The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-18
Impressive Scene at Mission
Services Last Night
SERMON OF EXPLOITATION
Catholics Renew Their Baptismal
VoWs-The Rev. Father O'Hern
breaches Eloquently-Gives
Papal Blessing.

cnurcn yesterday. Inc FdullSt MISSION
to Catholics, which was opened a week
ago, closed last night, and two weeks
mission for non-Catholics will begin to-
night.
The early Sunday masses were largely
attended. At $50 o'clock and again at
7;3O hundreds of the faithful received
holy communion. At the 1880 o'clock mass
the Ancient Order of Hibernians observed
st. Patricks day by going to communion
in a body. The Rev. Father Healy, of
the Paulst Fathers, made short ad-
dress Ireland's patron saint and ex-
horted the Hibernians to remain true to
their order and to the church.
At $50 o'clock the usual mass for the
Sunday school children was celebrated,
and the congregation that attended high
mass at 1890 o'clock taxed the seating
capacity of the church. Not only were
all the pews occupied, but the main aisle
was filled. Father Healy was the
preacher
At night a still larger congregation as
sembled. The spacious edihce was filled
to overlooking. The gallery was thronged.
the middle aisle was packed, hundreds of
men stood in the space near the doors
anu lIle bdHStudly VI ShdhSoi sol oPohb
for the clergy and acolytes was opened
to accommodate the laity who could find
no room in the body of the church. 1t
was so crowded that a number of altar
boys had to be dismissed because there
was not space enough for them to move
in procession
The scene was full of color. Although 1t
was Passion Sunday, which marks the
approach of holy week, the altar, in honor
of the mission, was decked with flowers,
and a large shrine, suggesting baptis-
NAL font, was erected within the sanctu-
airy near the altar rail on the epistle side
great white cross, sixteen feet HIGH
formed the background of the shrine. AT
the intersection of the arms of the cross
shone large star, wrought In tnsel
Flowers and potted plants were banked up
about the cross and many candles Were
ablaze on the shrine A register In which
was recorded the baptisms since the first
of the present year was placed just above
the representation of the font. The cross
and the bower with it's brilliant illumina-
ton formed picture at once beautiful
and symbolic.
Father O'Hsrn breaches.
The mission services were conducted by
4 the Rev. Father O'Hern. He began by
reciting three decades of the rosary. in
which the congregation Joined. This de-
votion was followed by a sermon in
which Father OHern appealed to Catho-
lies who had made the mission to per-
severe in their good pilgrimage. He
: begged those who had resolved to lead
better lives not to fall back into sin.
He said that many members of the church
called themselves practical Catholics
when they approached the sacraments
once a year. You cannot remain In the
church," the preacher said, unless you
come to confession and holy communion
Y at least once year and that during Eas-
terrible. But do you call that practical
Catholicity? II you do. l do not 1t Is
very poor Catholic, indeed, who stays
away from the sacraments for one year.
{ The Catholic who does that is starving
his soul
Every Catholic should, II possible, APP
. proach the sacraments once a month. BY
doing that he finds 1t easy to keep In
state of grace. 1 implore all of you,
t now while you feel the inspiration of tho
, mission to make a firm resolve to re-
ceive holy communion frequently, In
stead of occasionally, as has been the
rule with too many"
Habit of Prayer.
Father OHern exhorted his hearers to
be constant in prayer. He said that those
} who had been led easily into mortal sin
e would not Je abe to resist temptation
' unless they cultivated the habit of
PRAYER pray not only every morning
AMI evening" said the speaker, but be
! ready to pray the instant temptation as
sails you But this you'll not be able
, to do unless you cultivate the prayer
habit"
At the close of the sermon Father
, | ar hat ha tod MI al
:. responses to the renewal Of the bap-
tismal vows Non-Catholics, well as
Catholics were at liberty to make the
responses, he said, as the formulary con-
tanned nothing that Protestant Christians
] did not subscribe to- But" he ex-
claimed. If you Catholics do not intend
Q to keep the resolves you have made, do
not intend to give up certain sins you
have promised to give up, then In the
name Of God remain silent when we re-
new our baptlsmal VOWS
The congregation stood up, and raising
l the right hand made the responses to the
vows as follows:
"'Do you believe in God the Father
Almighty? and the loud answer rang
out 4 do believe DO you believe in
8 Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord,
? who was born, who suffered and died for
u.s.? 4 do believe came back with in
: creased volume DO you believe in the
Holy Ghost the holy Catholic church, the
+, communion of saints, the forgiveness OF
sins, the resurrection of the body and
life everla sting? 4 do believe answered
nearly every man and woman. Do you
renounce Sating' L do renounce, and
all his works? 4 do renounce.' And all
his pomps?' That the last question.
and when 1t was asked the volume OF
sound had increased gradually. 1t was
strong at the start; 1t was stronger now,
and the great shout OF L do denounce
Them as it came from hundreds Of lips
seemed to pierce the roof.
; Father OHern chanted the papal bless
ing and then the services were concluded
| with solemn benedctlon of the blessed
sacrament In this impressive ceremony
at the altar Father O'Hern was the cele-
brant Father Kitrick was the deacon and
Father Coyle acted as sub-deacon.
The theme of the lecture tonight will
be, as One Church as Good as Another?'
There will be a mission mass every
morning at o'clock this week especially
for the children Of the parish
feature of last nights services was
solo by Father Healy. 1t was entitled,
| Unanswered"