Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-05-08
THE ANNUAL NAY PROCESSION
IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED
VIRGIN MARY.
A Beautiful Spectacle Presented at
St. Mary's Church Last
Night Was Well
Attended.

st. Mary's Church was crowded last
evening with those taking part in the
Nav Procession, and those who came
to join in spirit in this act of veneer
alton OF the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of God, and those also who
came only to look on. Truly no more
beautiful spectacle could be seen, and
nowhere outside Of the Catholic
Church is such an one possible.
The whole edifice was redolent with
the perfume of the flowers which were
in myriads upon the high altar, the
side altar, the shrines in the rear of
the church. but particularly was that
of the Blessed Virgin, above which Is
the exquisite picture, typical of the
Rosary, most lavishly adorned. After
the sermon by Father Mulhall upon
the right of Mary 20 all honor and
veneration, from the followers of her
Divine Son, and which is paid her
only in the Catholic Church, Fathers
Weigel, Hanley and Becker approached
the altar, in gorgeous vestments of
white and gold.
The Magnificat' was. sung by the
choir The music was an adoption of
the Gloria of Mozart's Twelfth Mass
On such occasions as was last even
ing's celebration, from the stately
measures of this melody the inspired
words Ecce enim ex hoe, beatam me
dicent omnes generationes, always
seem to burst forth with soul inspir-
ing, faith quickening tones, and truly
does every Catholic feel that every
generation has called her blessed. and
each succeeding one until tile end
shall so call her. Then came the fea-
ture of the evenings celebration.
First the cross bearer, for that ban
ner always leads. followed by the altar
boys in red cassocks and white sur
plices, then the small boys in white.
One Of the older boys bore the banner
Of St. Aloysius, then the girls, led by
the tiniest tots, in white, wearing
wreaths OF flowers. Following their
banner, the Sodality of the Blessed
Virgin, composed of the young ladies
of the parish. wearing white wells,
Joined in. -Four of their number were
honored by being chosen to bear the
statue of Mary immaculate, which
they received at the steps of the Sane
tuary from two of the brothers. This
statue stood upon dais covered with
exquisite flowers. Bars TO rest on the
shoulders of the bearers were at
taohed.
The last to fall in line W ere the Off
ciating clergy. The beginning of the
procession had passed down the centre
aisle, turned to the right, and was
already at the head of the side aisle
before tho end of the line had started.
Crossing before the main altar the left
aisle was traversed, returning by way
of the centre. During the procession
the Litany of the Blessed Virgin, the
organ accompanying, was sung by the
Socialists, and hymn, the refrain OF
which was "Queen of the Angels,
Queen of the May. The bearing of
tine little ones was really remarkable,
each one seeming to realize that he or
she was part OF great act, and each
little individuality seemed to be lost
i'm It's strict attention to the perfor-
nance OF their act of veneration.
The procession ended, the brothers
bore the statue within the sanctuary.
and the Benediction of the Mosu BLESS
ed Sacrament was given. After the
singing of the Laudate' by the choir,
Professor Zimmerman, as a recession.
al, rendered one of his beautiful yolun-
taries The lights were extinguished,
the worhippers slowly filed out OF the
church, and the May Procession of
1905 has taken its place among the
past events that make up the mile.
stones on the march TO eternity.