The New York herald., 1879-12-09
VIRGO IMMACULA."

CELEBRATION OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC FEAST
YRsrERpAY-TAPERs AND FLORAL DEcoRA-
TIoNs.
The feast of the Immaculate Conception was cele-
bratsd yesterday with unusual pomp and ceremony
in the Church Of the Immaculate Conception. East
Fourteenth street. near avenue A. The pastor. Rev.
Father Edwards. acted celebrant of the pontihca
high mass. which celebrated st half-past ten
A. Al. Rev. Father Byrne acted deacon. and Rev.
Father Doyle, an English Franciscan. sub-deaoon
At the Gospel side Of the altar the throne Of the
Cardinal. drAped in crimson and gold. with the
Papal banner and coat of ut the back.
There the alArchbshop sat in state. clad in
his vestents Of ONCE. and at the conclusion Of the
mass he impaired the papal benediction to the
kneeling congregation. The high alter was beaut,-
fully decorated over one hundred wax tapers adding
their brilliancy to that OF equal number OF gas
jets The arch the tabernacle framed with
golden leaved grapes, while the blessed sacrament
enshrined in golden monstrance. reposed upon
white satin cushion, remaining exposed all day. A
pillow Of pure white carnations marked In crimson
with the name 'Jesus. reposed at the door OF the
tabernacle and an immense white carnations
from . bed OF crimson and green within tho
floral decorations lent their beauty and fragrance
to the All day tho church filed with the
aevoa ana the 10 many ot the former paying
attached to worthy reception OF the sacraments
this feast OF the Church. In the evening the church
hlied with sight-secrs and pentents. who
crowded near the contessionals rs they may obtain
all the fruits Of the sacraments in this connection
during the next eight days. Bishop Lynch. OF
Charleston. 8. c., was present ut the mass
The Church OF the Holy Redeemer In Third street
was filled with the members OF tho confraternty OF
'Our Lady OF Perpetual Help" this feast being also
the material feast OF the society. The reverend
rector celebrated high half past ten In the
morning, vespcrs in the evening and procession Of
the societies of the Church. The Redemptorists in
South Fifth avenue. the Dominicans Mt Lexington
and Sixty sixth street. the Paulsts in Fifty
in Eighty-fourth streets Father Preston. Father
Macdowall. aud, In fact. all the clergy Of
the city celebrated the day in q becoming manner.
Tho Chapel of tho immaculate Conception at Mount
st. Vincent was appropriately decorated with lights.
flowers and autumn leaves at the celebration OF tho
high mass. The pupils in their black dresses and
white veils the sisters of Charity In their quaint
black garb aud black muslin tho gaily dressed
externes from the city and surrounding neigh
sunlight srealned through tho stained windows aud
illuminated tho The interest OF the day.
however, centred in the "Grotto OF Lady OF
Lourdes," which contains statue Of tho Blessed
Virgin under this title. The grotto Is situated In
pretty lake Hvcrdale avenue, and IL composed
OF iron sing taken from the furnaces at Yonkcrs 1t
Is adorned with creeping vines and rare plants In
the summer time, and though II stands now shorn
of extraneous beauty IN not unpleasant to the eye.
the plenary Indulgence attached to reciting their
orsons there. The original rrotto IN Lourdes.
France. is said to possess miraculous healing
power and the good Sisters OF Charity relate several
remarkable that have occurred from Visiting
the shrine at the mount