New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-19
r McIlvaine c. Nudge Bowdre phinzy, w. n.
prentlce p X satterield and b. v White
Defeating THE HIGH 4LTAR.
AN INTERESTING CEREMONIAL AT THE cATHo'
nc UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON.

TIC UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON
Washington April 18.The erection Of the high altar
in the divinity chapel of the Catholic University now
Tho most beautiful chapel in the United States ana one
NJ the finest in the world, was completed last FRIDAY
afternoon and on Sunday morning the ceremony OF It's
ron secraton took place. II was not announced PC
torahand as the chapel designed only for the faculty
and students Of the divinity department and IS 100
small to accommodate the public, who VIII be amply
proyided for in the great University church hereafter
TO be erected.
The ceremony of the conservation Of an altar is one
81 o most elaborate and significant of all the llturgca
offices of ibe Catholic Church, and is considered so
important that It's anniversary Is annually COM
mcmorated.
4. half.past 7 o'clock Bishop Keanc, who had been
fasting midnight as the r1ibrcs require entered
the sanctuary vested in full pontllicas. and accom-
naned by six priests selected from among the students
To assist I'm the ceremony two OF them bearing Lighted
Torches Knccng before the centre Of the altar, lie
rected the Itany OF the Saints. repeating three times
the names Of St. Paul the Apostle, under whose In
vocal ion the chapel is and OF SAINTS Martial ana boVa
oftcn enormously called Bona. whose relies were to
he pIaced in IT, The Bishop then proceeded to bless
ho holy water and the small quantities Of salt, ashes
| and wnc symbolic Of virtue, penance and spiritual
low which were to used In connection With 1t for the
conservation After mixing the latter ingredients with
the water with appropriate prayers, lie dlppcd HIS
finger in the mixture and with 1t made the sign OK
tho cross upon each of the five crosses which are
sculnturcd uDon the table OF the atlg-One at each
corner and one in the centre one OF the acoytcs
then brought the filed with incense, WHEN 'hc
Bishop blessed and taking it In his hand he swung II
over the altar AS lie walked around followed by several
Of the priestly acoytes. a priest standing IN front
NJ tho eptls side Of the altar at some distance from
! # cbauted the Mlsererc mcin psalm II while the
circuit OF the altar was being MADE, ana the bbhop
passed around IL times, additional verses Dei9
rcced each time followed By suitable aEphones re-
reated By the Bishop when reaching the iiont OF the
altar Then the latter followed by all the assisting
prc.t, went in procession to the sacrisy "here the
sacred relics had been placed in readiness and BRING
ing thom In solemn state to the altar, placed them,
together with "A parchment recording the act, In
little receptacle called the "sepulchre,' which Is al
ways cut in the centre Of the altar stone directly
under the spot upon which the conservation Is 10 take
place In the mass.
saints Martial and Bova, whose relics were used,
were Roman Christians made martyrs in one Of the
carly PAGAN prosecutions supply Of relics Is kept
Oh hand bv the Bishop Of every diocese for use on
such occasions, as every altar Is required to contain
authenticated relics beneath the spot upon which the
holy sacrifice Is be offered. This practice rcierFed
10 In the book of the Revelations Of ~ John, where
the Evangelist saw In vision the souls OF the martyrs
beneath the altar in the abode Of glory. III relies
mast he authenticated by tho seal OF the Sacred Con
creation Of Relics at Rome, by whom, after being
carefully Identified they are furnished on applca-
ton, to the Bishops throughout the world.
Covering the sepuchrc7 with piece Of marble,
tho bishop sealed 1t with cement when he n"d hst
bic ,ed ami mixed with holy water. lie neat made
the ssn OF the cross with the holy oils upon the I'VE
.ro,., ON the altar. The oils used the oils OF
the catechumems7 used in bapisnls ana the hoN
chri,m used in confirmation, both Of them blessed
annually on Holy Thursday by the Bishop Of the
dioccse During the whole Of the ceremony after the
Misclcrc.T priest goes round aud round the altar
swinging the censor with the incense
Tho Bishop then poured the holy chr.sm typical
OF the richness of grace. upon the a.af tane' ana
spread il over the whole surface with his hands.
After arranging i've grain, Of incense IN the form OF
A cross upOn each OF the i've crO,sco ,ut IN the table.
"A small wax placed upon ci'h ana SET on
nrc. and the and incense we're ron'An'cn upol
the altar. OF the acolytc, ai,crNaId Scldpcd on
the remnants of the fire and put II IN vase 10 u.
thrown into the pscina. receptacle IN the sacrsty Oh
every church, wG!ch descends to the ground. ana mo
which arc cast the remnants OF sacred things whlch
are to be discarded. During the whole of the con
J sorAcd Dy the ruDrlCs Wyrr re'lttu D} one oi inc
assisting cler.ymcn. When the ceremony Is publicly
performed these USUALLY sung by the choir but
| I'm this case conservation was sine cdntn, as the
Iitursl.ts say and Altogether r,citatvc. The psalms
u-rl wcrs those numbered IN the Nulfa;c -, 90 -,
| f4n 80. %. 81, A. -, 81, III and %. IN thc
slOu- the numbering is g. ~, 30, etc
When the ration over, one OF the assistants
wiped the altar the altar cloths were placed upon IL,
with candles and flowers. and high mass was al once
assisted by the Rev. William \. Fletcher. Of Baltimore,
a. Deacon and the Rev. Deacon j. }. Lotus, Of the
Hartford Diocese, Is sub ccaCo $500
The Chapel Of the sacred Heart OF Jesus, whlch Is
| Bishop Keancs private chapel Is being eNquisitcly
ffcscci and furnished ut the expense Of some OF the
dcyout women Of Washington.