Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-26
HVFIRMARY is
CONSECRATED
BISHOP coNATY DEDICATEs
HOME FOR AGED lND-eENTs
THREE HUNpREDTH INSTITUTION
HOME FOR AGED
Catholic Clergy of Los Angeles Assist
in Ceremonies at New Structure
of Little Sisters of the
Poor

For their INDECENT aged the magniti-
cent home of the Little Sisters of the
Poor was dedicated yesterday morning
by Rt. Rev. Bishop II. j. Conaty, as
sisted by priests of The diocese. The
home, which is the three hundredth
of the order, is situated at the corner
of East First and Mott streets, repre-
senting a gift of 100000 by e. u
LIE Breton to the Little Sisters.
The home is more like hotel in its
finishings than a home for INDECENT
aged. The floors throughout are of
polished oak. There are accommoda-
tions for 300 people in the building,
there being now about seventy old
people cared for by the Little Sisters.
Yesterday morning the formal pre-
sentation and transfer of the building
was made by Mr.. LIE Breton to Bishop
Conaty. Following this a procession
was formed and a solemn high mass
was celebrated in the chapel, which
has accommodations for about 400 peo-
pie and which was filed yesterday.
The chapel is a beautiful one, with
oak finishings and the main aisle of
mosaics. The main altar, an imposing
piece of work, is adorned with three
statues of the Immaculate Conception,
ST. Ann and st. Joachim. Yesterday
the natural beauty of the chapel was
enhanced by potted palms and Easter
lilies.
Rt. Rev. Mgr. Hartnett was cele-
brant of the mass, Father Leo, dea-
con; Father Antill, sub-deacon, and
Father Conaty, master IF ceremonies.
Rev. Bernard Conaty and Father Ju-
rick, chaplain of the home, were dea
cons of honor to the bishop. Assisting
in the sanctuary were Revs. O'Neil,
McGrath, Fahey Barron. Murphy, Or
mi in1y Low
Gregoir. Rev. Raphael Fuhr presid
ed at the organ.
Bishop Dedcates Chapel
Bishop Conaty dedicated the chapel
and after the mass blessed the build
ing. He preached the sermon, con-
graduating the sisters and thanking
the donor. He gave short history of
the Little Sisters of the Poor from
it's origin in a little town in France
in 1910 with an old blind woman until
now, in less than seventy years the
order has spread over the entire world,
with 300 homes. He said:
"The sisters called to the religious
life added to their vows of poverty,
obedience and chastity, the fourth vow
of hospitality. by which they guaran-
teed food and clothing to the poor
whom they sheltered in their home and
for whom they begged from door to
pitality they bound themselves to feed
their poor before they fed themselves.
God in his providence has cared for
Gods poor and benefactions have come
to them in most marvellous manner.
This institute ranks as the three
hundredth one under their care and
this magnificent building, the gift of
a noble hearted Catholic. is an evil
dence of the way in which God takes
care of those who devote their lives
to charity.
1.-THE spirit of this work is the char
ity of Christ, the love of the poor
for Gods sake, happiness being found
in serving Christ in the person of the
poor.
Charity equalizes all things, it
S ares its loaf with those who have no
bread, 1t shares its gold with those who
have no pennies Charity, indeed, is
the maker of true brotherhood, for 1t
makes the poor feel that the hand
stretched in helpfulness is not a hand
that pauperizes but one that ennobles
and the heart that beats IN sympathy
is filled with love for the brother in
affliction.
Builds on Higher Charity
Building itself upon that natural
charity, that humaneness which is
creditable to our nature, is that higher
form of charity which looks first to
God and does good for Gods sake as
we'll as for the benefit of suffering man.
This is the Christianizing of the nat
ural virtue, giving God to it as the
motive of its action. Christian charity
seeks God in ones neighbor, sees
Christ in the poor and in his name does
its deeds of kindness. Religion is its
inspiration. 1t has the thought not only
to supply the needs of those who are
suffering but also to perform for itself
10 <.f1 1T ytx-%., .I..s.
own life and beneficial to the spiritual
life of those who are aided. 1t recalls
the poverty of Bethlehem and the
agony of Calvary, and it remembers
the words of the divine saviour, What
ever you do to the least of these, my
little ones, you do unto me- 1t super
naturalizes the human act and leads
to the conservation of men and women
to the service of Gods poor and afflict-
ed ones.
$50, brotherhoods and sisterhoods.
under the Christian vocation, have
labored among the poor, have gone into
foreign lands to redeem the captiVes
have nursed the sick. have sheltered
the homeless have fathered and moth
cred the orphans, fearing no danger
deferred by no obstacle, devoting their
lives to the work of charity and mercy
In the name of Christ and for the ben
eft of humanity.
Home to Welcome Poor
I'VE accept this building today and
dedicate it to God in the cause of di-
vine charity in this City of the Angels.
This community is blessed by it's pres
ence, for here shall be gathered, for
untold years, hundreds of men and
women who in their declining years
will feel that their poverty will not
oppress them, nor will it force them
to seek at the hands of strangers that
which they need for life. This home
welcomes them to it's family circle; 1t
shelters and clothes and feeds them
without imposing upon them the
slightest obligation of service in com
pensation. The Little Sisters of the
Poor are their consecrated mothers
and sisters, and no mother or sister
ever gave more unselfish and unstint-
ed care and affection than will be re-
ceived by them. Their declining wears
are made happy under the influence
of this sweet charity, their faith is
sire gthened and their preparation for
eternity is made secure. Here, indeed. |
no line of race or creed or color is !
drawn, the aged dependent poor are
welcomed. The glass of cold water
given in the name of Christ is not
without its reward; the good done to
the poor bears its blessing not only in |
eternity but also in time and temporal |