The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
MANY CATHOLICS
 ATTEND SERVICES Feast of the Assumption is
 Duly Celebrated FATHER COYLE BREACHES Recites Tradition of Early Christians Regarding Assumption of Mary Into Heaven and Explains Devotion
 to the Virgin.
FATHER COYLE BREACHES

In the Catholic churches throughout the world yesterday was observed as the feast Of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin
 In Birmingham large congregations at tended services at St. Pauls and the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows There We're three masses at St. Paul's-at 6. 7;S0 and o clock The Rev. Father Kitrick was eelebrant at the first and second services and the Rev. Father Coyle was celebrant and preacher at the last mass The handsome marble altar was garnish- ed with flowers and was resplendent with sacred utensils of gold Many candles H. luminated the sanctuary and to complete the brilliant setting the officiating priest wore rich vestments, including chasuble of white watered silk, hand-painted and trimmed with gold
 The choir rendered beautiful music and Father coyle, between the gospel and the credo, delivered a short discourse. say ing in part.
 By many gladstone feasts and festivals during the ecclesiastcal year does the church honor Mary; and today is one of the gladdest and grandest of all. for the church, the world over, celebrates the Assumption into heaven of the ever bless ed Virgin. What does this mean--this As sumption-and wherefore does the church today in special feast, render honor to Mary. Gods Mother and ours? This feast needs little explanation for the Catholic who truly loves his queen.
 Every child of the church knows full well that by the Assumption Is meant the unique honor given by God to Mary, and to Mary only of all the mortals of being received, after her death, body and soul. into heaven.
 'The constant tradition of the church, from the days of the early Christians till now, is as follows: Mary, after her Sons ascension, when the apostles dispersed to preach to the nations, accompanied St John, her adopted son. and lived with him about twelve years. When she felt that death was drawing near. she return ed to Jerusalem, to die in the holy city, where Jesus. her Son, had suffered such g bitter death. At the moment of her dissolution all the apostles except St. Thomas, were present. Thomas came a few days after the body had been placed in the tomb Wishing to have one last look at the earthly remains, he was al- lowed to remove the stone from the sepulchre, and lol nothing was there but the linen and the flowers that loving hands had placed around the bier. God willed that the pure body and blood, tyt.f formed, should not be prey to corrup- tion. and so he sent His angels earth ward. They bore aloft her body reunited to her soul; and Mary, attended by this brilliant train, triumphantly ascended into heaven.
 Father Coyle, after reciting some of the reasons why the virgin merited such hon. or as the Assumption and pointing out her poverty and obscurity on earth, con- tinued:
 And now Mary is there at Gods right hand. her sorrow past forver. her eter- nty an eternity of unspeakable unfath- omable bliss And thereforslit is that the church rejoices, and thas we, the child ren of the church and the children of our Mother, rejoice and celebrate thls day Some may say, nay, some have said, we honor Mary too much We are idolators. they say. Our answer is simple. Is not Mary worthy of the honor given her by God? Surely He is the Infallible Judge of all worthiness; and He has hon. ored her by elevating her to the dignity of being the mother of His Son. What honor then, provided of course it be not that supreme adoration due to God and God only, can be too great for Mary Gods mother?
 Let us then today-on this glad feast day of our Mother--rejoice at the honor and glory bestowed on her by God Let us rejoice in union with the universal church. Let us resolve to gladden. her heart by making her this offering-a promise to more perfectly and with great CT exactitude fulfil our duties to her son and to the church which her Son estab- lished. By so doing we shall merit her appreciation; we shall merit one day to receive the glad smile of welcome when we cross the portals of heaven where she reigns eternally as Queei"