The Washington herald., 1907-06-24
HONOR ST. ALOYSIUS
Jesuit Fathers Celebrate
Feast of Patron.
SERMON BY REV. 7. G. SMYTH
Rev. Thomas Becker, an Alumnus Of
GonZaga, Celebrates the Mass-iie-
ception of New Members Into the
81. John Berchman's Society Takes
the Place of Yesper Services.

Following their usual custom. the Jesuit
fathers of St Aloysius' Church cele-
brated the feast of their patron, St
Aloysius Of Gonzaga, with a solemn high
mass yesterday morning. Earlier the
altar boys had received holy communion
in a body In honor of the model OF
purity" whom they have been taught TO
emulate and look upon as an example Of
youthful piety.
The high Roman altar Of the ediflce
presented an Easter Day appearance yes
terday, with its bowers of late spring
offerings and its myriads of candles. Not
withstandlng the extreme heat, an i'm
mense congregation attended the services
all the pews being filed and a number of
devout worshipers being compelled TO
stand in the rear. The choir, under the
direction of Prof. Stephen J. Kubel, rem
dered Emilio Pizzis Mass 10 St
Aloysius," while Gounod's ''Laudate" was
sung by a quartet at the offertory.
Rev. Thomas Becker the CeIebrant.
Rev. Thomas Becker. an alumnus Of
Gonzaga and former professor Of rhetoric
at Fordham College, New York, was
the eelebrant of the mass, which was
solennlzed with a large number Of local
clergy seated within the sanctuary rail
Father Becker viii probably sail at an
early date for the Philippines 70 assume
charge of a mission In those islands, SO
that the mass said yesterday was proba-
I 4 A1rr-- -frra
| Brosnan, 8. J., of Georgetown University.
was the subdeacon, and Rev. Eugene Nc
| Donnell, Of St Aloysius', the subdeacon.
Members Of the congregation acted as
/ acolytes and altar boys, while Rev.
Philip Deboid was the master Of cere-
monies.
! The sermon was preached by Rev.
| Thomas G. Smyth, assistant pastor of
| ST. Stephens Church. who delivered a
/ panegyric on the life of St Aloysius from
/ the same pulpit on a similar occasion two
years ago. Father Smyth has been for
many years a close student Of the life
and works Of the patron Of purity. lie
| first related a brief history of the times
/ in which ST. Aloysius was born. dwelling
/ on the difficulty that all Christians ex-
| perienced in practicing their religion, and
/ on the DuIltEDuS lilQuCfl44Elto tiiAl W. 8
/ offered for a sacrifice OF II.
Early Life Pictured.
] The early life OF the saint was then
pictured, and a recital Of the inspirations
which led him to embrace the sterner
rituals Of the Catholic Church. On his
| life as a youth the preacher spoke with
| great knowledge, and gave incident after
incident illustrating the strength Of char
! acter and seif-denial Of the saint In
concluding. he placed st. Aloysius before
the congregation as a model, and ad-
monished them to strive nightly TO live
up to his ideals
! Instead Of the usual vesper services. a
/ solemn reception Of new members into
| the st. John BeTChman's Society was
| held. About fifty applicants were .e-
| ceived into the society with the usual GER
/ emonies. while Rev. Augustus J. Duarte
S. J., vice president Of the College Of st
Ignatius Loyola, in Baltimore. delivered
! the sermon.