The Washington times., 1894-11-19
CARDINAL GIBBONS At ST. PETERS.
PontificaI High Mass Celebrated and a
Large Class of Children Confirmed

pontificaI High Mass Celebrated and
Large Class of Children Confirmed.
A bright and picturesque scene was pre-
sented in the handsome auditorium of st.
Peters Catholic Church, on Capitol Hill. at
the noontide service yesterday. PontilcaI
high mass was celebrated by his eminence,
Cardinal Gibbons, the occasion being the
anniversary of the festival dedication of the
basilica's of st. Peter and st. Paul. The
cardinal. in his brilliant robes. sat upon his
throne in a mellow floral of light from long
rows OF twinkling candles, his colors of
bright red presenting pleasing contrast to
the dark robed priests, who were grouped
about him, and the altar boys in their snowy
gowns.
Rev. Michael P Sullivan was celebrant
and Father Mackin. of st. Pauls, deacon
The sub-deacon was Father Iompkins,
student at Georgetown College. AS the car
dinal sat upon the throne he was attended
by two deacons of honor, Father Hughes. of
Anacostia, and Father W. J. Larkin, the
great missionary traveller and former chap
lain in the United States Army. The pastor
of ST. Peters, Father O'Brien was IN the
sanctuary.
The music embraced some of Mozarts' best
selections, and was beautifully rendered by
the choir consisting of Director Byrd; Miss
Hattie Ricci, and Miss Baptista sopranos;
another Miss Baptista, alto; Mr.. Randolph,
tenor; MIR. Devereaux, basso, and Miss Nam
ME kearen, organist.
The church was crowded to its very doors
with the faithful who were anxious to hear
the cardinals eloquent sermon on '.The
three temples These embraced, said the
great church orator, first. the temple of
nature and the universe; second. the material
tempe-the church structures; third the
temple of the soul. He spoke giowingly of
the beauties of nature. How the twinkling
stars in the blue vault above, the nodding
flowers, with their gay colors and delicate
perfume, the mountains, lakes and rivers, all
tended to decorate natures temple. The rivers
flowing increasingly to the sea should remind
US of life ripping onward to the vast and
endless sea of eternity.
The temple of the soul was illustrated by
many touching word paintings illustrative of
the indwelling of God. He likened the
Lords power, His mercy. and His love to the
sunshine which comes from the heavens and
penetrates the darkening hooks of evil, and
spoke of His all-seeing eye. the vision of
which penetrates everything material as we'll
as spiritual. In the beauty of the landscape
and the purity of heaven was man created in
the image of the Lord, which is infinite love-
lineSS and perfection.
1.-The works of nature. said his eminence,
should be like so many stepping stones lead
ing upward to Gods throne. His works are
stamped upon the stars that stud the heavens.
every futtering leaf of the forest and every
tiny sand of the sea. Let us learn like the
patrlarchs of old TO be in harmony with the
Lord. God does not love US all in general:
He loves US each in particular. His precious
son shed His blood for every man His love
falls on US individually. as the suns bright
rays shine upon each person just as though
any other person were not in existence. When
the world has passed away. the stars have
faded out, the living temple of the soul will
exist Men shall perish but the soul will
live on forever. write My laws on the living
tablets of your hearts, commands the Lord
"that you may never forget them; establish