Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-06
ST. COLUMBIA
The CereInonies at tfie Edgeneld
Catholic Church Sunday.
A Large Congregation - Impressive
Serviees-Fine Husic.


A Large Congregation = Impressive
seryiees-Fine Music
The announcement in the city papers Of
the unusual ceremonies to take place Sun.
day morning, attracted large and varied
congregation to the Edgefield Catholic
Church. From nine TO ten O'Clock the
street cars crossing the river were laden
with prominent members of the Nashville
and Germantown congregations. anxious
TO participate in the religious services of
the day. Arriving at the church few
minutes before ten, we found it filled with
leading citizens OF Edgefsld OF every de-
nomination and of none at ail-politicians,
merchants, lawyers, judges, and every
other station of life from the ex-Goyern0r
to the day labOrer.
Promptly at the appointed hour, the ser
vices opened with the hymn Veni, Creator
SpiritUS, by the choir, TO the tones Of
which four acolytes in red soutane and
white surplice, followed by Rev. NJ.
MeagSer, in surplice, and the Right Rev.
Bishop -Feehan, in purple habit, surplice
and cope, emerged from the sacristy into
the sanctuary, and
THE BLESSING OF THE STATUES
began. These were six in number, as
follows:
The Dead Christ, reclining figure be-
meath the altar, which is thus made EN-
blematic of the Saviour's sepulchre. A
glass front leaves this suggestive figure
open to the public gaze.
Two Angels in the attitude of alteration,
one at the right end Of the altar and the
other at the left, recalling the cherubim
and seraphim Of the ancient Jewish temple.
The Holy Water vase, beautiful de-
sign in the shape Of a large shell, support
ed by am angel in bronze.
The statues Of Mary, the Virgin-mother
of Christ, and of ST.. Joseph, his foster
| father and the prOvider for the physical
wants of both Jesus and Mary.
In @bleSSing1 these several statues, or
setting them apart for church uses, the fol-
lowing is the form of prayer prescribed by
the Roman Ritual:
30, Almighty and Everlasting God, Who
dOst not forbid our making ILLNESSES of
Thy holy ones for the purpose Of medita-
ting upon their life and sanctity with the
eyes of the soul, so often as we look upon
their images with the eyes of the body:
deigu, we beseech Thee to bless and sancti-
/ fly this statue Tor picture) set apart to the
honor and memory Of Thy Only Begotten
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ Cor the Holy
Virgin Mary, or Holy Joseph, or other
Saint as the case may be); and grant that
whoever shall seek to humbly worship and
honor Thy Only Begotten Son before this
statue, may through his merits and favor
obtain grace in this life and eternal happi-
ness in the next, through Christ our Lord,
Amen"
The word 'sworship" in the above may
present difficulty to the American reader,
who is accustomed to use this word solely
with reference to God. In applying it 70
saints, Catholics use il in a modified sense,
just as we speak of the worshipful county
court, etc. The Latin word here used is q
beautiful one, but untranslatable. COleTt
means literally 10 cultivate" the love Of
God and his saints.
tBIsHoP FEEHAN's ADDRESS.
All the statues being thus set apart fol
religious purposes, the Bishop made brie
address in explanation of the ceremony
He stated that the Church uses everything
beautiful in nature or art to excite deyo-
tion in the minds of men. Thus only can
the inanimate things of earth render tribute
to their Creator through man. Flowers
painting, sculpture, music, have been useG
in all ages to adOTn Gods temple. The plac'
for His worship cannot be grand enough
Solomon, under the old dispensatiOn
sought to embody sublimity and awe in tn
house OF God. Christianity supplement-
these with beauty and love. The temple
of those ages Of faith that followed tn
emerging Ofthe church from the CataeOmb
, come down to us grand and lovely even IL
their ruins, the admiration and envy o
/ mOdcrn artists. Why do We not now bull,
such churches to the Most High2 Is H
less worthy? Are we less able? No; bu
men give their souls too much to the wor
ship of mammOn, and too little to God
: Time was when royalty delighted % homo
God; when genius bowed hunbly before il
2 Creator, and artists devoted their lives an,
) GOd-given talents TO embellishing Hi
} house. He made the beautiful, and shal
: we deny it the privilege of rendering Hin
homage? Who would deny His flowers
I a pace in His temple? And shall We den
r a place TO the flowers and fruits Of tina
I artistic genius He has implanted in man
: The Bishop proceeded to explain tina
5 the statues of the Virgin and her protectO
e and supporter Joseph, were designed to re
' call the Holy Family at Nazareth and tn
e thirty years of Christ's Hidden Life spen
4 there in preparation for His mission. Tn
! reclining statue of the Dead Christ bereat
the altar, recalled the dread cOnsummatiOl
Of the work of salvation. The Angels o.
either side reminded wOrshippers of tn
real angels who are always present in God
J. hOpse in an invisible manner, and who's
adOring nJinDerS are increased when III
: becomes sacramentally present on the alta
= in the sacrifice of the mass.
The Stations of the Cross, he explained
were designed to place more wildly befOr
the minds eye the successive incidents o
= that fearful DAY at Jerusalem when tn
L heavens yelled themselves in darkness an,
the earth was convulsed with horror at tn
y crime of Decide. These statues and
paintings are not essential either to th,
: church or its services, but are used as aid
= to devotion that should not be deSpised
u The human mind is weak, and finds it diff
ficult to hold the attention on any subject
; whether religious or not. We but us
! then as a means to keep the mind on re
, ligious matters. God expects US to utiliz
q all the means and material he has place.
! at Our disposal, to aid us in our duty.
BLESSING THE STATIONS.
5 After the Bishops address the fourteen
] pictures Of the Way of the Gross were sue
z |
1 congregation meanwhile joining in the de
e vOtiOns as the procession moved round tn
body Of the church. First came an acolyt
I bearing aloft large crucifix, emblem o
r redemption; next two acolytes with lighte'
0 candles, typifying the light Of faith; mex
t Father Meagher who put the pictures II
T place; and lastly the Bishop conducting tn
2 services. Between the stations the choi
sang, in sad Gregorian chant, the verSicle 0
! Stdbdt Mater, hymn second only TO Die
: Ira in sublimity and pathos. The station
are fourteen in number, seven on eithe
side OF the main body of the church. TT
{ stages of the Passion represented by then
are as follows:
THE WAY OF THE CROSS.
: |. Jesus before PLATE Receiving the Sen
e tence of Death by the Cross.
Ii. The Cross is placed on His should
!, ers.
Ill. Christ falls under its weight.
II. He meets His Mother and the Dis
: ciple John on the streets Of Jerusalem.
V. Simon of Cyrene is compelled 10 hel
S Him, lest BE faint before reaching Cal
:, vary.
l. | 4