The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12
A PATRONAL CELEBRATION.
Seven Days of Spiritual Recre-
alton in St. Joseph's
Church.
Three Thousand Persons Receive
the Sacrament-Many Flo
Quent Sermons.

The ''Te Deum" in honor of St. Joseph,
the patron of the parish, was commenced
in st. Joseph's Church, Tenth street,
Wednesday morning, May 1, at the 9
O'Clock mass, celebrated by Father
Seaman, rector of the parish. When mass
commenced the church was filed to over
flowing. Masses every morning were
attended by all who possibly could be
present. The afternoon services were
thronged. AT night the standing-room of
the church was often taxed to its utmost.
The music morning and afternoon was by
a trained chorus of $50 girls, under the
leadership of Professor Sullivan, and their
rendition of the beautif III English hymns
was devotional and inspiring. The music
at night was by the now celebrated choir
OF the parish and the pro gramme reflected
great credit on their efficient leader.
Members of the Young Mems SodaIity
acted as ushers each evening.
After the 8 o'clock mass Wednesday
morning Father Cummins of st. Charles
Church outlined the aim of the 'Te Deum,'
and then delivered a beautiful, instructive
and persuasive sermon on the Home of
Nazareth" in which he gave a graphic
portrayal of the relation of the mem bers of
the holy family.
The afternoon services consisted of the
rosary, spiritual reading, the beautiful lit
IL
ers to st. Joseph. After the rosary We'd
nesday evening Father Seaman, rector of
the parish, occupied the pulpit. His sub
iect was Delayed Conversion
Commencing Wednesday confessions
were heard in the church daily from to 8
A. NJ, to P. NJ. and both before and after
the night services, the priests being kept
busy some nights until almost midnight.
Thursday morning the sermon was de-
livered by Rev. ?. Duffy of the Youths
Directory, who spoke of 1.-THE Powers of
st. Joseph"
The church was thronged Thursday
evening to hear the eloquent pastor of ST.
Paurs, Rev. NJ. D. Connolly, who was
billed to preach on Loyalty to Christ"
The sermon Friday morning was by Rev.
Joseph P. McQuade of Holy Cross, whose
subject was Correspondence With Gods
Grace"
Friday evening, although the competi-
tive drill of the League of the Holy Cross
cadets attracted great numbers, the church
was filed to OVERLOOKING. Rev. Joseph NJ
Gleason of ST. Joseph's spoke on ''St. JOS
eph Our Patron
The last sermon of the Iridium proper
was delivered by Father Cullen of st.
Roses Saturday morning, his subject
being "The Seat of Mercy"
Confessions were heard every morning,
afternoon and evening during the Tri-
vast throngs no services of any kind
were held Saturday evening. One thous-
and persons received holy communion on
Sunday morning alone, the Feast of the
Patronage of st. Joseph. Although this
day closed the Iridium it also began the
forty hours alteration of the blessed sac
rament. The Pensioners contributed
flowers in profusion for the decoration of
the sanctuary, and the taste with which
everything was placed made the chancel
look most beautiful. The ladies of the
sanctuary circle deserved all the enco-
miums heaped upon them by critical OBJ
servers.
The solemn nigh mass of exposition was
sung at 1890 o'clock. Father Seaman,
deacon, Father O'Nel subdeacon, and
Father Gleason master of ceremonies. The
superb choir of st. Joseph's outdid itself in
the rendition of Mercadante's mass. The
procession of the most blessed sacrament
after mass was headed by Father O'Neil as
cross bearer. Nearly 200 little girls of
sweetest faces clad in the white garments !
of their first communion, followed, scatter |
ing flowers in the way of their Lord. The |
entire force of altar boys preceded the |
censer-bearers, who filed the air with sweet |
aroma as they incensed the blessed sacra-
ment in the hands of the celebrant of the |
mass. The blessed sacrament having been |
Pidceu upon the throne OF exposition The |
Ltany, was sung and the gorgeous cere- |
monlal OF the morning was at an end.
thousands paid visits to the eucharistic I
savior during the day. Sunday evening |
Father Doran preached on "Tte Blessed |
Sacrament"
The sermon was followed by benediction |
OF the most blessed sacrament. Solemn |
mass OF peace was celebrated Monday |
morning at 9o'clock, and the choir rem |
dered Rossi's mass in D. Monday evening |
Father Griffin of St. Francis Church. |
preached grand sermon on 1.-THE Real |
Presence"
The solemn mass of Reposition was cele-
brated Tuesday morning May Z and the |
choir sang Affranchino's mass in G.. The |
procession was identically as on Sunday
and was followed by solemn benediction.
which closed one of the grandest celebra-
tons ever held in st. Joseph's Church. |
The Iridium and the forty hours adora- /
ton were a happy concurrence; but it is
not only in the outer show that the parish. /
clergy and laity alike, need pride itself, |
but in the spiritual fermentation that |
went on. This period of devotion, extend
ing over one week, was more successful |
than any mission ever before held in the /
parish.
By actual count 5000 people approached /
the sacraments during this short space of
time, and this is by far the best testimonial
to success. The priests of the parish who
inaugurated the celebration and the priests
of other parishes who helped by their
eloquence to bring about its success are to
be commended. /