The San Francisco call., 1904-03-18
Pontifical High Mass
Celebrated by the
Archbishop.

Not unmindful of the religious as
pect of the day, Catholic churches
were comfortably filled yesterday
morning by young and old eager to do
homage to the patron saint of Ire
land. st. Patrick's Church, on Mis-
sion street, between Third and
Fourth, was filled to overlooking at the
pontifical high mass, which was cele-
brated by Archbishop Montgomery.
A portion of the church had been
reserved for the representatives of the
local irish societies. The altar was
handsomely decorated, and in addition
to the organ an orchestra of stringed
instruments rendered beautiful music.
A we'll trained choir under the direc-
ton of Miss Short lent additional at
tractiveness to the musical pro-
gramme. At 10 o'clock Archbishop
Montgomery celebrated pontifical
high mass. Rev. j. NJ. Barry oficiated
as deacon. Rev. M. Horan sub-deacon,
Rev. p. j. Cummins assistant to the
Archbishop, and Rev. p. e. Mulligan
master of ceremonies.
Father Concannon of Stockton
preached a sermon in the Gaelic
tongue on the life and the influence of
st. Patrick. The preacher is man Of
much eloquence and magnetism and
one of the leading orators in the Gae-
lie language in the United States. Rev.
P w. Sullivan of the Potrero parish
and a graduate of one of the French
theological colleges, also preached a
sermon, He said in part:
One Of the most remarkable and at the
same time one of the most admirable traits OF
the Irish character is the love IT always dis
plays for its native land. No matter where
an Irishman emigrates to. he always feels
proud of his nationality. And his son and
their sons possess the same Characteristics.
In fact every person through whom Irish
blood courses is proud of the fact.
This. their festal day. is celebrated by
Irishmen in every place on land where
Irishman can be found. 1t is an occasion
that binds all hearts together.
We have gathered together in this sacred
edihee this morning TO utter that prayer which
goes up on the nth OF March from every
loyal Irish heart.
Every nation sets aside some day in the year
to honor its heroes. Some have heroes who
have achieved eminence in battle, others honor
those who were prominent in commerce. and
others commemorate the achievements of great
in governmental affairs.
st. Patrick, the hero of Ireland, is not of this
class. His victories were all of spiritual or
der He led the Irish from ignorant heathen-
ism to the knowledge of heavenly good and
everlasting life.
Since then the Irish race has become a
kingly race-always ready to fight the battles
of the wronged and oppressed. The people of
Ireland have spread the light of religion and
civilization to the utmost corners of the earth.
St. Patrick first announced the gospel to the
barons and chieftains of Ireland and soon
every person the island Christian.
Ireland is the only nation that received the
faith willingly and without the shedding Of a
lxovx 81 floI Dat
land was as Catholic she is to-day
Early in her religious history Ireland be-
came known through the religious world as the
Isle of Saints and Scholars. There were
preachers in every part of Ireland. and they
established Churches schools and hospitals In
every place that they were in.
time OF adversity finally came, and for
over a thousand years the people of Ireland
had TO fight for their liberty, During that
time their spiritual belief never wavered
hilate the Catholic religion in Ireland, but the
people no matter what internal dissensions
they were lahoring under, always presented a
united faith to the foes of their belief and
defeated them on every occasion.
They were prosecuted. They suffered the
loss Of property, friends and life, but in all
these prosecutions they have stood like a rock
unmoved in their faith. No other nation was
ever put to such a test but the Irish emerged
triumphant.
You have spread the gospel of Christ and
past and exhort you to continue the work In
the future.
Parents were especially cautioned TO incul.
cate the doctrines of Catholicism in the minds
manded TO lead lives that would cause their
religion to be looked upon as a religion OF
honesty, sobriety and charity
At the conclusion of the pontifical
high mass Archbishop Montgomery
blessed the congregation