The Democratic advocate., 1909-11-26
II3 CONFIRMED BY
CARDINAL
SEVERAL PROTESTANT WERE CON.
VERIFIED
Cardinal tilbbOnsIPreaChed a Strong
Sermon -ExhOrtS Communicates
to Lead Holy Lives.

A great congregation attended ST.
Johns Catholic Church Sunday morn
Ing, when Cardinal Gibbons delivered
the sermon and confirmed class of
1l3 persons, most of whom were chill
dren OF 10 to 10 years. A few adults
were confirmed, among them a few
converts from Professionalism, and
among the younger persons were one
colored boy and two colored girls
Preceding the celebration Of the
mass and the confirmation ceremony
the Cardinal delivered his discourse.
taking for his text the Gospel OF st.
Luke. /, 1928, using especially the last
clause OF the last verse Hail,
thou that are highly favored the Lord
Is with thee. Blessed art thou among
women"
The text Is indicative OF the charac-
ter of the sermon. which was a plain
and logical presentation OF the argu-
ments upon which TIE Catholic Church
predicates its alteration OF the virgin
mother OF Jesus and OF the honor of
the church bestows upon her naame
and character. The OBSCURE was a
brief and succinct review OF the his
tory OF the virgin from her presenta-
ton in the temple in her infancy to
be purified and sanctifed to become
the mother of the Son OF God. Among
the striking events OF that history
referred to were saIutation OF the
angel quoted in the text and the greet
Ing OF Elizabeth when visited by Mary.
IL waas customary for the young TO
salute the aged, but Elizabeth, the
aged mother OF John the Baptist, sa-
luted the young and beautiful Mary.
the most beautiful OF all women, and
esteemed her visit a great honor. The
long association OF Jesus with His
mother, during which lie was subject
unto her, was alluded to as evidence
OF the reverence and honor In which
she was held by her divine Son.
The CARDINAL emphasized his argu-
ment with many forcible Illustrations
and analysis. Advanced in age as he
Is, he spoke In tones audible TO the
entire congregation. He Frequently
repeated the concluding words OF the
text. Blessed art thou among wo-
men,"
Preceding the ceremony OF oonfir-
nation the Cardinal addressed tho
class, assuring its members that they
were especially favored In having this
sacrament performed on the day
adopted as the anniversary OF the
sanctifcation of Mary In the temple
In her infancy. Great as was this
honor TO the Virgin, that Of being con-
firmed in the church exceeds It, aa
that was In the temple. while by con-
flrmation those who receive II become
temples of God.
AS the candidates for confirmation
filed past the Cardinal he made the
sign OF the cross upon their foreheads.
and afterwards explained It's slgnifi-
canoe. Following the ceremony he
again addressed those who were con.
firmed TO live holy lives, to be obe-
dent to parents, faithful in the dis
charge Of their duties to the church,
loyal to this republic and submissive
to its laws.
Turning TO the girls, he assured
them that the rights and privileges
they enjoy today freedom from the
debasing influences OF slavery to
man, which was once the lot OF wo-
man. they owe to the Virgin Mary.
The boys he exhorted to obstain from
the using OF intoxicating liquors and
administered a pledge, which was
readily taken by all, to Observe total
abstinence until they arrived at the
age OF 21 years. He did not mean by
this limitation that they would then
be free to rush OF TO the nearest
tavern and debauch themselves with
liquor, but that. having learned the
benefit OF abstinence, they would con-
tinue TO practice IT,
High mass was celebrated by Rev.
A. Urique, of st. Mary's Seminary.
Baltimore. The Cardinal was attend
ed by Rev. James F. Donahue, OF st.
Patrick's Church, Baltimore, and Rev.
q. H. Tregesser, OF St Anthony's
Church, Mount st. Mary's. Rev.
Joseph H. Cassidy, pastor OF st. Johns
Church, was master of ceremonies.
The trainbearers 10 the Cardinal
were James McSherry Shriver, OF
Union Mills, and Paul Steffy, OF West
minister. The sponsors for the boys
confirmed were t. Herbert Shriver.
of Union Mills, and Joseph B. Boyle,
OF Westminster, and of the girls Miss
Mary o. Shriver. of Union Mills, and
Mrs. Joseph B. Boyle, OF Westminster.
OF these confirmed 101 we're boys and
girls and IL adults.
Cardinal Gibbons was the guest of
Mr.. B. r. Shriver, OF Union Mil.s,
for several days.