Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-25
Catholics to Celebrate OUTGOING
of the Century.
THERE WILL Be MIDNIGHT MASSES
Archbishop John j. keene of Dubuque
Addresses the Priests of the Diocese
in Reference to the Observation of
the Occasion.
From Mondays Daily.

i'm tioludy DdllSs
The midnight masses to be celebrat-
ed New Years eve in the Catholic
churches of Ottumwa have an unusual
Significance this year. They are in
commemoration of the departing cen
fury and also in honor of the one
which is about to be ushered in. Sim
liar services are to be held in every
Catholic church in the world.
Once Every Century.
The holy year has been celebrated
under the title of the Jubilee Year,
every 100 years, since the end of the
thirteenth century. but the celebra-
ton never was SO universal as this
year. Acting by virtue of the bull is
sued from Rome a year ago the bish-
ops sent to all Catholic pastors in
their dicoeses communications eX-
horting them to solemnize the death
of the old century and the birth of the
new, by the celebration of midnight
masses in all the churches. This ex-
hortation has been accepted in the
spirit of a command and is as follows:
Dear Reverend Father: Our holy
| father, Pope Leo XIII, by his decree OF
November 10, of the last year, per
mitted that this year also, at mid
night of December 81, for the ushering
in not only of the new year but also
of the new century, the most blessed
sacrament should be solemnly eX-
posed in all churches and chapels; and
| that one mass of the circumcision of
our Lord and the octave of the nativ-
+ ty should be said or sung in it's pres
ence; the faithful being. by special
privilege, permitted to receive the
IA t1r>
mass or before or after it.
| His holiness, in order to add great
er solemnity to the occasion, and in
order to induce the faithful in still
greater numbers to offer to our divine
Lord their homages of PREPARATION and
consecration, has not only renewed
the above mentioned permission, but
has lovingly opened to all devout wor-
shippers the church's treasury of indul-
gences He grants therefore plen-
airy indulgence to all who, having wor-
thily received the sacraments of pen.
ance and the holy Bucharest, shall
spend an entire hour in prayer before
the blessed sacrament, solemnly ex.
posed as above mentioned, between
midnight of December 81 and noon OF
January l, and shall also pray for the
intentions of his holiness.
You will please communicate this
to your flock and exhort them to re-
lspond devoutly to the invitation of the
holy father
Wherever it is found impracticable
to keep the blessed sacrament exposed
continuously from midnight until noon
with sufficient number of adorers
the exposition may be suspended soon
after midnight mass and resumed
about o'clock.
Wishing to yourself and your flock
all the happiness of the approaching
holy season. John ]. Keane,
Archbishop of Dubuque"
The holy year." said priest to
day, lis celebrated at the close of each
century in thanksgiving for divine
blessings received and in order to in
culcate fit religious spirit for the
new century. The Jubilee year. as il
is called, has been commemorated ev
cry hundred years since the ending OF
1.-THE thirteenth century, when it was
Einaugurated by Pope Boniface VIII
The last century closed without the
lsolemnities because the chair of Pete,
was vacant, by death. The year is
marked by pilgrimages to Rome ant
Especial indulgences are granted by the
i pontiff"