The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-26

some cases We're aided by outside sing
ers. The music in all the churches
was of the highest order, and in some
eases was especially grand. AT the
Church of the Sacred Heart the Messe
Pontiflcale, by Dubois, was sung by the
choir. This was the second time that
the mass has been attempted in this
country, and the manner in which it
was performed adds new laurels to the
brow of the musical director, Mr..
Fink Carr.
The mass was celebrated by Rev.
John r. Griffin, Rev William E. Foley
was deacon, and Rev. James E. Curran
was sub deacon. The sermon was
preached by Ri. Rev. Monsigndr ThOs.
j. Conaty, D. D., of Washington, D.
c., a past pastor of the church.
The musical program was as follows:
Prelude, Romance. .............,..., Wagner
professional, Nazareth ........! Gounod
(Violin and organ)
Kyrie, Messe POntificale. .........., Dubois
Gloria, Messe POntiiicale. Dubois
Gradual Andante reltgioso. ......... Thome
violin and organ)
Credo, Messe Pontifcale ............ Dubois
Offertory. "Adeste Fideles' ....... Nov3llo
Sanctus and Benedictus. ..........,. Dubois
Messe Pontifcale.
Agnus Del. Messe POntihcale.. H.. Dubois
Postlude, viva Leone" ..,......i.. Gounod
Monsfgnor Conaty preached a Christ
mas sermon, taking as his text, GLORY
to God in the highest and on earth
peace to men of good will. Luke 2:24.
He said in part: This, dearly be
loved brethren, was the message to
men that first Christmas morning when
Christ, the Lord was born. This was
the message from heaven to earth.
This was the message chanted by the
angels as they announced the birth of
Christ. 1t told of the glory which was
brought to God and the peace which
came to men. All creation was a man
Hesitation of the glory of God, and man
was to intelligently voice the praises
of God in the name Of creation Sin
robbed God of the glory which intelli-
gent creation should manifest. Sin
came with the angels, who in their pride
= had refused to serve, and sin came with
man when he, too, reYolted against the
divine law
Away back in the early moments of
mans life, God promised redemption,
and man lived in the hope of its full
f1lment The world for four thousand
years listened for the message of the
Christmas morning, when Christ, the
Lord, was to be born in Bethlehem. He
was to be the one who was to restore
humanity to its dignity, re-establish
mankind in its rights, and re-establish
. peace between God and man. The hor-
rOrs Of war appals US as we dwell upon
what it means for nations; deVasta-
ton, ruin, death, follow in its trail
Hatreds, enmities. inhumanities, are
the results. How bitter is the story OF
war, and how sweet the blessings OF
peace. How much more beautiful rs the
peace of the soul by which mans life
is lived in happiness and contentment
Sin not only robs God of his glory
and man of the peace which comes from
God, but it also destroys the harmony
in mans own life. 1t eXalts passion, il
inspires revolt, and places vice where
virtue should rule Hope, mans sweet
est consolation, yields to despair; faitf
seems impossible, and eternity is en-
dangered.
How sweet are the blessings of peace
to the torn heart, to the distracted life
peace with its conscience, peace with it,
God. AT Bethlehem, on Christmas
morning, is born the King of Peace; tn
Kingdom of peace is established, tn,
victory of peace is secure. God rule
through the peace which Christ ha
purchased by his precious blood Beth
lehem and Christmas are the talismal
by which we may find salvation. Tn
manger at Bethlehem is the cente
whence comes the peace for which tn
world has longed. There, humanit,
finds its nobility in the human natur
VI OHIlSl, LHeIe humanity llltS us iG
demption in the sacrifice which a Coz
man in the person Of Christ is prepar
ing to offer one day on Calvary. wher
sin will be eXpiated, divine justice sat
isfied, and the means of sal' 'tiOi
placed within reach of the individua
sinner.
How grateful we should be to AL
mighty God for the knowledge we pos
sess of what Christmas stands for. T
us it is not merely a gift day, Whel
friends recognize the duties of friend
ship; underneath the observance o
Christmas as the great remembrance
day there is the foundation principl
of religion by which we recognize tn
gift of God to men in the redemption
through Jesus Christ, If Christmas /
a day of gratitude, it is also day o
determination, for, as Christians, W
are bound to show ourselves as follow
ers, of, the Prince of Peace, as imita
tors of the divine child whose king
dom is in the virtues of the Christian
life.
Vespers were chanted at o'cloc
by Rev. Bernard S, Conaty, and wer
followed by the benediction of tn
blessed sacrament.
At St Johns Church masses Wer
celebrated at $50, $50, s, 9.l6 and
o'clock.
Solemn high mass was celebrated a
1870 by Rt Rev, Mgr. Thomas GritilI