Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-20
SAILORS ATTEND
DIVINE WORSHIP
EASTER MASSES HEARD By
SEVERAL HUNDRED
SERMON ON RESURRECTION BY
BISHOP CoNATY
Five Hundred Officers and Men March
Into st. Vibiana's for Pontifi-
cal Service-other
Churches

Al 81. NlD1dlld s CdllSuIdl d idl SO
congregation had gathered for the SOL
emn pontifical Easter mass, celebrated
by Bishop Conaty at 1880 o'clock,
when about 500 officers and sailors APP
peared, marching in double file. Seats
at the front of the church were given
the representatives of the fleet, who
made a fine showing, the dark color of
their uniforms contrasting with the
beautiful decorations on the altar
The white Italian marble altar, al
ways beautiful yesterday was adorned
with Easter lilies, carnations and ferns.
Lighted candles lent an additional air
of beauty as the golden hued robes of
the priest sparkled in the light.
Bishop Conaty was celebrant of the
pontifcal mass, assisted by Monslgnor
Harnett, V. c., as assistant priest; Rev.
M V. Richardson c. M. and Rev. j.
Martin c. M. deacons of honor; Rev.
Paul Dillon, deacon of the mass; the
Rev. Joseph McManus, sub-deason;
Rev. F. j. Conaty and E. II. Brady,
masters of ceremony.
After the gospel Monsignor Harnett
spoke a word of welcome to the officers
and men of the fleet and also extended
to them as well as the members of the
congregation, Easter greetings.
At the close of the mass Bishop
Conaty impaired the papal benediction
and addressed the congregation, ex-
tending his greetings to the men from
the sea.
At the close the entire congregation
| joined in the hymn of thanksgiving.
Holy God We Praise Thy Name"
The battleships from which repre-
sentatives attended the cathedral SER
vice were the Georgia, Rhode Island,
New Jersey and Virginia.
Bishops Sermon
Last night solemn vespers were cele-
| brated at the cath adral, at which
Bishop Conaty preached an eloquent
sermon. taking for his text: Christ is
risen from the dead; the first fruits of
| them that sleep" He said in part:
: THE Christmas message is Christ is
born to us in Bethlehem; the Easter
message. Christ is ris N from the dead.
Easter day is day of triumph, day
of victory. The sorrow and humilia-
tion of Calvary yield to the joy and
glory of the resurrection. Easter day
brings its message of hope for now
that Christ is risen from the dead we.
too. shall surely rise. The truth of
Christ is now established, the faith of
Christ is within our reach and the hap
piness of heaven can be obtained.
"The resurrection is the pivotal
truth of Christianity. 1t establishes
the certainty of the mission of Christ,
confirms his doctrine and assures re-
dcmptfon. The resurrection is the
greatest fact in the history of Chris
tianity; it is the foundation principle,
the one great reason of our faith in
Christ and in his church. The resur-
rection has been for mankind the great
motive power in belief; it has trans
formed man from paganism into Chris
tianity; conquered sin and enabled
mankind to rise above temptation, to
acquire the habits of Christian life and
to merit eternal happiness. The belief
in the resurrection has been the central
belief of the Christicn ages and upon
it is built the Christian church.
"The evidence of the witnesses and
asserting that the belief of eighteen
centuries of faith taken in connection
with the effect of that belief upon the
moral lives of men, is of itself the
greatest of proofs in the divine char
acter of the resurrection, proving to us
that the sacrifice of Calvary was a di-
vine sacrifice and that Jesus Christ
was indeed the Son of God"
At Other Churches
st. Josephs church was agreeably
surprised by a delegation of over 700
sailors for the solemn high mass.
These men came from the ships which
are anchored off San Pedro. They
were given front seats and Rev. Ra-
phael Fuhr, o. f. M, the pastor,
preached a special sermon to the wear
ers of the blue, speaking on their
country.
Following the service the men were
entertained in the monastery, where a
large American flag was displayed.
Father Raphael in his youth sailed on
merchantmen for two years and is
very popular with the sailors. Re-
freshments were served the men.
A delegation from the Minnesota oc-
cupied seats of honor yesterday morn
ing at st. Vincent's church for the SOL
emn high mass. Very Rev. DIR. ]. S.
Glass, c. NJ, president of the college,
preached the sermon in which he ex-
tended a cordial welcome to the sailor
boys, speaking of the Easter theme of
peace.
II is estimated that there are be-
tween five and six thousand Catholic
officers and sailors in the fleet and for
these sailors a special service will be
held Wednesday morning at IL o'clock
at the Cathedral of ST. Vibiana. Low
mass will be celebrated at that hour.
at which Bishop Conaty will preach a
sermon. 1t is expected that only about
700 will be given shore leave that day,
but nearly 1900 attended services yes
terday at the different Catholic
churches.
Following the church service a light
luncheon will be served the officers
and sailors at Levys. the visitors to be
the guests of Bishop Conaty The
Knights of Columbus are assisting tho
biGnop in arranging for the service.
---------------