The Washington times., 1901-08-03
KEPT WITH SOLEMN RITES.
Franciscans Observe the Feast of
Our Lady of Angels.

Crowds Throne the Monnstic Chapel
Mt BrooLIand to- Gain the Porfi-
uncuIa Indulgence - The Curious
Features Peculiar to the Day.
| In the little chapel of Our Lady of An
! gels, at the Franciscan monastery IN
! Brookland, where the tropic green of cius-
/ terng palms hid the bare yellow walls
/ and the tall tapers shone against the
background of blue. ever the color pecu-
/ liar to the feasts of the blessed virgin,
| the solemn celebration was held yester-
| day of the feast from which the little
! chapel takes its name The incense. as 1t
| wreathed among the leaves or rose into
| the sunlight above. to float for a min
ute before vanishing, the sonorous chords
| of the organ, the swinging censer. the
twinklins altar lights and the solemn
! chantings of the mass, the prayerful
silences when the sacring bell was rung,
seemed all to unite to tell one ;torys-the
story of the granting of the indulgence
| of Portiuncula-
| Instinctively the mind wandered back
! to the ruined chapel near Assissi-the lit
| tie portion of St Francis-and the cere-
mony that was going before the eyes
and that wonderful vision of the Middle
Ages became. as 1t were bound together
in some mystic way. Music, ceremonies
and all, they told once again the temp
tations of St. Francis, his terrible self
punishment in the thcket of thorns and
the marvellous sight that greeted him
when he returned to the church: of the
promise he secured of an Indulgence for
all who should visit that place, and of
those thorns that tore the flesh of the
saint and then blossomed, even though
| 1t was mid-winter, and have ever since
bioomed, bearing leaves still blood
stained, and always without thorns, in
token of the Poor Man who was the
thornless Rose of Assist.
The chapel of the monastery was well
| filled when the high mass began at 10
o'clock. Father Solier, of the Marist
| community, was celebrant, and two other
members of the same order, Fathers Bu-
tin and Dubois. assisted him as deacon
and subdeacon. respectively. A short
sermon bearing on the indulgence of Por-
tiuncuia was preached by Father Will
liam, of the Franciscans.
All through the day, until the expira-
| ton of the indulgence at sundown, the
| church was thronged with a multitude of
people, who We're almost constantly in
| motion, passing in and out of the build
| ing. 1t was not difficult to see how the
| name 'in-and-out day arose. Those who
| gained the outside did not pause. but re-
| turned at once to the church for another
| prayer and another visit. AS the day
advanced the crowd became constantly
| greater. until at o'clock. when compline
was sung. the church was more than
| comfortably crowded
The visitors who made the pilgrimage
| BrOOkland n
.ditions, old and young, white and black.
| Old age passed feebly in and out of the
building. side by side with little children.
who knelt and prayed with all the un
| questioning faith of childhood.
| The beautifully decorated side chapel
| of Our Lady of Angels was the one most
means neglected. st. Anthonys Chapel
was usually thronged. many kneeling
| on the altar steps for want of room else
where, while scattered about the church
| wherever opportunity afforded were
| groups of worshippers in silent devotion
| Laymen and priests were mingled in the
crowd, whose largest proportion, how
| Many of those present had evidently
come from long distance. and not a few
were far-sighted enough to carry
| luncheon with them. Those who did
bring edible supplies camped out under
| the trees of the nearby hill during the
heat of the day. joining later in. the
throng of devotees in the church. Coun-
| in their own rigs. and almost every va
riety of turnout was to be seen. from the
natty dog cart to the familiar '-cauy-aH'
of the more distant rural districts.
The requirements for obtaining the in
dulgence were that those who had pre-
pared themselves by confession and COM
munion should visit the church and there
say a prayer for the intention Of the
Pope. As many visits one wished
could be made. the indulgence being
granted for each visit. Each time the
church was entered counted as a visit.
gence is peculiar to Franciscan churches.
although in some localities where there
are none Of these. parish churches have
been endowed with the faculty. Origi-
nally it was confined to the chapel of st.
Mary of the Angels. in Assist. where the
privilege was first granted. The indui-
was living at this chapel near AssiSsi. Be
ing, as the story goes. grievously tempted.
he fled into a tiicket of thorns, and rolled
found himself surrounded by a bright
light. and To- the thorn bushes were COW
cred with red and white roses. Some
chapel, where he beheld a vision of our
Lord and his blessed mother. Embold-
ened by the favors he had received, he
erward ratified by the Church.
At sunset the altar candles were eN-
tinguished as the sound of the cannon at
hills. the doors were closed and the in
al inn