The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-31
IN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
Easter Sunday Impressively Ce1ebrat-
ed i'm All of Them.

In the Catholic churches yesterday the
day, while gloomy outside. took on an APP
pearance of splendor and grandeur to
commemorate the feast of the resurrection.
The gloom which had pervaded the church
during the forty days of Lent. and espe-
cially the past two weeks for the passion.
when the interior of the church was
adorned in somber purple. gave way to a
brighter scene when the mufied bells yes
terday pealed forth their tidings of the
day. Instead of purple. the affairs and in
terror of the church were beautifully deco
rated with roses. lilies, potted palms and
ferns and other gems of the %hothouses.
In many of the churches the first exercises
were held at 6 o'clock. while at Sacred
Heart Church the first mass was read at
3 a. m.
The largest of the day was
where the Rt. Rev. Bishop Chatard read
mass at 1890 O'Clock. Tn church was
decorated beautifully for this mass. The
huge marble altar in the middle of the
white roses, white heather and Easter
lilies. Twining about the large candle
streamers of Southern smilax. At each
end Of the altar were placed large pots of
ferns. The two side affairs were also taste
fully decorated with cut flowers and pOtted
fN. ~ 6HN' 81 ~ AHNhA 10 49,
mainly by wax candles 10 the number of
ninety. On the cupOla above the altar were
arranged several rows Of small incandes-
cent electric lights. which ended on the top
i'm a large cross made of larger electric
lights.
The Rt. Rev. Bishop Chatard made his
entrance through the south door of the
sanctuary, and. after blessing the assistant
priests, proceeded to the pontiical throne
on the right Here the bishop was di-
vested of his episcopal robes and donned
the slippers. chasuble and other robes nee
essary for the celebration of mass. About
twenty acoiytes in charge of Master Will
liam Schiferdecker came from the rear OF
the altar and arranged themselves about
the sanctuary. Standing on either side of
the throne were the Rev. Stephen DOnahue
and Il. j. Cribben, OF Niagara University,
acting as deacons of honor. the Revs. r. j.
Zirchelbach as deacon and James McCooi
as subdeacon of the mass. The Rev. F. H.
GaviSk was assistant priest.
After the bishop had donned his robes for
the mass he proceeded to the main altar
and dispensed incense. The Rev. Father
McCool then read the epistle, followed by
the reading of the gospel by the Rev. +.
j. Zirchelbach. At the close of the gospel
Father Donahu delivered the sermon. His
remarks were mainly on the celebration OF
the day. I'm the feast of Easter Sunday"
he said. 1.-The hearts of all Christians leap
with JOY. II proves that the dead shall
rise again TO everlasting life. Through this
earth we must roam and in the end die.
Through it all we must suffer poignant
pain. However long may be the life of the
present. there must come lNdt ldSl ana
bitter drop of the cup-death. The church
calls on us to-day TO rejoice and be glad
that her founder has risen. When Jesus
hung from the cross there came 10 His
ears, Come down from the cross but He
would rather atone for the sins of this
world and open up for our sake the gates
of heaven, which had been closed against us
by sin. He could have struck down His
prosecutors. The church triumphs because
in the resurrection of Christ was a triumph
for the world. If we comply with the con-
HftfOpG set HOurn nv Christ wa Qho1 also
rise again like Him to glory. Our bodies
are but little composed as they are of the
dust of the earth. We must not use them
for the sins of the world to purchase that
delusive peace OF cOuntenance that will in
the end result in the death of the immortal
soul. What will il avail us If we gain
everything in this world and lose our souls?
We must follow Christ's teaching If we are
10 enjoy the glories of God"
At the conclusion Of Father Donahue's
sermon Bishop Chatard sang the opening
OF the "Credo., When the choir had nm
ished singing the bishop. with his assist
ants. went to the large altar, where prepa-
ratiOnS were made for the beginning Of the
sacrifice Of the mass, while the choir sang
the anthem for the ohertory, 20 Salutarts
Hostia." During the conservation and prior
to the "Pater Noster" the bishop impaired
TO each OF the priests the kiss of peace"
Al the close OF the mass the bishop. with
his retinue OF priests, again returned TO the
throne. where preparations were made for
the giving OF the papal benediction for those
that received holy communion yesterday.
Father GaviSk went to the front of the
sanctuary. where he read the papal bull in
which authority is given bishops 10 impart
the papal blessing.
At ST. Patrick's Church. on Woodlawn
avenue, the high mass was read by Father
Maher. The Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Donaghue
delivered the sermon. Bishop O'Donaghue's
topic consisted mainly of the character OF
Church. The church was beautifully deco
rated with cut flowers and palms.