The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-16
A SOLEMN CEREMONY
sUBDEACoNsHIP IS CONFERRED ON
 MIR. PATRICK COSTELLO.
Devout Congregation Witnessed Ina- pressive Ordination at st. Pe- ter's Catholic Church by Bish-
 on Allen of Mobile.

Rt. Rev. Bishop E. P. Allen of Mo- bile conferred subdeaconship yester' day morning at St. Peters Church on Mir, Patrick Costello of Montgomery
 The ceremony. as are all the solemn functions of the Catholic Church, was of a very impressive nature, its so- lemnity being enhanced by the music, lghts and flowers, and numerous altar boys in red soutancs and surplices. Long before o'clock the appointed hour members of the church were as- sembling, and when at last the pro cession filed into the sanctuary large and devout congregation was expec- tant.
 Rev. Mir. Costello immediately pre- ceded the Bishop to the altar steps, where a short prayer was said, the strains of a beautiful "Veni Creator" 1 in the meantime filling the entire as- sembly with a sense of the sublimity of the rite. The "Veni" continued du- ring the vesting of the bishop and while with mitre and crozier and wealth of other insignia. representing the traditions of two thousand years. the true pastor egregius bestowed his blessings.
 The candidate for the ministry is bidden to advance and he stands be- fore the Bishop. and hears for the last time what for years his Seminary training has implanted in his heart and mind. Dearly beloved son. thou who are now to be rasied to the sacred or der of the Subdeaconate. again and again I ask you to carefully reflect upon the step you are today to take of your own free will. So far you are free and you may. If you so desire, return to the pursuit of secular affairs, but if you once receive this order, you are no longer free: you must be per petually bound to God, to serve whom Is to reign; you must preserve your chastity and be ever devoted to the ministry of the Church. Therefore, while there is yet time think. and if your decision be favorable, in the name of God approach"
 Thus did Bishop Allen. whose splen- did stature added dignity to the inn pressive scene, admonish the candi- date, who voluntarily signified his as sent and threw himself prostrate be- fore the altar.
 Litanies were chanted. The inter- cession of the saints was asked and the mercy of God was implored. In solemn silence the Bishop rose and. in the plenitude of his power invoked the blessing of the Almighty on the re- clining form before him.
 Then followed a detailed admonltion having reference to the various minis trations appropriate to the subdeacon- ate, the properties of which were about to be intrusted to the watchfui care of the ordinandus in whose hands are placed a chalfce and paten used in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. On his head was placed the amice, or large white linen cloth, a garment used in the early ages to protect the ministers throat against the cold and damp of dark basilicas. The natural object Of the amice Is to protect the voice. Therefore the Bishop instructed the ordinandus to receive the amice by which is typifed restraint of speech. With similar injunctions other eccles- iastlcal robes were given and received, and finally a book of gospels.
 The use of a distinctly sacerdotal garb dates back to the time Of the Apostles. It is in keeping with the
 Jewish law, requiring priests ana Levites to wear special cOnsecrated vestments when immolating victims 1t is also in accordance with law of mans composite nature, for nothing Is better calculated to fill the mind with the contemplative beauty of the Invis- ible than an abundance of sensible signs. Recognizing all this St. Steph- en wrote in the year 250 A. D.: "Ec- clesiastical vestments of which priests and other ministers make use, in or der to offer Divine worship to God with all the respect that it deserves ought to be decent and blessed. and, as such, none should use them but priests and others devoted to the holy ministry" "A Divine worship" says St. Jerome, "has one dress for the
 ministry of the altar. and another for common use" This dress Is in part the privilege of the Subdeacon and in
 part of the Deaconship and Priesthood There were many instructive and striking features in the ordination yes terday at St. Peters, other than those enumerated. All combined to make l the occasion an eventrul one.
 Rev. MT. Costello was the recipient of many congratulations. He will be
 ordained Deacon today. the ceremony
 beginning at 6:30 o'clock this morn
 ing ~-...~