Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-09
HONORS To FALC0N|O
Church and Society Attend
Big Reception.
MANY KISS HIS HAND
PRELATE PRESENT AT SOLEMN
HIGH PoNTIFICAL MASS.
In Observance of Feast of the Immac-
ulate Conception - Bishop
Conaty Speaks.

The feast of the Immaculate Conception
was observed with more than usual cere-
mony at the Catholic University yesterday.
The celebration began with solemn high
pontifcal mass in the university chapel and
ended with a brilliant reception to Arch
bishop Faconio, the new papal legate. dur
ing the course of which society, as well as
the church. paid its tribute to the distin-
gdished prelate.
The two ceremonies, if the reception can
be called such, were probably the most
elaborate that have been given at the uni
versity for many years. In the interval
between the close of the church services
and the beginning of the reception the
guests of the university. many Of them
Catholic priests of more or less high rank,
were the guests of Bishop Conaty, the rec.
tor of the institution.
High Pontifical Mass.
The solemn high pontifical mass was cele-
brated in the chapel in Caldwell Hall and
presented brilliant spectacle. The chapel
was crowded with professors and students.
Bishop Conaty sang the mass, and he was
assisted by the Rev. William B. Martin of
New York, celebrant; the Rev. Stephen n.
Moore of Lostant, H., deacon; the Rev.
Father Achstetter of Baltimore, subdeacon,
and the Rev. Thomas E. Michigan OF Bal
timore, master of ceremonies.
Archbishop Falconio, the papal legate, in
cope and inter, occupied a seat in the sane
tuary with the Rev John A Burns c. S. c..
president of Holy Cross College, and the
Rev. Daniel Duffy, S. s., president Of ST
Austins College, as assistants. each dressed
in the robes of his office. Mgr Rocker, the
secretary OF the apostolic delega ton. also
occupied a place in the sanctuary. AS the
occasion was considered a university cere-
monia as well as a religious rite, the pro-
fessors and students attending all wore
their academic robes.
Sermon by DR.. Stafford.
The sermon was preached by the Rev.
D. J. Stafford ID, of st. Patrick's Church.
DR. Stafford traced the works of God from
the creation. He spoke of His goodness
and the foolishness of man in SHINING
against such goodness. This sin forced the
separation between man and God, and in
order that the redemption might have eff
feet 1t was necessary that God assume hu-
man ature in one who was Sinless Hence
was the blessed Virgin selected al the in
termediary between God and man, and by
the act of God was freed from every stain
of sin. The sermon was eloquent amt force
full, glowing with beautiful passages and
logical reasoning.
Dinner was served al the residence of the
rector in honor of Archbishop Falconio.
This was the first event of the kind given
in honor of the prelate by his fellow priests
since his arrival in the city and a score
or more of the leading figures in the church
in the District of Columbia gathered about
the board. Bishop Conaty proposed the
health of the holy father which was drunk
standing. In proposing a toast to the apos-
toic delegate Mgr. Conaty extended a well
come to the guest of honor sent by the
pope, to whom the university owes its
being.
Mgr. Conaty Speaks
referring IN he CHI ord