The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-12-26

who k1o. their COD n msanss. bands.
OF our sweet Lady
Now he seeks his mothers breast;
ne sGS' ,ss sed ansrasS sS eIis s1s:
OF our sweet Lady
Run. run. ys shepherds haste and bring
Ys bssyen called Watches, hssts and see
four sweet Ladyi'
Thus they stream along from every cot
tage, along every pathway toward the
church, men, women, and little children,
singing and chatting happily. Far OF In
the moonlit distance you see small parties
Fastening over the white plains from their
scattered homes to mingle in the festival.
How beautifully do they remind us of
those happy sheperds who left their hocks
near the "Tower of Ader," and went
over to Bethlehem, to see the word that
had come to pass
The bells continue pealing out their
music to the midnight, and the church con-
tinues filling. Listen to the half-sup-
pressed ejaculation of joyous surprise as
each new group enters the holy place and
beholds its charming decorations over
every windows curve, and banging down
by its sides, is mighty wreath of ever
green's. In front of every hailowed niche
lights are burning, and wreaths of foliage
hang over it. The pillars are all twIped
round aud round, up to the very ceiling,
with ivy, holly, laurel, intermiDg'ed with
those berries that grow red in winter
But who shall describe the glorics of the
sanctuTy The arch that rises over IL
flows with the fullest fold of tapestry. white
as snow, save where they. are here and
there iDterwrought with flowers of rose
hued silk and thread of gold, and inter
| twiped with holly and laurel, ard bougbs
| of tie orange tree with it's golden clusters.
| On the altar steps are vases filled with
| evergreens. slender strings of ivy twisting
| around tall branches and bending grace
| fully between them down even to the floor.
| The altar ia crowded with lighted candles.
! and along the intervals of the candlestlc ks
| how festoous of slender branches, leaves
and flowers. A stole of flowers decorates
the very crucitix; the tabernacle sparkies
| in it's richest veil.
| Oh in olden times even village church
was grand beyond description for then
men took pride in their religion. They
loved to see Gods Bride IN bridal spien,,
| dor; they loved to see the Qneen in regal
vesture they loved to see the Sister of the
Church in heaven with something like hea-
| yenly glory around her. The rich man
gave of his abundance, the poor man gave
of his labor, ladies wrought embroidery
all in holy unison strained every nerve to
make her temples beautiful.
Now the church has filled with kneeliDe
forms. The rich and the poor, the lady
and the servant, the laborers and they fol
whom they labor, here kneel side by side
They are all equal here, for they are al
alike, are Gods own children, the breth
rem of the Baoe of Bethlehem.
The steeple bells have ceased to peal, fo
not a single thought must now wander out
side. Eyes and ears and heart and sou
and every feeling are intent upon th
grand occurrences within.
Presently blue clouds of sweet incens
are seen floating toward the sanctuary
IN inc
: ing a silver CENSOR; a long procession o
little acolytes, clad in snow-white sur
plices and bearing lighted tapers, follo1
l him slowly; sanity looking priest,
precious vestments, closes the whole array
. His youthful attendants are chosen boy
p of blsmeless life aud pleasing aspect; an
indeed, they look pure and innocent an
+ che1ub-l like, as they dispose themselve
# around the holy place, aud kneel toTar
It the altar.
It Then amid half supp1s sssed, repentat
t cries for " mercy on u.s." swelling fort
It psalm of preparation, of praise, of hop
y of humble confidence: the confession
u made; prayers for pardon, light, and gr;
g cious hearing are repeated. Then Il
) priest ascends I" unto the altar of God
q. and whispers prayers, speaking raptn
st Son that is given to u.s." But look at h
st countenapce as he returns slowly to I'll
ID middle of the altar you can see that he
8, full of some grand event-hls soul, b
er heart, his feelings, all hold jubilee o.
10 more entreaty for mercy repeated aga
aud again with passionate earnestnees, al
AZ he raises his eyes and his arms as thoui
al about to ascend in ecstasy, and, like oil
ct inspired, he breaks forth in in the angel =; >
a. hymn, Gloria in excelsis Deo." 1t ls t
h, signal of jubilee. Suddenly there is
burst of many little bells, shaken by 4
hands of the surplced children, ringi
We out their silver music until the hymn
r ,nr ended by the priest; the organs richie
es and fullest chords are struck, swell
We We forth in harmony like that which the rive
Gu made in Paradise when they sang the
An frat hymn of praise to him who set the
ne1 flowing, and the full choir of train
!aL voices buret forth: SET in terra p
vi hominibus."
n Truly you think yourself at Bethlehe
- 1t seems as though the Child were il
les born-as though you heard the heaven
re- rs; hosts singing their grand snthem-saw t
an shepherds wondering and adOring-b
Sn held thelInfant lying in the manger, ia
g, radiant, smiling little Babe, with an {