The San Francisco call., 1897-07-26
IN SOLEMN ADORA4ION
A Forty-Hours' Devotion in
Progress at st. Mary's,
Paulist.
Impressive splendor Attends the
Procession Of the Blessed
Sacrament.

A forty hours alteration began at IL
o'clock yesterday morning at st. Mary s
Church (Paulist Fathers) on California
street. At that hour solemn high mass
was celebrated by Rev. Father Gi5lin,
celebrant; Rev. Father Powers, deacon !;
Rev. Father Doherty. sub.deacon, and
Rev. Father Clark, master of ceremonies.
The altar had been richly decorated with
brakes, palms and white roses and lilies.
The church could scarcely accommodate
the crowds which thronged it to witness
the impressive ceremonies.
The procession of the blessed sacrament,
which followed the mass, was attended
with great solemnity. The celebrant,
having donned his vestments and burned
incense before the blessed sacrament, ad-
vanced with it to the gate of the sanctuary
where he was net by a procession of
young girls clad in white, and sanctuary
boys, strewlng garlands in the aisles.
Solemnly the procession moved through
the church to the strains of the hymn of
the blessed sacrament, "Pangua Lingua."
Returning 10 the altar the sacrament
was placed upon the canopied throne by
| the deacon, the Iitany was solemnly sung
and the prayer toned by the celeb
Rev. Father Powers preached the SER
| mon in the morning, choosing his text
| from the epistie of the day, 1.-The Son of
God, Life Eternal in Christ Jesus Our
Lord" In the course OF his sermon
| Father Powers said:
We all regard life as the most precious of
| Gods gifts we cling 10 1t with great tenacity,
and few even oil those who are most wretehed
wish 10 part with life. We rejoice too in those
| things which make for the fu1lness of life
| health and strength for instance
But if we regard our merely physical life as
so precious treasure that we would lain keep
| 1t, now should we regard that spiritua life
which has its beginning in God's grace aud
! finds its completion in Gods glory
| AS ST. Paul teaches US, the grace of God is
| life everlasting in Jesus Christ; he is the
meritorious cause of grace and of glory.
Through him we receive spiritual life, which
| is sanctifying grace. All his sacraments are
| is that sacrament which especially teaches US
! of the love of our blessed Lord for us, because
in il we receive his very self, who is the author
aud the fullness of ell grace. We receive him
| and we share in that divine participation.
| And SO, beloved brethren, when to-day we
| begin the season of more especial alteration OF
| the blessed sacrament, let me ask you to con-
| slider well the great love our lord beStows upon
| you through this wonderful holy sacrament.
| Let me ask you to come ana see how sweet is
| his presence; let me ask you to turn aside, If
| but Tor little while, to linger at the teet OF
| one who will be your everlasting JOY.
In the evening solemn vespers were
sung. Father Clark preached the sermon
| and the benediction of the blessed sacra-
| ment was pronounced.
This morning at 8 o'clock mass for
peace will be sung, and in the evening at
| 7:45 there will be sermon and the bene-
diction OF the sacred sacrament. The mass
of reposition tomorrow morning at
o'clock will conclude the deyotions.