The San Francisco call., 1899-07-10
SOLEMN SERVICES
AT ST. PATRlCKS

The forty hours of devotion was IN
aUgurated in st. Patricks Church yester-
day morning at the II o'clock mass with
solemn services Solemn high mass was
celebrated by Father Cummings. he was
assisted by Father Barry as Deacon sun
deacon, Father Horan; master OF cererno-
MES, Father Heslin. At the conclusion OF
the mass the procession of the bleSSeu
sacrament followed. Preceding the par
tiCipants in the mass were the acoIg ISS'
and behind them little girls Q[eS9eu Q1Tatl1ns i5'
white who streWed flowers in the alSleS;
In the evening Father Heshh qeuEeItu
an interesting sermon on the origin OIL lhe
forty hours of devotion ana lls HledilIii9'
In part the holy father said:
The services of the forty hours of deVo-
ti0n are held in honor of the forty hours cur
divine Lords body lay in the tomb 1t was
introduced in this country about 1teo;Ses the year
1851 Ii has been praCticed IN Europtdl
countries for upward OF 800 years 1t nrst
had its origin in the city of Milan IN i9%t.
In that year a terrible plague attackeu {5e
civ and the people were cast into terrible
fear because of the ravages the dread als-
ease was making among them ,stat any AZ AZ
recollection of a similar plague WhAcn en- @ ue
vastated the city twelve years before, carry
ing off nearly 10000 inhabitants. Al ms ms
time the city torn by internal Ieuus
and also threatened by an invading army IN
command of the King Of Naples, Whlch @ nan
surrounded Milan and threatened 10 cap
ture the city by laying siege.
In the cathedral in Milan there was a
pious priest, a Capucian named JS8sfpn ne he
Zero who seeing in the state of aHaIrs lhe
hand of God raised against the people ana ana
believing that the vengeance Whlcn S'l5iI l
sins had called forth could be ayerted Dy
repentfng of their sins and by lmplorlns
pardon and mercy, like Jonas with tne
%inevites. he urged the people 10 uo pen
ance in sack cloth and ashes .
AS remedy FOR the evil ana as pr
lection from the threatened vengeance OIL
heaven he suggested a devotion OF IorY
hours in honor of the forty hours our 81
yfne Savior lay in the tomb, while at the
same time they could adore the HNlHS
Savior in the alteration OF the EuCnrIst Pup
Uclv exposed for that purpose. Inc lhIlap-
itants OF Milan. seeing release from % %ills
srv in the wise suggestions Of the hoty
Driast put his proposals into practice. IN
'front.' nf the cathedral at Milan tsH h Ss'd
sacrament was exposed for alteration on az
elevated place surrounded by a great -GlH-
her of LIGHTS All the inhabitants oI AIldn'
rhe CITY officials and the cardinal 9IThs
bishop took part in this devotion, belhs eau
in sack cloth as a sign of their rePeftaIINe-
When this devotion at the catheoFdt W.
concluded il was celebrated IN All tIS
churches of the city with as great zeal ana
Dfaty The effects Of this devotion was soon
yfsibly felt Like the NineVlteS' tile M
1ausse by their sincere repentance ootdlleu
uor1On for their crimes, their prayers LOT
mercy and forgiveness We're hearu' near e me
uIaeue ceased internal dissenuons were
changed into harmony and the hostIe Leei-
ings of the opposing kings turned into leei
fngs Of friendship, war was aNefteu diu
peace established.