The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-01
A srRANae NEW YEARS arg.
Blessing the Animals at slight Mass In the
Covonnos Mountains.

Cevcnncs Mountains.
The most pootical ceremony that ] have
ever witnessed la the so-callcd Messc DIES
Animaux. or Animals mass" which taken
place every year on New Years eve 10 tho
French department OF the CeyeEnes, or
"Black Espinouze."
Ishall never forvet the Impression created
on my mind by Clio scene which presented
itself 10 my snraptured eyes on tho New
Years eve when, accompanied by some
friends who possess hunting lodge In the
Espinouze. went 10 the animals mass.
The edifce was crowded with stalwart
mountaineers, clad in their festive attire,
each Of them holding n lighted candle Of
coarse. yellow wax, glimmering like tiny
stars, and every man and woman singing
the old Cevenol hymn beginning with these
words;
Mel pus beio Que lon chour.
CSight more beautiful than dayJ
In the meantime column after column Of
cattle advanced toward the church, and,
marshaled by their drivers. took their places
ia long files on the frozen turf In front Of
the wide open portico
They approached slowly, ponderously and
solemnly, with quasi bewildered express
sion at being turned out Of their warm sta
bles 10 face the bitter GOODNESS Of the bleak
December night.
The oxen came first, followed by the cows,
sheep aud 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 aud tawny hides Of this strange con-
gregation.
Mass was celebrated with the customary
pcm, Wy the cure, whitehaired and very
venerable man. who appeared almost ma
| jestic in his heavy brocaded vestments,
which must have been several hundred
years old. When he at last had spoken the
usual "Ita MESA est, Indicating that the
sacred ceremony Is over, instead Of retiring
1 to the vestry, he once more lifted the host
from the altar and, followed by the entire
| congregation, he marched toward the pOr-
| tails, chanting the "Magniflcat" az 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 benediction in low but emphatic
voice
The drivers and shepherds all fell upon
| their knees, and with bowed heads muir
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 thoss
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" be said, God, In his
great goodness and mercy, sends his un
worthy servant here 70 bless our hocks. 81
that, according TO an ancient custom o
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 loud
hosanna in praise of the Lord, who is eve
so merciful and lenient 70 us poor sinners.
Like peal of thunder the grand melod!
echoed from hill to hill in the clear nigh
afr, sung by hundreds of Threats and ROLLED
majestically to the very confines Of the no
rizOn.
The startled animals beloved louder anC
united their powerful voices to the concert
1t was grand and weird beyond description
As the last note died away the corteg
began TO move, the priest re-entering tn
church, while the animals slowly wende'
their way toward the valley in the same OF
der as they had come. l followed then
with my eyes, much impressed by this fer
tival, so beautiful in its simplicity, and J
was only when the last little bleating lam