The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-26
IMPRESSIVE RITES
 SEEN AT ST, PAUL $ Forty Hours Devotion Began After Solemn High Mass BISHOP ALLEN BREACHES Blessed Sacrament Borne in Proces- sion Through the church-Pon-
 tifical Benedetion at Night.
 Services Today.
BISHOP ALLEN BREACHES

Yesterday was observed in the Catholic church not only as Laetare Sunday, when the penitential character of Lent is re- faxed. but also as the feast of the An nuneation, a festival that takes pre- eedence of all the Sundays of Lent. And in addition to these concurrent facts a forty hours devotion began at St. Paul's church after the last mass.
 It was a day long to be remembered by st. Pauls congregation. There was a solemn high mass. coram episcopo Gin the presence of the bishop) at 1OSO o'clock a sermon by the Right Rev Bishop Allen. a solemn pontifcal process sion through the church immediately after the mass and the exposition of the Bless ed Sacrament for the adoration of the faithful
 The officers of the mass were the Rev Father Kitriek. celebrant the Rev Fa- ther Duffy deacon. and the Rev. Father Coyle. sub-deacon. The high altar and the side altar were adorned with flow CTS, and the sanctuary was garnished with potted plants
 Innumerable lights were burning on the altars and at the shrine of St. Anthony. Candles were also lighted around the swinging sanctuary lamp.
 The bishop occupied throne under a canopy at the left of the altar. There were many acolytes, in red soutanes and white cottas. The candle bearers at tending the deacon when he sang the gospel were vested all in pure white. Altogether the scene was at once solemn, full of color and picture-like.
 Bishop Allen delivered an impressive discourse on the holy eurcharist. He ac- centuated the doctrine that Christ was really, truly and substantially present in the sacrament of the mass; that when Christ was pressed by His apostles re- garding the meaning of his words-"this is my body-this is my blood'-He did not explain away, His words but aD- swered the question with solemn empha- sis-exeept you eat my flesh you can hANt iio HAt III yOu
 At the conclusion of the mass. the bishop was vested in alb, amice, cincture stole, and cope. The procession was then formed. It was made up of girls in white, acolytes, and priests. The bishop bore the ostensorium containing the sacred Host. He was preceded by two incense bearers, and following him were the crozier bearer and the mitre bearer
 The girls strewed flowers in the way over which the Host was to be carried As the procession moved through the aisles, the choir sang the 'Panga Lin gua." The bishop and his ministers being returned to the high altar, the llt- any was chanted.
 ] Throughout the afternoon hundreds of Catholics visited the church to adore the Blessed Sacrament
 The evening services consisted of rosa ry litinary, sermon and pontifical bene- diction. The Rev. Father Duffy was the preacher and his discourse was regarded as one of singular power and eloquence
 This morning at o'clock there will be a missa canta de pace and at night the Rev. Father O'Brien will preach
 The forty hours devotion will end Tues day with a solemn pontifcal mass and pontifical benediction
 Bishop Allen visited Bessemer yester- day afternoon, driving there and back in a private conveyance.