The Helena independent., 1894-01-01
A STRANGE NEW YEARS a,Te. 3"
Blessing the Animals At Night Mass In tn
EaYannea Manhattan.


Bissains the Animnis At Night Mass IN the
Cevanncs Mountains.
TLe most poetical ceremony that l have
over witnessed fs the so-caIled Mcssc des
Animaux, or "Animals' mass which takes
place every year on New Years eve ia tho
French department OF the Cevennes, or
"Black Espinouse."
IshaIl never forget the impression created
on my mind by the scene which presented
itself to my snrAptured eyes on the New
Years eve when, accompanied by some
friends who possess u hunting lodge In the
EspinOuxe, went to the animals mass.
The edlflce was crowded with stalwart
mountaineers, clad IN their festive attire,
each Of them holding lighted candle Of
coarse, yellow wax, giimmering like tiny
stars, and every man and woman singing
the old Cevenol hymn beginning with these
words:
Mel pus bsio quo lon chour.
Niglt more beautful than day.)
In the meantime column after column OF
cattle advanced toward the church, and,
marshaled by their drivers. took their places
In long files on the frozen turf In front Of
the wide open p0rticO.
They approached slowly, ponderously and
solemnly, with quasi bewildered express
sion at being turned out Of their warm sta
bles to face the bitter coldness Of the bleak
December night.
The oxen came first, followed by the cows,
sheep and goats In = continuous stream,
and the rays Of the full moon which gilt
tered high above US over the dark slopes Of
the mountains shone on the long, polished
horns and tawny hides Of this strange con-
gregatfon.
Mass was celebrated with the customary
pomp by the cure, whitehaired and very
venerable man, who appeared almost ma.
jestic in his heavy brocaded vestmcnts,
which must have been several hundred
years old. Whenihe at last had spoken the
usual "Ita messa est" indicating that tho
sacred ceremony Is over, instead Of retiring
to the vestry, he once more lifted the host
from the altar, and, followed by tho entire
congregation, he marched toward the por-
tals, chanting the .'Magnifcat" as he went.
Upon reaching the steps of the church the
old priest halted, and holding the sacred
host high above his head pronounced some
words of benedicticn in low but emphatic
voice.
The drivers and shepherds all fell upon
their knees, aud with bowed heads mur.
INJURED the responses, while an acolyte,
armed with holy water sprinkler, walked
through the ranks of the now Believing
cattle, sprinkling them with the holy fluid.
Whether the animals realized the SOL
emnity Of the occasion or not, all those
which had hitherto been lying down arose
to their feet, as il to listen to the short but
impressive allocution addressed to the driv-
ers by the venerable cure.
'My children" he said, "God, in his
great goodness and mercy, sends his IN
worthy servant here to bless our docks. so
that, according to an ancient custom of
our mountains, the animals which help you
to live should be associated in the religious
rejoicings heralding the advent of new
year. Let us therefore sing together q loud
hosanna in praise of the Lord, who is ever
so merciful and lenient to us poor sinners -
Like peal of thunder the grand melody
echoed from hill to hill in the clear night
afr, sung by hundreds Of throats and rolled
majestically to the very confines of the no.
riZOn. In I'D
The startled animals beloved louder and
united their powerful voices to the concert.
1t was grand and weird beyond description.
As the last note died away the cortege
began to move, the priest re-entering the
church, while the animals slowly wended
their way toward the valley in the same or.
der as they had come. followed them
with my eyes, much impressed by this fes-
tival, 80 beautiful in its simplicity, and it
was only when the last little bleating lamb