Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-06
WOMEE's MISSION CONCLUDED.
Impressive and Solemn Services ut St.
Paul's Cathedral Yesterday-The Re-
newal of Baptismal Vows.

Impressive and Solemn Services ut ST.
Paul's Cathedral Yesterday-The Re-
newal of Bapfismal Vows.
The mission services at st. Paul's Cathe-
dral yesterday were unusually solemn and
impressive, particularly in the afternoon,
at the close of the mission for women, con-
Quoted by the Paulist Fathers. At this SER
vice the women of the congregation re-
peated their baptismal vows and at the
conclusion they were given the Papal bless
ing and indulgences through Rev. Father
Nevins, one of the Paulists.
The first mission service of the day was at
1890 o'clock, when solemn high mass was
celebrated. Father Doyle preached the SER
mon. His subject was ''The Necessity of
Prayer" and it was most impressive.
One of the most beautiful features of the
service was a magnificent floral baptismal
font, set in perfect bower of potted plants,
ferns etc., underneath the mission cross and
to the left of the main altar. The steps
leading up to the font were made the re-
ceptacles for bouquets of roses, lilies, hya-
cinths, etc.
When Father Nevins assembled into the
pulpit the church was literally jamnei
WIN uOuCu, WILL ueI6 anu tueI6 q
sprinkling of men. In addition to all
the pews being crowded, all the floor space
was occupied by people kneeIing and stand
ing up. The reverend gentleman took for
his text, "What shall render unto God for
what God has rendered unto me ?"-Psalms
iii. :115. Father Nevins delivered his SER
mon in simple but effective manner, and
brought to the attention of his hearers the
necessity of baptismal renewal. After the
vows had been repeated he said:
What does all this ceremony mean? It is a
sacred contract or bargain or agreement be-
tween God on one side and you ON the other.
GOD promised to do certain things on His
part and you promised to do certain things on
s0d AID 81 tSnn 70 give You Hs grace
baptized. He has faithfully kept His part of
the bargain, but you have broken yours. You
have been unfaithful to your vows. Look over
VOW you have broken. This Is not the normal
state of the Christian to be contented under
the dominion of Satan, an enemy of God and
expects US to be united in His love and always
in the state of grace.
He then administered the Papal blessing
and offered the following prayer while hold
ing the blessed crucifix before him:
Oh, Lord Jesus Christ, Thou hast heard the
vows these, Thy children, have made unto
Thee; they have ascended before Thy throne
into heaven: Thy angels and saints have heard
them with Joy; the devils in hell have heard
them with fear and trembling, for they know
that their dominion over these, Thy servantsis is
at an end; may these VOWS be recorded in Your
heavenly court; may the names of these, Thy
children, be written in the book of Thy elect,
never mo1e to be blotted out; may they go on
from strength to strength, from virtue to yir-
tue, until they appear before Thee. the God of
Gods, in Zion.
Last evening Father Smith inaugurated
the mission for men with sermon upon
the ''Value of the Soul" The services
were concluded with the benediction of the
Holy Sacrament There were no women
present, and the church was packed to suf-
location.
The first mass to-day will be at o'clock.
Fathers Doyle and Hopper will leave to-
day for Iowa, where they will conduct
mission for several weeks. Father Clark
will arrive this morning from New York to
assist the other priests.
During the pant week the sacrament of
Holy Communion was administered to g.
ZOO women at the Cathedral.