The San Francisco call., 1906-12-26
Blessing of Pope Plus IS Delivered by
Archbishop Fiordan to People
Prelate Tells
of Struggle
in France

st Mary's Cathedral was oneaed vas
eIoay morning for the first time since
I.pIA' ana thousands of devout wor-
sn,pefs knelt in the pews and aisles in
n -ss-l. celebration Of the feast of the
.,o.lNlIy OF the Savior. The first mass
Seieorated at a. m, and at IL
oSiock pontifical high mass was
sung by Archbishop Montgomerv in the
presence Of Archbishop Riordan. The
sermon was delivered by Archbishop
ESloroan. and at the conclusion of the
lsass ne delivered the pontifcal bene-
ulction, which was communicated di-
.ecIy TO the diocese of San Francisco
py cable from the Vatican.
In communicating t. the congrega-
t,. Ion the blessing and good will Of Pope
rus the Archbishop spoke of the situa-
tion which the Catholic church faces
IN France today. He said:
4 had sent a message to the holy
ae1er at Rome expressing the heart
Aett sympathy Of the diocese on the day
when the churches Of the great Cath
ohc nation OF France We're closed to the
people 1 promised that we would aid
the French Catholics in every way in
our power. In France the issue is a
question Of the liberty of conscf ence
ne catholic people have not been per-
nltteo to enter the churches which they
punt and which are their own There
can be but one outcome of the struggle,
ana that outcome we already know
or 500 years In imperial Rome
the early fathers and apostles Of the
church fought and struggled for lib
erty Of conscience, and in the end they
trlumphed- For 400 years, as you
know, the ance-tors of most of us
fought the oppression of imperial Great
Britain, and in the end they secured
that liberty of conscience for which
they struggled The day has gone by
when any man may say TO another,
You must serve ~od not as your con-
science, but as my conscience, die
tates The church of France will be
victorious, for God is on its side and
right is with it,"
The sermon of Archbishop Riordan
was delivered after he had read the
first Gospel of St. John The feast of
Christmas is the greatest birthday, -
he said. not only because ii is the
birthday Of of a great man, great
conGueror, the founder of spiritual
kingdom, but because of something
greater than that-it is the birthday
OF the son Of God. The word was made
flesh and dwelt amongst us"
The prelate said in his discourse that
the greatest religious controversies
have been ragged around the mystery
Of the incarnation. Once you become
satisfied he ! lsisted, that the son of
God was made mesh and dwelt among
us the controversy is won. he mo-
ment that you s y CEIlst was only a
great philosopher or a treat man you
make religion a human i. stitution. All
religions which do not proclaim the
divinity of Christ are human systems
and have no power to dictate to the
human conscience. / wish you," he
concluded, "a merry Christmas, and
may Gods blessing descend upon you
and his grace remain with you"
Assisting Archbishop Montgomery
celebrant Of the mass, We're Father J.
3. Hannigan. deacon. and Father
Charles Ramm. subdeacon. With Arch
bishop Riordan We're the deacons of
honor, Father Philip O'Ryan and Father
Connors. The masters of ceremony were
Father Cantwell and Father w. P. Sui
livan. The altar was gorgeous with
masses Of poinsettias and was illumi-
mated with huge golden canCelabra
bearing hundreds of waxen tapers
1 The music, under direction of Organ
ist R. J. Harrison, was impressive The
choir of the cathedral was augmented
by an orchestra led by Miss Violet
johnson. The musical programme fol-
lows:
Adams Noel" tenor solo, at offertory;
'sAdeste Fidelis," Novello arrangement;
finale. Zingaretti's -.Laudate-"
Sopranos, Miss A4ve Hickey, Miss
Katherine Black, Miss Cavalli; altos,
Miss Julia Sullivan, Mrs. Parent; tenors.
David Manlloyd. r A Edwards; bassos,
S. J. Sandy, Hugh Williamson
A Te Deum was sung at the vesper
service, and Archbishop Montgomery
Sa1fvered the sermon