The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-06-06
w,rning Star and Catholic Messenger.
new oRLEASs SUNDAY. JUNE s 1875
LETTER FROM BATON ROUGE.

LETTER FROM BATON ROUGE.
BATON ROUGE, May 25th, 1875.
Editor Morning Star and Catholic messenger.
Sunday evening quito an interesting core
mopy was performed by the membere OF the
Catholic Church in honor or the Lady OF
Lourdes." The procession would have taken
place Sunday before last.but was postponed on
account of the rain.
The above is an extract from our local paper
Announcing the procession of last Sunday, in
honor of Our Lady of Lourdes, which was not,
however. postponed from the Sunday bat hom
the Tuesday previous. @
Two years ago, when our pastor Very Rev
C. Delaoroix, returned from Europe, he brou ght
with him two statues, one of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus, the other of Our Lady of Lourdss. The
altar OF the Sacred Heart was erected June
14th of last year. at the time of the consecra-
ton of our province and diocese, the other has
been delayed, account of the hard times,
until this year.
Iridium commenced on Saturday, May
10th, being opened at High Macs with SER
mon by Rev. Father Grimes, Marist, than
whom it has never been our lot to hear more
devoted servant of Mary.
The services ON Monday were interrupted by
the rain. On Tuesday evening the ceremonies
were to open with procession in honor of Our
Lady, intended also as ore of the three neces-
sary in order to gain the Jubilee indulgence.
About an hour before the appointed time C p.
ny the sky became overcast with clouds, &C.
compapied with much wind and little rain,
enough, however, to cause the announcement
that the procession was postponed. This
caused much disappointment, as great num-
Der had assembled in order to participate,
though many more had not come on account
of the threatening aspect of the weather.
At Ct o'clock, the rain having ceased the
ceremonies within the Church commenced.
The church was crowded with the faithful to-
gether with goodly number of Protestants,
who, let us hope, did not all come out of idle
curiosity. Within the sanctuary were some
twelve priests, among others the Visitor Gen.
eral of the Marist Fathers, Very Rev. Father
Leterrier.
AS the Very Rev. c.. Delacrox unveiled
the statue and proceeded to consecrate the
altar, which represents the grotto, with the
basilica of Lourdes in the distance, the sun
capped Pyrenees forming a far off background
to the whole, all were forced to acknowledge
that well indeed has the Catholic Church
taught her children to honor the Mother given
them upon Mount Calvary.
Immediately after the singing of the Mag
nifcat, Father Grimes assembled the pulpit.
Though apparently young in years, he is one
who holds his hearers attention from first to
last, and whose every word shows forth the
humble and sincere priest.
At the close of the sermon the Te Deum was
sung, and then followed the Benediction Of
the Most Blessed Sacrament, which closed the
ceremonies of theeyening.
On last sunday Che procession, one of the
largest we have ever had, took place, serving
at the same time as the opening of the Jubilee
First in order were the orphans and children
of ST. Joseph's Convent next the ladies of the
parish, then the gentlemen, followed by the
Independent Silver Cornet Band, the Children
of Mary closing the line, the whole being
under the immediate supervision of Rev. Z. NJ
Lossouarn. Our pastor, Rev. Father Delacroix,
who had been ill, accompanied us in q carriage.
So you see, Mr. Editor, that although all
cannot cross the ocean in order to render
homage to Our Lady, we of Baton Rouge have
not far to 60, as, thanks to our energetic pas
tor, we have Our Lady of Lourdes with us.
Let us hope that through her powerful inter-
cesson all graces necessary may come down
upon US and our country, for is it not hers
1t is not dedicated to the Immaculate,Q Queen of
ed servant, Christopher Columbus, who had his
flagship named in her honor, and on his voyage
of discovery never failed to recite the little
Office of the Blessed Virgin dailyf Even
the very river by means of which this letter
will reach you, was called by Jesuit, the first
to discover it, the river of the Immaculate
Conception. Thus might go on and give in
stance after instance to prove that this land is
really the land of Mary and the home of Cath
alics' and not, IS, alas, too many among Us
believe, foreign land which we have
no right to claim as ours. In this connection
would it not be we'll for some of the I" old
folks" among us to put in print, through your
columns some sketches of the early settlement
OF our own State, ere they pass awayf These
would serve as instruction for those left be-
hind and prevent these sketches and traditions
from being lost forever. For this lot us
Hope