The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-10-13
WITH SOLEMN SERVICES.
The Great Discoverer Extolled From
Many Catholic Pulpits.

churches throughout Hudson county. In
accordance with the instructions of the
Holy Father, Pope Leo Kill, through
the Rt. Rev. Bishop Wigger of the New
ark diocese, religious ceremonies marked
Yesterdays observances. and October 81
the ceremonies will be of civic nature.
In all the churches the affairs were deco
rated with potted plants and ferns, and
frightened with the light of hundreds of
candles. presented an impressive appear
ance.
In their sermons the Rev. Fathers re-
hearsed the story of Columbus, his early
struggles, his successes, his later priva-
tions. all of which he bore with
Christian fortitude, implicitly believing,
as his life shows, that it was
the highest honor to work for the glory of
God. They contended also that it was re-
ligious motives that always actuated
Columbus IN his works-that it was the
desire to bring the light Of Christian rev.
elation to heathen people that first sug-
gested to his mind that the earth was
rouud in shape and that by sailing due
west he would in more direct way and
in shorter time reach the shores of India.
1t was desire to rescue the seDulchre of
Jesus Christ from the Musselmen that
actuated MIN in asking to share the pro-
fits, if Shere were any of the expedition.
FATHER MACKEL'S ELoQUENCE.
At ST. MichaePs Church, the solemn
high mass was celebrated by the Rev. M.
S. Callen, with the Rev. @. Fl. Mackel as
deacon, and the Rev. William McLaugh
lin of St. Lucy's Church as sub-deacou.
Seated on the throne on the GOSPEL side
OF the altar, and participating in the
mass, was the pastor, Mgr. de Concilio.
The church was crowded to the doors.
The sermon was preached by the Rev.
Charles Mackel. one of the best pulpit
orators in the diocese.
After a fitting preface, the reverend
speaker, referring 60 the commemorative
by all citizens, said:-"To us who are
Catholics the name and fame of Column
bus should be especially dear, when we
recall the fact that he was an hum ole and
obedient adherent of the same heavenly
religion. More than this we feel that the
honors bestowed upon him reflect glory
on the church, and in some measure
serve to compensate her for the foul cal
umnies with which she is so often
aspersed.
Sensible men see the folly of calling
that religion vulgar and superstitious
which actuated, strengthened and con-
soled Columbus; they feel it shame to
accuse of Ignorance and barbarism the
age in which he had his origin, or to cast
slurs upon the clergy who were his only
fIiends in distress. We have been taught
to believe by lylngshistorians that all our
civilization is due to the Proteftant re-
formation inaugurated by Martin Luther.
Not thesleast benefit to be derived from
the celebration, is the fact that it will
force men to reflect upon the condition of
Europe in the days Of Columbus, when
81 0f Err toll
Catholic"
COLUMBUS RELIGION.
Father Mackei then drew scholarly
word picture of the life of Columbus
his birth, his youth, his education, his
knowledge Of mathematics aud astron-
omy-all gained under Catholic auspices;
his belief that the earth was spherical in
shape; his iourneyings from Court to
Court of Europe, meeting with rebuff on
all sides; his meeting with the Holy
Franciscan, Father Juan Perez, whose
pleadings gained for him the cooperation
of the good Queen Isabella; the fitting
ont of the expedition; the naming of one
of the ships "Saint Mary;" the reception
by Columbus and all his sailors on the
morning they were to sail of the Sacra-
ment of Holy Communion, administed by
their friend, Father Perez; the sailing
away; the threatened mutiny on board
the expedition; the discovery of land.
Had Columbus not been sustained by
his supernatural motives" said the
speaker, land the thought OF the glory
he would confer on the Christian reli-
gion and the salvation he would bring to
idoLitrous people. he would certainly
have been discouraged"
The speaker then told of the landing of
Columbus. the planting of the standard
of the Cross, and the prayer, in his loving
gratitude, he gave utterance TO, namely:
Lord eternal and almighty God, who by
Thy sacred word hath created the
heavens, the earth, the seas, may Thy
name be blessed and glorified everywhere,
May Thy Majesty be exalted, who has
deigned to permit that by Tbv humble
servant Thy sacred name should be made
known and preached in this other part OF
the world"
s'The master idea of Columbus mind"
continued the reverend lecturer, twas to
work for the glory Of God and in this
motive wee see the reason for his un-
Yielding perseverance in face of every
obstacle. We must be persuaded that the
mission of America to that which Colum-
bus had in mind when he sailed to these
shores, l. g., the propagation of the re-
ligion of Christ.
OUR CoUNTRYs FUTURE.
Looking into the future we see in this
country the grandest prospects ever pre-
man. This nation of ours is willing to
receive the truths of the Gospel if they
be presented in the proper light. The
American mind is not really bigoted,
but it is necessary that we should
prove the validity of our
claims that we possess the true religion.
Let America be once converted, the Cath
ollie religion, carried abroad on the wings
of American enterprise, will encircle the
globe.
IF Columbus could speak to us today
from his throne in Heaven, his message
would be that we bend all our energies to
impress upon the minds of the American
people the truths and moral lessons of
that holy religion which filled the brain
and fired the heart of its discoverer and
led him to explore the hitherto unknown
deep in order to win a continent to the
Catholic faith"
At st. Mary's Church, on Second street,
the services were especially fine. The
altars were decorated artistically. and the
musical programme, under the direction
of the musical director, Miss Ashurst.
was in keeping with the spirit inspired
by the ceremony at the altar. The cele-
brant of the solemn high mass was Rev.
j. A. Stafford, assisted by Rev. DR. J. f.
Mooney as deacon, and Rev. C. j. Kelley
as subdeacon. Rev. Father Senez was
seated within the sanctuary. The ser
mon, on Columbus, was delivered by Rev.
DIR. Mooney.
At the church of the Jesuit Fathers, ST.
Peters on Grand street, the Columbus
services were postponed till Sunday next.
A solemn high mass will be celebrated at
haIf-past ten o'clock. In the evening" at
half-past seven O'clock. the Rev. p.
Halpion. S. j., Vice President of St.
Eroncic Yauiar,o trollnna Naw VnrI