The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-05-27
OGDEN NOTES.
Iove,s Own Gift.

From the first whisperinSs OF blrc
notes at early dawn to the last echoes
of soulful May hymns in the twilight
hour, Sunday. May u. marked the cul-
mination Of previous days OF deVoul
preparation and ardent longing 10Y
that Divine guest, who alone can MI
the hearts made for Him, and that are
ever RESTLESS until they rest in Him.
After weeks of instruction and a re-
treat of three days. during which noth-
ing was left undone to aid the jealous
pastor Rev p. NJ. Cushnahan in pre-
pairing the children for this all-lmpor-
tant act, seventy-one hearts were mace
altar-thrones for the King of Love. Al
$50 a. m. the first signal of joy flashed
from the auched lights which made st.
! Joseph's brilliant with golden GIT
ter and cast a soft radiance on ths
J snowy robes and angelic cOuntenanceS
I of the dear little ones, who were, Tor
! the first time, to receive Him who IS
/ our JOY and our hope. ReVerently ana
with devotion that was truly awe
/ inspiring the first communicates
headed by cross bearer and acoly ties.
9 formed in procession, and after fling
! up the sid= aisles. passed noiselessly
! into the pews assigned, the choir
meanwhile singing the joyful hymn,
Regina Coeli."
After the gospel Rev. p. NJ. Cushna-
! han received from the children h'ir
! profession of faith, and emphasi2 q
the Importance of their reiterating the
promises made by their sponsors at
the baptismal fOunt, Clear and strong
rang out their earnest voices, and safe
ly might their kind pastor, promise
them in the name of God life eternal
if they remained faithful to those sol
emn engagements.
As the blessed moment drew nigh,
when Cod was to come into their
young hearts. Florence Maginnis, one
of the number. read in a beautiful ana
earnest manner the acts preceding
holy communion. Then slowly the
happy ones filed up to the Divine ban
quet, amid a hush in which one might
have heard the rustic of angel wings.
and the beating of of loving hearts. or
perhaps the signs of sin-laden souls
that recalled through the sorrow
shaded years, a blessed morning when
God first came to pay a visit to their
childish hearts. and they vowed Him
fidelity, even as did the happy COM
munieants of this bright May day.
The acts of Thanksgiving read in the
same distinct manner as those of prep
aration. but with increased fervoF, told
the listening congregation that the
hopes of childhood years had been real
lied and that the unknown bliss of
first communion morning was the
happy portion of these chosen ones.
From Marys Son to Mary's arms is
a natural transition, so at $50 y. m.
those who in the morning had received
the God of Hosts. enrolled themselves
under the banner of the mother of fair
love. realizing that she who led the
infant steps of the King of Kings,
would guide them safely to Jesus feet.
Little Marguerite Grill, in the name of
all, replied to the queries proposed be-
fore admittance into the sodality,
promising to be faithful to its practices
and precepts, and then read in a dis
tinct. tender manner the act of con-
secration to Mary Immaculate.
Children of Mary. enrolled in her
and bearing in their hearts
the mighty one who rules the stellar
deeps and sounds the depths of hearts.
what sorrow can they not withstand?
long years to come, what fer
vent prayers should they not offer for
dear Father Cushnahan, who from
their lisping years has been their truest
friend and who, God willing, shall be
found by their side when the shadows
of the dark river of death hide, but
for a space the bright shores of eter- |
nifty, whose border land is nowhere so |
perfectly revealed as on a first COM |
munion day.