The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-22
TO DEDICATE THE PARISHES.
Impressive Services in All Catholic
Churches To-day.

A consecrat ton of the Roman Catholic
parishes of Savannah to the Sacred Heart.
will take place to-day in each of the
churches. in accordance with an encyclical
letter issued by His Holiness, Pope Leo
XIII. and dated May %, 1899
Owing to the delay of the letter in reach
ing this country, the church authorities
decided that both the shortness of the
time at their disposal, between the re-
ceipt Of the letter, and the Feast of the
Sacred Heart, on which the conservation
was to have taken place, it would be i'm
possible 10 prepare for a fitting observ-
ance so the time was postponed to the
next feast of the Sacred Heart, which
takes place to-day.
The ceremonies attending the consecra-
ton are most interesting and beautiful.
At the Cathedral of ST. John the Baptist.
they win consist of mass at $50 o'clock,
which will be celebrated by Bishop B. J.
Kelley, and a second mass at o'clock,
of which Rev. Father Kennedy will be
the celebrant. Then will follow the read
ing of the following act of conservation
by the officiating clergyman, and Its repe-
uhon by the congregation:
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the
human race. look down upon US. humbly
PROSTATE before Thy altar. We are Thine
and Thine we wish TO be; but 10 be more
surely united with Thee, behold each one
of us freely consecrates himself to-day to
Thy most sacred heart. Many, indeed,
have never known Thee; many. too des-
pising Thy precepts have rejected Thee.
Have mercy on them all. most merciful
Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred
Heart. Be Thou King. 0 Lord, not only
of the faithful who have never forsaken
Thee, but also of the prodigal children
who abandoned Thee; grant that they may
toll
lest they die of wretchedness and hun
ger. Be Thou King of those who are de-
ceived by erroneous opinions, or whom
discord keeps aloof, and cali them back to
the harbOr of truth and unity of faith. so
that soon there may be but one flock and
one Shepherd. Be Thou King also of all
those who sit in the ancient superstition
OF the Gentiles, and refuse not Thou TO de-
liver them out of darkness into the light
and kingdom of God. Grant. O Lord. to
Thy Church assurance of freedom and inn
munty from harm; give peace and order to
all nations, and make the earth .resound
from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to
the Divine Heart that wrought our saliva
ton; TO 1t be glory and honor forever.
Amen.
At night, at o'clock, the services Will
be continued by a procession of the chill
dren of the church, in honor of the Sacred
Heart. The boys will enter the church
on the south side and the girls at the
opposite door. The two lines will march
down the side aisles, and then joining,
will proceed, two by two, to the altar
where they will sing the hymn: Il Need
Thee, Heart of Jesus" At the conclusion
Of the hymn. they will occupy seats that
have been set apart for them. and will
then sing the "Hymn of Preparation"
Come. Jesus, Come" solo and chorus,
will next be sung, and then all of the
children win repeat the act of consecra-
zion.
Bishop Kelley will deliver an address APP
propriate to the occasion. and will dis
miss the congregation with a benedict!on
and the Blessed Sacrament.