Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-05
FIRST HIGH MASS
St. Patrick's Church Crowded With Friends of Father Mitchell
 --Eloquent Sermon.

brated his first high mass at II Id at St Patricks church yesterday morn ing with great pomp and ceremony.
 Long before the mass commenced the church was well filled and when the Sanctuary choir. led by Father Sheehan. made it's appearance. follow ed by the officers of the mass. there was not vacant seat in the edlfice. The mass was solemn high. the follow ing priests officiating: Cclebrant, Rev James Russell Mitchell; deacon, Rev John McCabe of St Francis church, Naugatunk: sub-deacOn, Rev M. Joseph Ryan of St Thomas church. this city: master of ceremonies, Rev J. II. Sheehan of St Patrick's. The two first are close friends of Father Mitch ell Among the visitors Was Rev John Murray, whose home is in this city, chancellor of the Hartford diocese. who graduated from the High school the year after Father Mitchell enter ed.
 Much credit should be given to the Rev Father Gleeson for the excellent manner in which the services were conducted. The pastor had everything in perfect order and he was careful to see that the program was carried out without the least friction.
 A special musical program had been arranged by Organist Mrs George Gibson and the sanctuary choir and the regular one alternated in answer ing the celebrant of the mass.
 The speaker of the day was the Rev Father Benedict of the Franciscan fathers of Paterson. New Jersey. He was d most interesting talker and. choosing his text from the epistle of St Luke to the Hebrews, fifth chapter, he gave the congregation an address suitable to the occasion and pictured the ordination and life of a priest in such soul-stirring and masterly man ner that he held the attention Of those present until he had finished and many were loath to have him leave the put pit. Short of stature, yet with q voice that was so powerful that those in the .remotest corner of the building had no difficulty in hearing. He proved him self an excellent orator and at times starting with a mOdulated voice aud raising it higher and higher as he ap- preached the climax. he burst out with a flow of words that had such an effect upon his audience that hardly a breath was drawn and the audience seemed as if it were spellbound.
 When l ask you to-day IS Christ asked the multitude. what come you here to see:' you will answer I came to see the young man celebrate his first mass and receive bis blessing. And it is not surprising that such an event. not fully appreciated by man. should draw out such a large number who should consider themselves f;- vored and highly honored for being permitted to attend such q function. and to prostrate yourself at his feet and receive the blessings of him who was short time ago q mere man hut now is a priest, a disciple of God. on" who will command and be Obeyed by his flock at all times and in all nu- tions.,,n lmpaXipe,omy dear brethren. what all this .meanS to-day. Consider yourself in the place of the boy s mother. Conceive how in his youth she saw something in her boy that was one day destined to make her one of the happiest women in the world. Think of days. months. and even years. she watched her child at play. wondering all of the time if he was one day to be called to the priesthood to carry on the work of God.
 ''FOr yOu know generally your vocal ton is to lead you in the footsteps of Christ. the first signs of q desire to join the ranks of the holy order will appear while yet a boy. Can you. tberefora today imagine the feeling of the noiher. cannot you not under stand the ioyfulness of tlIe sister. and are yOu not we'll aware of what nat. urally would be uppermOst ir the heart of the brother: And truly it is an honor that they should we'll be proud of. that of having one of inc family priest"
 The preacher went on and in most vivid terms described the pomp and Splcndor in connection with the ordi- nation of the priest. told of the feeling that would naturally be in inc youni. priests heart when the officiating pOn. iiff would say: "SOn of the white man stand up and bear the cross of your Father" You well know the circuni. stances concerning the sacrifice of the mass when the priest leans over tlic bread and wine and pronouncing the mysterious words supplicates before the altar and no matter how great CT grand n person in the congregation
 may bc. if he k of the Catholic faith he will bow down in alteration and pray to that God who had placed him in this world.
 ''Every few years. perhaps more or less. you will read and hear of those persons who claim that priest is q : mere man. acknowledge that he was mere man once. hut when hc has ,lecked himself with that garb of lioli ness. he is lifted far above inc orIi. mary human being despite all reports te the contrary. Newspapers tn bis headlines may denOunee him. preach crs may utter his name with con tempt. orators may regard his beliefs as nonsensieal. but what effect do .il ibesc things have upoH his fio,'kE 1l,s answer is 90 well known that [ nes.l n.t rel,eat ii here. The priest Is ealI Il I father and Is treated as a father by the people.
 t 1t iS f0 him that the weary am, those that are troubled with sssTIs affiistion go tO when they dare uoi sybnfisIe sn their nlBst infiIrzte friesHi rgz sEszsa se-EsEsafa sHaa