The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-17
THE REDEDlCATION.
THE CHURCH OF ST. ROSE OF
LIMA REoPENED.

Beautiful Music and Vast Con-
gregation the Magnifcently Fin
ished and Ornate Church Edifice
Is Thrown Open for Worship.
e. ------
The Roman Catholic Church of St.
Rose de Lima. which has been in pro-
cess of remodellfng for nearly two
wears, was yesterday re-dedicated and
thrown open for worship amid scenes
of impressive solemnity, grandeur and
beauty. The pictures presented to the
gaze of more than twenty-five hundred
worshippers and members of the con-
gregation was one that will probably
never be effaced from their recollec-
ion. The many clergymen of the
church in attendance, some of them in
the purple vestments that symbolize
the episcopacy in the church; tho
wonderfully magnificent harmony
that swelled and reverberated
and sank and rose again in
in triumphant paens of joy and once
more fell to rippled melodies, sweet
and low. and then changed to notes
of mourning and sorrow, rising from
thence to the supremest surges of hap
piness; the life-like statuary and warm.
freshly painted Scattaglia. frescoes that
adorned the interior; the beautiful
white marble altar. glowing with the
warmth and color of its illuminations--
all these made a picture the like of
which the majority of beholders never
before saw ava will probably not again
see in this life.
The services In connection with the
rededication really began at 7.3O o'clock
yesterday morning, when Bishop Ho-
han, of the Scranton diocese. blessed
the new church. both inside and out
side, the furnishings, the material and
spiritual foundations OF the structure
and consecrated the new altar. He
celebrated a low mass upon the newly
consecrated altar in presence of large
number of priests. -.,
At 1915 the morning service was be-
gun by a prelude upon the pipe organ,
accompanied by the Mozart orchestra
and a large choir under the direction
of Professor Haydn Evans. Then came
the professional from La Hache's Mis-
81 pra Pace" The visiting clergymen,
headed by Bishop Hoban, marched up
the center aisle Of the church and into
the sanctuary. Archbishop Ryan, of
Philadelphia. was at the rear of the
procession. A number of acolytes ac-
companied the priests.
The ushers were all young men Sc
lccted from the Catholic societies of
the city three from each body. They
had a purple badge with silver let
tcring. viz:
1S15-SILNER JUBILEE-1900.
Archbishop Ryan celebrated pontif-
cal mass and Right Rev. Bish-
"r Bcvcp, of Springfield, Mass,
preached the sermon, taking his
theme from the chapter of
Genesis wherein is described the
vision of Jacob and the promise of
God that he should be the instrument
tality of Catholfcity in the west and in
the east.
The reverend clergyman began his
address by saying that it was a per-
sonal privilege for him to tell of his
Joy and deep religious satisfaction to
feel his soul in the presence of all the
beautiful gifts of this church and to
feel that they were consecrated to
God. He offered his congratulations as
guest of the pastor and his parish
toner's. Continuing. he said:
And as ] look here and there and
see the multitude of pleasing things
and gather them into a most pleasing
vision I feel that you have gathered
a multiplicity of the offerings of your
soul and grouped them about the altar
of your hopes. No other element but
the Catholic faith with their religion
and union could accomplish work like
this. 1t is the Offering of your hearts,
Your hopes your love. We are told in
the passage of sacred scripture we
have just read that Almighty God
pledged to Jacob the instrumentality OF
Catholicism in the west and in the
east. Is it to be wondered at, my dear
people, that Jacob set up a monument
and named 1t the House of God? But
You are privileged to see more and in
tinitely greater things that Jacob, even
In his prophetic vision, beheld. You
are privileged like him to erect a mon
unent and one set up and consecrated
to the service of the same God. This
day must be for you day of Christian
joy. of deep satisfaction, of holy work
planned and accomplished. Is it not
WE'LL therefore, that today should he
day of rejoicing? Lift up your souls in
thanksgiving that you are associated
with a church that is erected in the
faith of Catholicism. The name OF
Catholic which is affixed and given to
your church becomes honorable and
high. because during long centuries the
name has been stamped upon the
church of Christ. The Catholic today
has a glory known to none other. This
day, therefore, should be IA day of re-
joicing to you, because of the promise
given to Peter, and which has been
handed down to US through the CEN
turtles, that through the days of perse-
cution he should spread abroad
through the world the word of the
church OF Christ
This church. in its providence en-
bracins all the nations of men, is un-
like all other denominations and relig-
ious institutions. Can we not, dear
Christian friends, reason and go out
with God, rejoicing that by our sacr-
Aces and r'demptions we can proclaim
to the world that we are members
of this church,: II is your glory that
this church, which the world calls
Catholic, EMBRACES all the nations of
the world, $3.50
The bishop dweIt upon the early
foundation of the church, saying that
the Catholic church was the first re-
- aau