The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-07-17

opcn air, in a private dwelling, on bos-d
Of ship in camp in prison-but the cele-
brant requires consecrated altar To offer
the august sacrifice. Holy Church has
protected the sanctity Of the altar by
the most stringent laws: no altar can be
erected or moved or broken up without
the permission OF the diocesan bishop
the essential part 20 be OF stone to re-
mind US OF the stone on which the cruel
fed body Of the Lord reposed in the
sepulchre, five crosses. signfyng the Ave
wounds OF Christ are cut into the altar
stone. a cavity is formed In the stone TO
receive the relics OF the saints. the altar
IS placed In an elevated position 20 recall
Mount Calvary. whore the sacrifice was
inundated for the rcdeeming OF man
kind.
I'm the grand and sublime function OF
this morning the conservation OF the
altar formed the most splendid and mag
nfcent part OF the entire ceremony.
Those mystical prayers and chants. the
many anointings and blessings. the re-
peated sprnklng with holy water and
frequent incensing. were but symbols OF
A---tt=e-aifa-aef -aefNr+ee-e4f-t44e-ee -eeHANeFst%tl
altar.
$50 important and necessary a part I'm
the liturgy OF the church Is the altar that
no church can be consecrated unless the
conservation OF the altar goes with Il.
Into the altar are put the relics OF holy
martyrs. II is meet and just that those
who drew inspiration OF heroism and for
titude from the holy sacrifice OF the altar
and followed the Lamb OF God and gave
their lives blood FOR their faith should
rest In peace under the altar Of Christ.
THE care taken OF the holy relics in
the conservation OF the altar expresses
the tender love OF the Holy Church for
| her glorined children. Last evening they
! were piously brought TO this church.
! whore they remained all night amid light
/ Cd candles. In solemn procession they
/ We're carried around the church this
/ morning by the consecrating bishop and
/ when the procession entered the church
/ these words were chantcd. Arise from
/ your abodes. yC saints OF Cod proceed
/ 10 the place of your destination. sanctify
/ all places through which you pass bless
| The people and preserve us, sinful men.
/ I'm peace Amid clouds " incense
I prayer and amounting the bishop placed
/ those sacred treasures In tho holy
| sepulchre I'm the altar, treasures more
precious than gold and silver more bril-.
| liant than pearls and diamonds.
REPRESENTS THE MAN-GoD.
while the altar recalls tho places OF
ngurative sacrifice I'm the ola Testament
md reminds ~ tho table on which the
/ Lord Jesus celebrated the first mass. Il
directly represents the Man-God. the Sor
of God and Mary Immaculate. the found
ers ~ our Holy Church the living stone
which was rejected by an unbclievlng and
corrupt world. but chosen and honored o
God re Is the chief cornerstone 81 our
salvation. but 10 the unbclicver and scof
Ter lie is a stumbling block. and who
! soever shall fall on this stone. shall b,
broken. bat on whomEorvrr II shall fall
% shall grind him 90 powder Here thCn
IL stands the test of genuine faith n
! Christ. the never failing source Of llFh
and love Those who believe His word
and obey Ills commands will rccciv
streams OF blessing into their thirst,
souls. but those who reject Christ b.