The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-04
FIRST SUNDAY OF
THE ADVENT SEASON
Marked the Beginning of the
Ecclesiastical Year.
AN IMPORTANT HOLIDAY
Commentaries the First and Antici-
pates the Second Coming of Christ.
Impressive Services at Saint
Paul's Catholic Church

Yesterday was the first Sunday in Ad-
vent-the beginning of the ecclesiastical
year. 1t is in this Advent season that the
Latin church, the Anglican communion
and certain other Christian bodies COM
memorate the first and anticipate the sec
ond coming of Christ. A well known Cath
Ollie writer says that during Advent the
church desires that her children should
practice fasting, works of penance, med-
tation, and prayers, in order to prepare
themselves for celebrating woruhtly the
coming (adventum) of the Son of God in
the flesh, to promote his spiritual advent
within their own souls, and to school them
selves to look forward with hope and joy
to his second advent when he shall come
again to Judge all mankind
Church historians seem unable to fix the
precise time when the season began to be
observed. There are traces of its observance
as early as the fourth century. But in the
fifth century Advent seems to have been
assimilated to Lent. The present discipline
dates back just about one thousand years.
Prophesies of Isaiah
There is a marvellous beauty says a
distinguished theologian, "in the offices and
rites of the church during this season. The
lessons, generally taken from the prophe-
cies of Isaias remind us how the desire and
expectation, not of Israel only, but of all
nations, carried forward the thoughts of
mankind, before the time of Jesus Christ,
to redeemer one day to be revealed; they
also strike the note of prepare ton, watch
fulness, conjunction hope. In the gospels
we hear of the terrors of the last judg-
ment, that second advent which those who
despise the first will not escape; of the
witness borne by John, the precursor and
of the mighty works by which the Savior's
life supplied a solid foundation and justi-
fcation for that witness
Advent, being penitential season. re-
sembles Lent in a number of points. The
altar and vestment colors are, of course,
velvet or purple.
At st. Paul's Catholic Church
At st. Pauls Catholic church the services
were exceedingly impressive. The Rev.
Father O'Reilly was the celebrant and
preached Vested in rich cope of violet
and gold he moved through the great CEN
trail isle, attended by a server in purple
cassock and white surplice, sprinkling the
congrega ton with holy water. After This
ebrant exchanged the cope for the chasu-
BILE and began the mass. In his discourse
Father O'Reilly explained the meaning of
the season and reminded his hearers of
their duties and obliga tons. He said that
only saints could enter heaven, and saint
hood was to be attained only by innocence
or penance He spoke with singular fer
yer, and concluded with a stirring exphr-
tation for deeper piety and more faithful
service in the cause of the Master.
In the course of few remarks in con-
nection with notices before the sermon
Father O'Reilly alluded incidentally to the
growth of the Catholic church in Jefferson
county. He pointed to the new parish at
Bessemer where a regular pastor was in
charge. and said that there would soon be
a church at Ensley. And the day was not
far distant when there would be one or two
new churches In Birmingham.
The music of the mass was by Tedesco,
an Italian composer and was well sung.
At yespers and benedction the Rev. Faith
er Kennedy was ceebrant. Despite the in
clement weather. the congregation was
quite large.
At the church of Our Lady of Sorrows"
the Rev. Father Meurer, the pastor, was
the celebrant and preached at high mass,
and large congregation was in attend
ance