The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-27
AN IMPRESSIVE SERVICE
GREAT ATTENDANCE AT THE FU-
NERAL OF MGR. BESsONIEs.
The Priesthood and Laity Do Honof
to the Memory of u Well
Beloved Man.


called by many of the citizens of Indian
apolis, who knew him well, was buried
yesterday in vault in the Sacred Heart
chapel of st. Johns Church, which was
erected through his efforts. and where for
many years he heard confessions
The church was crowded, and hundreds
were turned from the doors, there being
no room for them inside. The greater
part of the congregation was composed of
women-Catholics and Protestants.
The church was draped in black, purple
and white, and above the cas<et. which
rested on the catafalque in front of the
altar, was large purple canopy. On the
altar and about the casket were lighted
candles. In the transept were seated men,
bers of the Sisters of Providence on the
left and the Sisters of Charity, in robes
OF black, the right. and the members
Of the clergy, dressed in the flowing white
robes of the priesthood. The priests en-
tered as the church organ opened with
it's solemn tones. slowly marching in front
of the image Of the Virgin Mary, where
each knelt with bowed head, then passed
to the side OF the open casxet and to the
seats reserved for them. Then began
long. low. solemn chant by the priests and
the entry of the choir boys, dressed in
white, who took places at the left of the
altar.
Then followed the services known as the
Office of the dead, consisting of the in
toning of numerous Psalms and chapters
from the book of Job. and concluded with
the chanting of the Canticles of Zachariah.
This service was followed by the pom
tifical high mass, administered by Bishop
cd hu ba hr1rni inc of in
cense and the burning of candles about
the casket and in the hands of the priests.
THE FUNERAL SERMON.
The candles were extinguished at the
conclusion of the service. and Father Denis
McCabe followed with the funeral sermon,
saying in part:
I'VE will not call him the Right Rever-
end Monsignor Bessonies,'' he said, I'VE
will call him Father Bessonies; it was
by this name that he has endeared himself
to the city of Indianapolis and the great
How different is this scene" said the
speaker, from that which occurred one
bled to do honor to tie good shepherd of
the flock, to celebrate the sixtieth ami
versary OF his ordination as a priest.
You sat In prayerful administration of
the patriarch as he assembled the altar TO
offer the holy sacrifice of the mass. How
different the impressions that in our
InluuS tO-udy. lOeTe Is sadness IN our
hearts. We can scarcely, even as we
look at these badges of mourning, believe
that good old Father Bessonies is gone
Sixty-one years of priestly sacrifice! What
a crown of gloryl What diadem of great
ness and of grandeur. Following the ex-
ample of the Divine Master, he touched
misery with the holy hand of mercy Sim
pie and humble as he was he knew the
words of the apostle that the priest must
be the other Christ. Father Bessonies
brought sunshine and let the gieam of
ont frfn hal slar..
sorrow, suffering and misery.
I'VE must realize that the man who lies
there this morning was a French baron.
a son OF nobility; that he sacrificed home
and family ties to come, sixty-one years
ago, to Indiana, then wilderness, as one
OF that devoted band OF French priests
brought here by Bishop Brute.
What work was done by that stalwart
band. Maurice Thompson pays a high
tribute to their valor, to their intensity of
faith, to their fidelity to duty.
He grieved With you in your sorrow, he
rejoiced with you in your prosperity and
In your success. Kind and charitable he
in need"
The procession to the burial vault be-
gan at the conclusion of the sermon by
LED BY THE BISHOP.
Bishop Chatard led the procession, be-
ing preceded by priest bearing the cross,
| and followed by Bishops Alerding and
who bore the casket, which was carried
down the center aisle. thence to the north
| aisle and up the aisle TO the Sacred Heart
chapel, where the vault had been pre-
pared and draped with purple and white.
Following the casket were the attending
| priests, each carrying lighted tapers. Dur
| ing the march of the procession Psalms
were chanted and incense burned. The
| casket holding the remains of the good
| priest were lowered 10 their last resting
| place, amid the prayers OF the great con-
| gregation and his fellow-workers. The
| last prayers of Bishop Chatard were Of
| fered, and the casket in its place was COW
cred with black shroud and the grave
| closed. The permanent sealing of the
vault was done during the afternoon. 1t
was closed with cement. On the top OF
| the vault will be placed brass plate with
| an appropriate inscription and later a
| tablet will be erected in the chapel TO the
memory OF Father Bessonies.
The decorations of the church will be
| left In position until Monday, when they
| will be taken down. Members of the clergy
/ were lavish in their praise or Miss Maytie
1 Rail. who presided at the church organ in
the absence of the regular organist Size
/ took the place UPON notice OF only a few
hours. The music was more than usually
| difficult.