The Washington times., 1902-04-14
Solemn Ceremonies Mark
Opening of the
Services.
TO Be CLOSED TOMORROW EVENING
High Mass and a Procession in Honor OF
the Blessed Sacrament-children Take
Part in ObseTvance-A Scene of Rich
Beauty.

Enriched with solemn music, the grave
and magnificent GreSorian chant OF the
payne Lingua Gloriosi," the fragrance OF
clouds of incense uprising in the sunlight,
mingling with the perfumes Of spring flow
ers strewn in the path of the Blessed
Sacrament by little children, the service
of the forty hours devotion was begun at
st. Patrick's Church yesterday.
The scene III the church was one OF
beauty. All those details which the ritual
of the Roman Catholic Church provides
for the dignity and splendor of her more
elaborate services were carried out with
the careful attention characteristic of this
house of worship. The devotion to the
eucharist is one Of the marked features
of ST. Patriek's congregation, as DR.. Stat
ford himself said in the course OF his
remarks, and it was but natural that
nothing should be left undone to add TO
the impressiveness of the occasion.
High Mass Celebrated.
The solemn high mass was celebrated at
II O'Clock Ly Manager Rocker Of the
Apostolic Delegation. assisted by the Rev.
Fathers Dolan and Gaynor, OF St Pat
rick's, as deacon and subdeacon respec-
lively. The altar was beautiiied by many
clusters of cut flowers and surrounded by
palms artistically grouped. and the bril-
Iiancy of a multitude of candles was en-
HANGED a: the moment of conservation by
the groups of electric lights in ard about
the chancel. In recognition of the festive
nature of the day the officiating clergy
ill had in riTh
cIoth-of-gold, which the rubrics of the
church permit to be used in place OF two
of her liturgical colors, white and red
The mingled mass of colors. the gold
OF the yestments. the red OF the cottas
of the acolytes. the white Of the sur
plices and OF the marble altar seen in
contrast with the green Of the surround
ing palms. the whole harmonized and
softened by the clouds OF incense, made
a picture OF rare solemnity. Across it
ran broad chevrons of sunlight. many
tinted from the stained glass windows.
forming pathways of light in which, for
an instant, the smoke of incense foated
before il disappeared.
DR.. Stafford's Address.
There was no sermon proper. but the
pastor, the Rev DR.. Stafford. spoke
few words on the devotion in progress.
He began by quoting the cpistle and Cos
pei Of the mass of the day-the mass
celebrated. however. was OF necessity the
yotiye mass of the blessed sacrament
and said in part:
This devotion could be no better ex-
pressed Christ suffered for US. leaving
you an example that you should follow
his example; who did no sin, neither was
guile found in his mouth. For
you were as sheep going astray, but are
now converted to the shepherd and bishop
Of your souls
And again, ST. John. who understood
SO well the divine love and caught up the
beautiful sayings o. our Lord says: Il
am the good shepherd. The good shep-
herd giveth his life for his sheep"
As the father knoweth me and know the
father, and ! lay down my life for my
sheep.
'Mong Chiiaren of Men"
when our Lord was here upon the
earth he loved to go among the people
He mingled with them, healing the sick
ness and disease and infrmities that were
then as common. alas, as they are today
and as they must always be. So the