The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-26
MANY MASSES
IN CATHOLIC
CHURCHES
Between 10000 and $4,000
People Yesterday Attend
ed the Services.

LII di INT NGlllH~GCN0h EaAAARiAS
churches of the city yesterday, the
Christmas festival was celebrated in
an elaborate manner. and it was esti-
mated that between 5000 and 10000
people attended the masses, of which
there were more celebrated han. on any
other day in the year, the privilege
being accorded to each priest to say
three on the feast of Christmas. In
some churches the first mass was said
at 5 o'clock, and was a solemn high
one. Other masses followed at inter-
walls during the morning, the last one in
most instances being at 1890 o'clock,
though in some churches they were cell
ebrated at II o'clock, bur in n church,
that of ST. Philip Neri, in Grove street,
the last mass was begun at 1880
O'Clock. In all, the congregations were
generous in the Christmas collections.
In st. Patrick's Cathedral the serv-
ices at last mass yesterday morning
were impressive and elaborate, the
special feature being the sermon by
Bishop John j. O'Connor. The deco
rations were not on as large q scale
as In past years. Only two vases of
white blossoms were on the grand altar,
and behind 1t green branches were
banked high up. In the alcove for he
altar of the Blessed Virgin there was a
large crib and above was a star Of
Bethlehem made of tiny electric lights.
The program of music was excellent.
Professor William r.. Hattersley, the or
ganist, was assisted by a string orchestra.
The music Of the mass was sung by the
cathedral choir and the sanctuary choir
Of forty boys, trained by the Rev. John
Il Irforoon u1,a laptFr an a r4rp9aeaiap1l
hymn as they preceded the priests and
bishop to the sanctuary. They also sang
the ~introit, the graduate and "commun-
ion" The choir sang the other hymns.
Bishop O'Ccnpor was celebrant In the
pontiical high mass and the Rev. Isaac p.
Whelan, rector of The cathedral, arch
priest. The Rev. William Thompson, OF
Paterson. and the Rev. Francis Reilly, of
Newark. were the deaeons of honor. The
Rev. Thomas L. Canty. of Elizabeth, was
deacon and the Rev. John Woods, Of
Bloomfield. subdeacon of the mass. The
liev. Thomas A. Wallace, chancellor of the
diocese, was master of ceremonies, assist
cd by Edward Begley.
AT the close of the mass Father
Whelan read in Latin and English
The permission given by the Holy Father
% give the papal blessing. Bishop O'Con-
nor then arose, the people knelt, and he
gave the blessing. The sanctuary choir
sang the occasional hymn, "Hark, the
Herald Angels Sing while the procession
was passing from the altar to the sacristy.
Bishop O'connor preached the Christmas
sermon. His text was the message of the
angel to the shepherds on the hills of
Bethlehem announcing the birth of the
savior. He said:
: Behold, l bring to you tidings Of great
JOY, for this day IS born to you d savior,
WIN Is Christ the Lord
NIhe message of the angel. though
JpuV years have elapsed since ii was de-
1tSered To the shepherds keeping the night
watch on the mllsides of Bethlehem, is
&adressed to us, aud the joy they felt at
tIIlNnews OF the birth OF the Messiah has
Us counterpart in the hearts of all who
believe the Child lying in the manger to
be the Savior, Christ, the Lord.
The source of our joy is twofold. we
commemorate today the supreme manifes-
ttuon OF God made by Himself to His
creatures. For the mystery OF the in
Eilfnate God hidden in the womb of the
virgin Mary since the day of the an
nunclation is today revealed to us. The
biith Of the Child, who is called EN-
manuel, that IT, God with us, and whose
personality Is divine, is the beginning OF
Ane oulNdrd manifestations of the
Savior IN the world. He came to redeem
ana restore its lost birthright. The atone
incnt demanded by Infinite Justice for Of
lenses against an Infinite Majesty was
atonement Of infinite value, which was
not IN the power OF n mere creature. hut
Iemanded q personality, therefore. Of in
II was necessary, ~conseuuently. that God
ttlnsell. the divine person of the Trinity.
should descend upon earth and by making
the nature of the person who had einned
Ills WI, appear rs the mediator who had
united IN Himself the two extremes. fine
lutte and Infinite, aud whose atonement
@naOusn me nrst nature was to have that
1nfnlte value.
We ~reioice4 therefore, in the birth of
nrlst the Goldman, not only because The
5eoNel tor satisfaction became possible.
Kpent in the poverty. iowliness ana sur
1eflng OF the newly born Child have heon
Hnfformed, and because condigu safisfac.
LON Is 70 be offered to the divine Justice
py q ilte marked with those same charac-
terlstics and consummated in the tragedy
Of Calvary. '"seNS
Tvs rejoice in tho second place because
~ lhe consequences of this satisfaction 10
ourselves. We look upon the cominr ~
thrlst as the dawn of our own resforati n
10 our ~hlrthright, lost through sin. The
Satfs 81 heaven which had been shut
"sainst us are thrown open and the lighi
O. Gods countenance shines once more
Mpon mankind through tho heavenly
poftals, Christ, the eternal Son OF God.
mas deitleu the nature of man aud raised
70 the dignity of the Godheud by making
- tis own in the unity of His divine pcr-
sonahfY. All OF MS. therefore. who par
ftclpate in this nature have been honored
and ennohlel in Christ and tho hanpiness
that helongs 10 Him necessarily and es-
Sentlally becomes In n sense ours, ours by
participation. ours to enjoy when having
fought the good fight, having completed
our course and having kept the faith. we
FhaH be translated above to receive the
crown. that God reserves for the victor.
"Thi is why the lo~ly birth in Bethle-
hem was the tidings of great joy. and why
Today should he for US the most joyous
day Of the year. Moreover. He is born to-
day on our affairs and spiritually in the
nC1rtS OF many. OF IFS WhO can fa1l
The JOY that those have felt who received
Him worthily today in the sacrament OF
Ills love? Truly do they experience the
force Of the heavenly hymn OF praise.
Peace on earth TO men OF good will.
They seem to be conscious Of the fact
" at the divine Child is in their hearts
and that the same cohort of heaven that
tang His praise on that holy night are sur
rounding Him whilst He is in these lowly
hearts of ours and singing Glory to God
an high and on earth peace TO men OF
good Will
"Aud what shall we say of the indifer-
slothfuI believer whose faith is not the
rule of his life? 1T ~scandalizes him thai
the infinite God was born In n stable. but
he does not see Mt to adorn his heart
and make il a fit receptacle for the divine
Child. OF him it can be said that Christ
came to His own and His own received
Him not.
rAnd what is true OF this kind of be
lever is true OF the modern world in gen.
eral, which has repudiated Christ ano
knows Him not. What else is the meaning
OF those erroneous teachings which oui
Holy Father in the discharge of His duty