them to come to me, and forbid them
not for OF such is the Kingdom of Heaven"
In connection with this church, we heard of a
Sunday-school which We believe to be unlike
any other in the city. 1t numbers nearly three
hundred scholars and has the services of
twenty-five volunteer teachers-all under the
wise and prudent management of the pastors
OF the congregation. We can judge of it's
and realize it's benefits by the fact of
the large number of Communicates on last '
10 of whom attend the Sisters | t
school-and yet so skillful and successful are '
its workings that all the Catholic schools in s
the parish are being benefited By it in the in. I
crease and steady attendance of their pupils. I
at two o'clock P N. the same day, the chill 5
iren were again called around the affairs for Z
the purpose of renewing their baptismal VOWS /
"a most beautiful ceremony and one we'll cal
culated to make deep impression upon their g
youthful hearts. When those VOWS were first q
spoken, these children were unconscious Of
heir Importance, deaf to their mystical meaa IL
ng, and unable to bear a part in the grand n
ceremony which placed them for the first time P
upon the threshold Of their Fathers Mansion
But now they speak, each for his own SOUL
promising to live only for God and to combat
'nly for Heaven. At four o'clock P. NJ the
'elis rang out to announce the coming of the
Archbishop, and as it was now two years since Pc
he dear old pastor had been among this Dor A
ion of his flock, the children crowded eagerly Pc