Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-26
CHRISTMAS SERVICES.
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS HIGH pom
TIFICAL MASS In WICHITA.
Dean Adams Delivers an Excellent
Sermon at st. Johns.
Entertaining and Interesting Christmas
Exercises at the o. her Churches
Of the City.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES.

Pontifcal high mass was celebrated TO
for the first time in this city on Christina
morning at 1870 at st. Aloysus cathedral
Rt. Rev. J. J. Hennessy officiating AS
sistant priest, Rev. Xavier Sutton; deacon
ReY. Jno. Leovenich; sub-deacon. Rev. Z
j. Hartman; master of ceremonies, Fathe
Casey.
Can you remember the occasions upo1
which your heart seemed to swell will
gratitude, love, and at the same time
sense of your unworthiness, when tear
came unbidden to your eyes and your sou
felt that its Redeemer truly iveth and
would exact of it an account of the deed:
done in the fieshS au ownership feeling
that found voice in the canticle Lord, il
is good for me to be here?" If memory's
tablet will not reflect SUCH scene because
of the requiem sung over them in the long
ago by worldly cares or mutual sorrows
then come at least in spirit and take part
in the services of Christmas high mass III
a Catholic cathedral at midnight or mid
day as celebrated at St. Aloysius church
yesterday morn
On entering the church you cast off tbs
old man of the world and his thoughts by
signing yourself with holy water in the
form of the cross, asking graces in the
names of the three persons of the most
blessed trinity. You proceed up the aisle,
make genufiextion, then take the seat
assigned you. Raising your eyes after
your mental act of prostration, your vision
is almost dazzled by the sDlendor of the
before IN ha 1aft eide &c ha
altar of the Madonna, erected and honored
the world over, as the shrine of the best
beloved of Gods creatures, the only one
found worthy to be the mother Of his only
begotten son. Beside it sits the bishops
throne, occupied at this hour by
the shepherd who but recently
was sent to take charge of
this flock. In the deep, wide recess stands
the grand altar where God Himself. in
the real presence in the Blessed Eucherist
holds sway. Above this altar, forming
the window is the picture of this church S
patron-Saint Aloysius At this altar we
worship God in heaven, bringing our sor-
rows, cares and temptations, even sins.
for His mercy to blot out and replace by
that peace that surpasseth all understand
ing. Aye for this is the sanctuary of
the abode of the "holy of
holies' where like in Solomon's temple,
none may enter but the ''annointed Of the
Most High" On the right are
the seats occupied by the as
slsting priests and acoylites during.
certain parts of the mass. Next is the
altar of st. Joseph, the sponsor of Holy
Mary and foster father of Jesus; he is al
ways represented as holding the divine in
FAINT in one arm, with spray of lilies in
his other hand, emblematic of his pure
life. On this occasion all the affairs are
adorned with lovely natural flowers, the
offerings of the ladies of the altar society;
their ordor combined with the incense as
-he censor is swung TO and fro seems TO
ascend to God's heavenly throne as prayer
without words, because the hearts emo
ion is too great to find sentences adequate
o express its incomprehensible feeling for
,ne moment it would sing canticles of
praise, the next give utterance to repent
lnce and regrets profouudest sigh. To one
thoroughly acquainted with the symbols,
ceremonies and rites used during these
solemn services, how grand, how sublime,
low soulrending the whole scene becomes.
What to the uninstructed or indif-
rent observer appears to be a
epetitiUn of the teachings
# the Old Testament or ali unintelligable
for him to ridicule, or worse
'et, for his ignorance to scott at, is to the
arrest seeker after 1.-THE true light, which
every man that cometh into
he world" as also to the members of the
old, an enactment of Christ's life from the
rib in the cavity of rock used as stable
n Bethlehem, through his teaching wis
om to the Jewish teachers, when but
welve years old, his baptism by st. John
when the Eternal Father declares Him to
,e His son: his washing his disciples feet,
lis apprehension in the garden, the car
iage of his cross, his descent into limbo, |
lis resurrection on the third day after his |
the ascension into heaven; the |
ending OF the Holy Ghost, the third per-
on of the blessed Trinity, to inspire and |
inmate his disciples, up to his second |
oming, when as judge who knoweth all |
Kings as they really are he will render TO
very man according to his works. Note |
he humble attitudes, the devotion and |
silence throughout the church |
uring the performance Of this sub |
me mystery, and one will not wonder |
I the respect even reverence with which |
catholics ever treat their pastors, Christ's |
agal representatives upon earth.
Iigh Mass will long be remembered by her |
eople, no matter what their previous |
node of worshiping the same only be-
often Son of the Father, who always was
nd always will be- Rt. Rev. ]. J. Hen /
essy, ofliciated and just before the close |
the services granted the pontifical in
ulgence Of forty days, to all members
resent that pray for the intention of Pope |
go NH, this is the first time in Wichita
nat public indulgence has been granted.
} on this occasion a white stone must be
ropped into the urn where
/ our days are marked by white or
lack as the day has been bright or sad.
ev. Xavier Sutton, assistant priest;
aacon, Rev. Jno. Leoyenich; subedeacon,
ev. Z. j. Hartman; master of ceremonies,
ev. Father Casey The sermon was ably
reached by Father Casey. He dwelt ten
arly upon the subject of Christ's humility
ID how mortals should follow his loving
Iample. The gospel was for the third
ASS of the day-St John, l, xiv. His
verence thanked the congregation for
leir liberal donations into the contribu-
on box as their Christmas gift to the
lurch. The choir sang Mozart's twelfth
ass. Soprano solos. Miss Burke,
rs. Leen, Mrs, Tangney; alto. Mrs
lien; Bassos, Messrs keohler
I'd Baker; tenor, Mr.. Herrig.
As the congregation assembled in the
atholic church at late high mass on
eat fest days like Christmas and Easter
e composed of almost as many Protest
It's as Catholics drawn there by desire