Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-06-21
CONFIRMATION IN ST. PAUL'S
CATHOLIC CHURCH.

tlful ana impressive I'liS i'nn W
monies ever witnessed IN mineral
Point took place, when Archbishop
KatZer, Of Milwaukee assisted by
twelve priests administered the sacra-
ments of Holy Eucharist and Cohhr-
nation to iilty-thrce candidates,
The decorating and ornamcntlng OF
the church we're in charge OF Mrs
Judge McIlhon, Miss Sarah Con-
naughton, Agnes McMullen and Mary
Healy, of the Altar society.
For several months the young APP
plicants had been carefully instructed
in all things necessary and required
for a proper knowledge of the sacred
function.
At 1880 "a. M, the Archbishop, as
sisted by Rev. Madden and Rev
Buckley, celebrated the Divine Mys-
terry Of the Mass, and at his hands
fourteen Of the children received their
First Holy Communion.
At 10 o'clock, the children to be
confirmed under the management OF
Miss Mary Healy and Miss Annie
Burko-marched in procession, TWO
by two. from the church, filed along
outside, making q dctOur, around IN
front Of the rectory, where the
Archbishop, IN his robes OF Office,
and the ccrgymGn vested IN cassocks
and surpliccB, awaited them, to be
escorted into the church. The child
rem, under the careful guidance OF the
ladies', did great credit TO themselves
by their admirable behavior and obc-
dience. When the procession entered,
the organ pcaIcd forth the joyous
strains of Eccc SacrdOs Magnus,
When the Archbishop had asccndcd
TO the place prepared for him In the
Sanctuary, and the Priests had ar
ranged themselves rs appointed. Rcy.
Petit, cecbrant, vested in bright
northumberland Vcstmcnts, assisted
by Fathers Smith and Norton, with
Father Aid ns thurifer, and Father
O'Kecfc as master OF ceremonies,
began tbs High Mass Of Confirmation,
Rev, Harmon and Rev. Dempsey were
assistant Priests to the Archbishop.
The a liar was artistically trimmed
and decorated with natural ilOWcrs
roses peonics, scringas, etc; running
trailing vines crcpt around and down
the tabernacle, with background OF
ferns. Each window was Ornamcntcd
with inrdinGrics of ferns and vases Of
different flowers, which sent II fra
giant perfume through the church. The
Altar brilliantly lighted with numcr-
Gus waXcn tapcrs; its attractive on
mentation; the purple robes Of the
Archbishop, contrasting to the white
and golden vustmcnts of the ccle-
brant: the many Priests In black SOU
tanes and white surplicos; the young
girls clothed in white, crowned with
4, al UAn,i,n ,F,ill ilnn
lovlinoss; the young boys neatly clad
in black garments; the crowded
church of Interested worshipcrs; the
strong, inspiring sounds of the or
van, and the sweet though stirring
voices of the we'll trained choir, in the
Gloria in EXcclsis brought to our
mind the old days of the Church, and
made an impression not soon TO be
forgotten.
Immediately after Mass, Father
Lillis of Plattoyillc, delivered ~ most
instructive and impressive discourse
ON Confirmation, partially mgumen-
tativc and partially moral. lie show
ed that since the earliest days OF the
Church, oven In the time OF the Apos-
ties, the Sacrament of Confirmation
has been administered, and has since
continued to be administered. lie
proved that In the Roman Catholic
Church, through the Apostles and
their successors, unto our own tlnc,
the Same rite, the same power and
efficacy of the sacrament existed tie
spoke clearly of the effects of the
Holy Sacrament through the gifts of
the Holy Ghost, affirming that the
samc Holy Spirit who first confirmed
the Apostles and descended upon them
with the plcntitude of his power ON
Pcntccost, exercised the Same power
today in this sacrament, He finished
by an appeal to the children to pro-
serve the gifts of the Holy Ghost
Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel,
Fortitude, Knowledge, Picty and Fear
of the Lord, The delivery of the
reverend speaker was pleasing in
his enumeration plain and distinct
At the close of the sermon the Arch
bishop assumed the Cope, Miter, and
Crosier, Father kosen held the Bam'
baaium, and Father Dempsey the
Holy Chrism, The children arranged
themselves in front of the Altar rail-
ing. MIR. Thomas GRADER was sponsor
for the boys, aud Mrs. John McMur-
rough for the girls.
Having completed the Confirmation
the Archbishop addressed the child
rem in earnest, tathcrly words OF
kindness. He told them that they were
now Christian soldiers, perfected by
the grace of the Holy Spirit, scaled
forever 10y the seal of the Holy Ghost
That 10y corresponding TO the gifts
received, they should honor God, bt
soldiers of Christ, That as they wcr,
signed with the Sign of the cross
scaled with the chrism of salvation
they should never deny their faith
but be ready to defend it even witt
their lives. That they should lead
good, pure, upright lives, that the
seal of the Holy Ghost might he tn,
surety of their eternal happiness,
The children then repeated the
Creed and Articles of Faith; and til,
Archbishop gave the Bcuedictton O
the Blessed Sacrament This con
cludcd the ceremonies,
Everything was conducted in tn,
most becoming manner; the arrange
ments had been complete; the churcl
was crowded; the children behaved
most commercially; the choir cScclicC