Mexico Missouri message., 1905-06-15
Sixty-one Children Will Long Re.
member the Day.

az tCu " SlOCh luC plOCSoolOu vi
children escOrting the Archbishop
into the church started from the
parochial residence. The little
boys dressed in black led the way,
then the little girls tastefulIy at
tired in snow white dresses aud
wearing the long white wells and
wreaths of flowers, symbolic of
purity and innocence. Next came
Father Dillon, pastor of st. Bren-
denis, followed by the visiting
clergy, namely:
Rev. Fr. Ryan, Moberly.
Rev. FIR. Schafer, "
Rev. FIR. Tuohy, Jonesburg
Rev. FIR. GaYen, st. Louis.
Rev. FIR. Rooeger, New Frank
lin.
French Consul General NJ. Be-
vier, st. Louis, and last came the
Archbishop arraycd in full pOnti-
ficals, and as his Grace entered
the church the choir greeted him
by singing the "Salve Regina"
and the congregation arose to re.
ceive his blessing.
The children took seats in the
front pews reserved for them while
the Archbishop and priests were
provided with chairs in the sane
tuary. Mass was celebrated by
Rev. Father Gaven of st. Louis
and the music, which was of high
order, was rendered by the church
choir assisted by Mr.. Paul ST..
Vrain and Miss Alberta Kennen.
At the conclusion of mass til e
Archbishop delivered a very in
structiye sermon to the cOnfrma-
tiOn class. Being the feast of St.
Mark on the church calendar it
was peculiarly fitting that he chose
for his theme The Saints of the
Church. ." He went back to the
first Christians and to the first
confirmation class, when the Holy
Ghost came down upon the apostles
in the tongues of fire to teach them
all the truth and endow them with
power from on high. Go teach
all the nations" said Christ, and
being filled with the Holy Ghost
they began to teach, converting
great multitudes. In beautiful
language he explained how, since
the dawn of Christianity, the
church has revered her saints. To
be more explicit to the youthful
minds of his hearers he alluded
briefly to the love aud esteem ev-
cry nation has for her heroes.
This grand United States has a
Washington, a jefferson aud a
Sheridan to whom we point with
pride, and France turns to the
tomb of her favorite son. About
these tombs are placed the blood.
stained trophies of these houOred
heroes to show to the world the
victories they have won, banners
stained with blood of those they
have killed. Those not of our
faith point with pride to Martin
Luther, to Calvin and Knox,
but they can go no further, while
you, my dear children of the Cath
Ollie fold, what joy to point to the
banner of your faith. You can go
in direct line to the cross and you
will see inscribed upon your ban
ner the teaching orders of the
church, the Franciscans, the Do
minicans, the Redemptionists, the
Jesuits and many others. There
you will see the tombs of the Mar
tyrs and read of the victories of
the Coliseum.
You will find thereon the way of
the cross, the road to calvary
stained, ,ah, yes, my dear children,
your banner is stained with blood
but it is the precious blood of your
Savior who died for you upon the
cross and not with the blood of
those he had killed. In conclu.
sion he exhorted each and all to
go forth as did the apostles after
the first pentecost to teach by