The Opelousas courier., 1893-06-03
At st. Landry's, Catholic Church.

Last Sunday at st. Landrg's Catho
lie Church. occurred one of those,
beautiful ceremonies for which The
Catholic ceremonial IL so justly eelc-
brated. 1t being the last Sunday in
May, kind fathers and loving mothers
came in numbers bringing their little
children to receive the blessing of God
from the hands of their beloved pastor.
and to consecrate them TO their Heaven
ly Mother.
A time honored custom of the Catho-
lie Church has set apart the month OF
May, the month of flowers, the most
beautiful month in the year, as a season
III which to honor in special manner
the Blessed Virgin, and she invites her
members to devote at least few
minutes each day during this month
to some pious reading and short
prayers in Mary's honor.
On the last Sunday, as a fitting con
clusion, the faithful are accustomed to
assemble at the foot of Mary's altar
and to bring with them theH little
children to place them under the pro
lection of her whom Christ, when
dying on the cross gave to them as
mother.
The church was tastefully decorated
for the occasion, on small altar in
front of the communion rails and
surrounded with lighted candles stood
the statue Of Mary, whom all had
assembled to honor. The body of the
church presented beautiful sight the
usual audience was absent, the benches
being filled with little children beauti-
fully dressed, and adorned Will
wreaths or carrying bouquets. The
usual respectful silence was replaced
by the wayward prattle of the little
iunocents, music, no doubt as pleasing
to God as the more artistic music sc
tastefully rendered by the choir.
After the singing of hymn, Rev, A
Dubourg advanced. and taking for hi;
text these words of Our Lord ' Suffer
little children TO come unto me-" ad
dressed to the children and theiI
parents beautiful sermon full o
practical advice. Our Savior, he said
had just instructed his Apostles il
some of the sublime mysteries of ouI
religion, and they, when some mothers
brought their children to Jesus, rudeIy
repulsed them. considering them too
small and nnimportant TO deserve
notice. Jesus rebuked the Apostles
and said " suffer little children to come
unto me, for 'S such is the Kingdom
of Heaven and sitting down he allow
ed the children to approach, caresset
them aud having blessed them returned
them To their parents. He thel
threatened the severest punishment tt
whoever should scandalize one of those
little children. These words, said tht
Reverend Father, apply in a specia
manner to parents, and enlarging OF
the duties of parents to their children
lie exhorted them to pay special at
tention to their religious instruction -
when teaching an infant to pronounce
the words "papa'' and mamma l
Christian mother should also teach he
little one the sound name Of Jesus ant
Mary as soon as. it begins to talk
she should teach it to repeat thos'
sublime prayers the "Our Father ane
:'Hail Mary" and taken on that ad
mirable summary of all revealed truth
the Apostles Creed.
He warned them how careful they
should be, never to give bad example
to their children, how scrupulonsly they
shenld avoid every word or action tina
might scandalize the little ones. Ant
later on when they send their children
to church for instruction in their re
ligion, how careful their parents shoult
be to aid by their own example th'
teaching of the priest. How unfortn
nate when children must either despis,
their parents for their irreligious life, o
abandon their religion through sucl
bad example.
At the conclusion of the sermOl
Miss Arsene Hollier, in the name of al
the children present. read an act o
conservation to Mary at the foot of he
altar, and there the little ones deposit
ed their offerings of garlands ant
flowers on the altar to the sweet strain
of the we'll known hymn.
! 'Vierge recois cette couronne,
'tFais quele soft le gage heureu1,
4 'Du celle 'au pied de ton throne,
''Tu nous reserves dams les cieux.'
The celebrant there advancing il
front of the Communion rails pro
nounced the solemn blessing of th
Church on the little ones present, an
the whole ceremony was brought to
close with Benediction of the Biesse
Sacrament.