The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-01-02
CHRISTMAS At ST. AsPHoNsUs' CHURCH.
The Midnight Masseu-childrens Festival.
Editor Morning Star :


obtrude myself on yonr and your readers no.
Lice after L have kept "mum" since last
Christmas. All that have heard on the sub
Ject agree that Christmas never WAS observed
more generally and more devoutly in New
Orleans than it has been this year. am told
that all the Catholic churches of the city were
thronged to sutlocation at he Solemn Midnight
Masses, and that hundreds of late arrivals were
unable to gain admittaDce. There is certainly
faith in the land yet, and as far as can no.
tice, it seems to be on the increase. What can
be the cause of this religious revIvalf Perhaps
hard times teach sinners good sense, and COM
pei them IN spite of themselves 10 crawl to the
cross and the crib of the Saviour for the comfort
which the cold world denies them. 1t il more
likely, however that this vigorous awakening
of practical faith is one of the happy results of
the blessed Jubilee, for Holy Church never
opens and offers her spiritual treasures in vain.
AS in previous years, so on this occasion St.
Alphonsus' Church has again taken the lead of
all other churches in the city. Scores of out
side Catholics who come to our Midnight Mass
for the first time, testify that they never and
nowhere witnessed such q throng, such
splendor, and witbal such respectful silence
church on that solemn night OF course, every
available pew and spot from the-altars to the
doors was occupied. What struck more
than all was, that scarcely hisper a cough
could be heard during the three hours that the
services lasted When 1 arrived before the
church at ii o'clock, hour before the Mass
begnn, fonpd the sidewalks literally blocked
up by silent worshipers eager to secure admit
lance and q seat somewhere before 1t would he
too late; and yet hundreds were disappointed,
being unable to wedge through the crowded
doors and aleles, despite their desperate efforts
to accomplish the feat. As the old clock on
the tower sounded the midnight hour, aud the
Rev. Clergy robed in sparkling vestments of
gold and precious stones emerged from the
sacristy, and the majestic organ peaed forth
its symphonious tones. and every face seemed
to beam with heavenly Joy and every heart to
thro6 with love divine, the scene was simply
indescribable and never to be forgotten, even
tho my short span of life were extended to more
than patrlarchal length. for one and for once
In my dreary life, tancied stood enchanted
within the empy gates and listened to the
angel choirs chanting endless hymns of Jubilee
to the newborn Monarch of Heaven and
Earth. Here, thought /, is Heaven on earth,
and q sure foretaste of that peace and Joy that
try to tell what only be felt, perhaps,
once in life time. What pity l am not a
poet, or an angel!
The High Mass was celebrated by Rev.
Father Neithart, assisted by the Rev. Fathers
Girardey and Gleason, and some fifty richly at
tired altar boys The devout audience could
hardly have numbered less than 5000. The
magnl tcent affairs were all ablaZe with hun
dreds of glttering tapers and gas jets. Fes.
toons, chaplets. and arches of evergreenp,
magnolias, roses and every description of
flowers decked the affairs, pillars, and statues
of the vast sanctuary-the graceful handicraft,
as am told, of the worthy Mrs. Williamson
and her associates of the Altar Society. My
admired friend, Brother Alphonsus Though he
is doubtless ignorant of my unbounded admI-
ration of his tact and talent0 had his dear
little CRIB bedecked and Illuminated in q
style and With taste peculiar to himself and
lnimltable by any sacristan in the city. How
we'll he knows TO combine simplicity with
sublimity, and taste with effect, aud all with
ont the least hustle and flourish, SO common
with selfimportaut busy bodies in his exalted
position! May he live long to give glory to
God and pleasure to mel Our choir sang
Farmers grand Mass in B fiat in the most APP
proved STYLE as all can bear witness that had
nj ihnIn Inrs1
was grand, and the Agnms Del SO touching that
tears started unbidden to my eyes. Professor
A. Vnlliet, whom consider the sweetest tenor
in the city, having heard them ALL seemed to
surpass himself that night; and as to the lady
| singers, Mesdames Crump, Tester and John
| son, they must have reminded everyone
present of the dear angels that sang to the
shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem.
The most prominent feature in the lovely
scene was Father Neithart's mastery sermon
| on he birth of the Isfant Saviour. So eloquent
and yet 80 practical, 30 sublime and yet so
simple! Every man, woman and child listen
ed i'll GREATNESS silence, understood every
liable he uttered. and seemed to hang with
delight upon his apostolic lips l noticed
many silent tear 81 ealing down old furro wed
cheeks as he depicted, in du'cet tones of tender
ness, the boundless love of the newborn Babe
that reSns in Heaven and weeps in the man
ger" My own heart throbbed intensely with
bliss and gratitude to God, and l promised
then and there that l would love and serve
Him all the days of my earthly pilprimage
night masses the Row. Father, addressing the
vast audience again and wishing them all a
merry Christmas, expressed his surprise and
editfcatiou that all had behaved devontfy
and silently, and that but few of the count
less throng OF worshipers had omitted the
church before hearing two add tional masses.
did not wonder ut all l only looked in mute
surprise ut tine fsw doz that could tear
themselves away in the midst of such heav-
emily
Another circumstance l cannot omit to men
ton for the special editiCatlon of your numerous
readers. mean the remark ably great number
of pious commandments of every sex, age aud
condition in life that approached the holy table
to receive the Bread of Angels. Itlookod TO
as though the whole vast congregation went to
Holy Communion. Certain it is that they kept
two Fathers employed in distributing Holy
Communion as rapidly as they could during
the two low Masses that followed the midnight
Mass. After this l saw the indicate gable
Fathers again repairing to the tribunals of
PeDauCs to shrive the many repentant sinners
that eagerly tlookod around them. There is
no true JOY without a sinless conscience, no real
happiness on Christmas without good con-
teSsOu.