The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-26
CHRIST'S NATAL DAY
Celebrated with Elaborate Cere-
mOny in Catholic Churches.
Solemn High Mass and Other Observ-
ances at the Various Edifices-
Music at Christ Church.

Solemn high mass was celebrated in
most of the Catholic churches at o'clock
yesterday morning though in some of the
churches the mass was celebrated an hour
later. All the churches were crowded, as
they always are at the early mass on
Christmas morning At st. johns and st.
Patriclxs those who came too late to OBJ
tain even standing room stood at the outer
door waiting opportunity to enter as others
left. All the churches were beautifully
decorated, and most Of them had crib
placed representing the finding of the in
FAINT Saviour wrapped in the swaddling
clothes I'm the manger The cribs at st.
Johns, St. Patrick's and the Sacred Heart
churches were especially pretty. The one
at the Sacred Heart Church is the largest
of the three, and is a masterpiece in terra
Gotta work In the upper background was
to be seen the head Of an oxen stabbed in
the building where the Savior was born.
Before this was the infant, and around
Him the wise men who, guided by the star
OF Bethlehem, wended their way across
the country TO see the child. Half hidden
i'm the clouds above was the angel that
had announced TO the wise men the birth
Of the Saviour and the star which had
guided their footsteps. The effect of the
scene was heightened by dozens Of can
dies arranged across the front of the crib
and strong reflector which threw the rays
of light among the figures, which were
about three-quarterS life size. The early
mass at this church was celebrated by
Father Wes, assisted by Fathers Ulricus,
of St Louis, and Alexius, of this city. st.
Johns and st. Patricks churches have
recently been frescoed, decorated in soft
colors, and the blending of the yellow light
Of the tapers on the altar with soft frescoe
hues lent beauty and solemnity to the
most beautiful Of the Roman Catholic
services The walls of st. Johns Church
are also succeed with incandescent lights.
and hanging from the high cone of the
ceiling are three long chandeliers, each
containing about twenty-five lamps, which
also blended their rays with the flittering
sparkle of the long tapers.
The ceremony of the mass never varies,
and the epistle and gospel for the day had
special reference to the occasion which
the ceremony commentaries. The sermon
was also with reference to the coming of
the Savior in the world Special features
in the way of music were introduced in each
church by the choir At st. Patrick's the
choir sang the following at both the
''Kyrie." lie PrevosD, Miss Lille Cal
lahan, soloist; Gloria in EXcelis." from
Haydns second mass. Mr.. VIII Turk, So
loist; "PastOres' Uambplotte), Miss Mag
gle bremen, soloist: "Cfedo'' and 'Agnus
Del from Mozart's twelfth mass; EFT
Incarnatus" tenor solo, Mr.. James Muir
ply; "Sanctus' lie PrevosD, "Adesta FL
delis," Misses Ella Regain and y. Talbot,
soloists.
At the conclusion of both masses ''Te
Deum'' was sung by the full choir. Father
Quigley celebrated the high masses at this
church.
at st. NIary's the music was follows:
"Asperges," by Wiegand; Mass in honor
OF St Louis" by la Hache: "Veni Gre
ator,' by Soffge; offertorY, ''Ecce Pants:
by La Hache The high masses at st.
Mary's were celebrated by Father Schei-
deler. assisted by Father Coleman; Father
Scheideler preached at the o'clock and
Father Coleman at re 4-o'clOck mass. The
collections for the orphans of the diocese
Melted S2l2
At SITS. Peter and Paurs Church high
mass was celebrated by Father Chartrand,
and the sermon WAS preached by Blsnop
Chatard. The church was beautifully dec
GRATED with flowers. In the afternoon sol
eInn vespers were said ct all the churches,
and an unusually large attendance was
had in every instance.