Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-12-08
CELEBRATION
IN HOLY CITY
Festival ofThe Immaculate Coz.
cepiion Of The Blessed
Virgin
MAGNIFICENT
SPECTACLE
Brilliant Observance of''Marimn
Congress-" All The Nations
Of The World Represented

HUME, DVNs o. U'if NhH " Wub
nifIcent spectacle In 81. Peters to-
day on the occasion Of the colcbra-
tion 81 tho jubilee Of the procIama-
tion OF the Immaculate Conception,
Obseryances In connection with tho
jubilee have been In progress for
n month or more. and the celebra.
tion reached a glorious climax today
with the celebration OF the papa
mass In St Peters. followed by tho
solemn browning by Plus X. OF the
mosaic picture OF "our Lady in tho
choir chapel.
The interior of the vast basiIica
was illuminated and adorned with
magnificent hangIngs, and the build
Ing was filled with n great c%oncourso
OF people. including all the pontifical
dlgnitaries, diplomats and the Roman
nobility. From all parts Of the
Catholic world n~relates and priests !
had ~journeycd hthcr u participate
In the celebration, From the United
States there was present a pilgrimage
ut more than 1000 lay members of
the church, headed by a distinguish.
ed delegation Of churohmen that in
cluded Bishop O'Donnell OF Brooklyn,
Bishop Chatard OF Indianapolis. Pres
ident Morrisaey Of Notre Dame I'm
iyersity and a number Of others.
italian troops kept order In the
square u Sc. Peters while tho ponii-
ficai ~bodyguard was stationed within
the cathedral.
Pope Plus. attIred Ia hts state robes,
was borne on the sedia gestatoria at
the head Of an imposing procession
composed OF the entire papal court,
900 patriarchs. cardinals, archbishops
and bishops. A roar OF cheering rose
from the multitude on the pope's ap
pcarance. but the applause was quick
ly hushed by the guards. When the
cortege reached the choir the pope
alighfed, took his seat on the pom
tlfical throne. and the cardinals and
other ecciesiastics massed around
him. The solemn ceremony Of the
papal mass was then proceeded with.
A feature OF the Impressive cere
monies was the singing OF Perosi's
new cantata IAN lmmacolata."
The browning Of the MOSAIC picture
Of Our Lady followed the celebrA
tion or the pApal mass. Exactly lift,
years ago today. Immediately after
the mass In which the dogma Of
the Immaculate Conception was do
fined, Plus TX. set a rich rown OF
ahis image, but the new crown placed
there today by Pope Plus X. Is vastly
more precious. II consists OF twelve
large stars, formed Of hundreds Of
precious stones. ana united by ~
aureole Of solid gold.
An interesting feature In connec
tion with the present jubilee celebra
tion has been somewhat overshadow
ed by the brilliant ceremonies In 81
Peters. This Is the Marian Con
gress'' now in progress In the vas
church Of the Twelve Apostles. and Il
the halls OF the Cancellaria n tn
Roman seminary. All countries O
the civilized world are represented i
The congress and also In the Maria
exposition, which occupies the eigh
large halls on the first floor of IN
I~.ateran palace.
The festival of the lmmacnlat
Conception OF the Blessed Virgin
fraceable in the Greek church fror
The end Of tho 5th century. and I
the Latin dates from the 7ih Gel
fury. A great controversy prevaile
for n long time 10 the West as I
whether and in what sense III
Blessed Virgin Mary was TO be heI
immaculate, and In what sense n
Blessed Virgin herself was to !
held conceived without sin. In u
end. at the instance of bishops
various parts Of the church, Poi
Plus TX. addressed a circular 10 =
bishops OF each nation calling 1
their opinion and that Of their ?,
PIE a. 10 tho faith Of The church
the point. on the receipt Of rep'l
all but absolutely unanimous 4
pope Issued a solemn decree IN Ioa
in a numerous council of bishops
December 3. 1854, declaring the &c