The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-03

The greatest day I'm the history OF ST.
Mary's church, at the corner or Broad
way and Barton street was yesterday. It
was not only great I'm the history OF st.
Mary's but Il was great in the ecclesiasti-
cal history OF Rhode Island and indeed
throughout New England for the conse-
Grafton OF Catholic church is not a fire.
quent occurrence. that OF yesterday be-
ing but the second in the history OF
Catholicism I'm this city.
For years the people OF the parish have
been burdened with heavy debt which
but recently was entirely lifted. with the
burden Of debt swept away plans, how
ever Tor the complete renovation OF the
interior OF the church were formulated
with the result that for months the most
skilled artisans have been at work re-
decorating the church and building "A
most beautiful marble altar which was
described in these columns recently.
Not only has the great debt been lifted
from the church property but the Inn
provements. costing many thousands of
dollars have been paid for so that the
conservation OF yesterday was made pos
sible.
OPENING CEREMONY.
The ceremonies began at a. m. with
a procession of the clergy the sanctuary
boys and the bishops who passed from the
sacristy outside TO the central front door
After reading the special prayers for the
occasion the bishop. leading the process
sion passed three times around the outside
of the church sprinkling the walls with
holy water.
lie then returned To the central door
and with his crozier knocked for admit
tance.
A. /.
empty with the exception OF one priest
who opened the door in response to the
bishops knock
Entering the church followed by the
procession the bishop passed TO the CEN
tire of the same and after reading certain
prayers. wrote with his pastoral staff on,
the ashes. which had been previously
placed on the floor. tho Greek and Latin
alphabets, thus slgnifying that the
church OF God is universal
The bishop then approached nearer TO
the altar and there blessed the holy water
which was used i'm the subsequent cere-
monies OF the day. A procession was
then formed which passed around the
church. the bishop meanwhile, sprinkling
the walls with holy water.
The final and chief ceremonial was the
blessing OF the new altar. AS all Catho-
lies konw. the alter of consecrated
church must be built OF stone with per-
manent foundations extending deep into
tho ground. There are many beautiful
ceremonies which form this rite OF con-
secrating an altar. and these were per-
formed by the bishop assisted by the
clergy.
CONSECRATING THE ALTAR.
Perhaps the most interesting part OF the
ceremonial was the placing OF the relics
OF saint or martyr within the marble
top Of the altar.
This custom as ancient almort as the
church itself, arises from custom I'm
the early Christian church. OF using the
tombs Of martyrs in the Roman catl-
combs as altars The relics are really the
bones of some martyr found I'm the cata-
combs. ana the relics placed by the blsh-
op yesterday were those OF 81 Devarls.
tus a Pope and martyr OF the early his
tory of the church.
The ceremonial OF consecrating the al
tar was attended only BY the bishop and
the clergy. u was followed however. by
n mass celebrated By the bishop at 3
o'clock followed b. the sacrament. OF con
frmation 90 a class of 2o6. a second mass
was celohra ted at 9.2) o'clock. the music
at both being furnished by the children
of ST. Mary's school.
A PoNT1FICAL MASS
The chief ceremony OF the day was the
celebration of solemn Pontihcal mass at
n o'clock Admission 10 this service was
only by card yet the vast ediicc was
crowded 10 the doors and hundreds from
without vainly sought sdmittance. The
mcrnins Nss suggestion % one Of