The Washington herald., 1909-03-29

Passion Sunday with its somber cere-
monies was celebrated in the Catholic
churches yesterday
Other than the usual high mass. there
was no observance to impress upon the
/ communicates the significance Of the
day. The interior of the churches were
stripped OF every vestige OF ornament,
and the statues ana affairs draped IN
purple Indicative Of the season Of peni-
teaee, which begun at midnight and viii
continue until Easter
For the next two weeks special serv-
ices representative OF the sorrows and
sufTerings experienced by Christ win be
held in the various parishes Through
out the world. Catholics VIII unite IN
/ solemn services. and IN special manner
usher IN Easter day with psalms OF glory
In honor Of the resurrection
st. Stephens Mission Ends.
Aside from the Observance Of the
Passions Of our Lord. three OF the
churches IN Washington held deyotions
that were notable. Al St Stephen s
Church, the mission for men ended with
benedictiOn az which go men partici-
psted. Rev. Father Lyons formally
opened a retreat for men al St Aloysius
Church. and preached 20 an audience Of
LOO men.
At St Patrick's Church. Rev. DR.. Rus
sell inaUgurated the special service. which
wiz be continued on the fourth Sunday
/ Of each month. at which ne viii answer
questions Propounded by non-Cathoucs.
the mission al s. Stephens has been
I in progress for two weeks The women OF
the parish attended the first week and
/ outnumbered the male attendants at the
second weeks meetings by 500 Rev.
Father o'Donovsn, Of the Jesuit order in
/ New York. conducted the mission.
/ Congregational singing and a special
/ sermon BY the rector made the opening
/ service ar ST Aloysius' euspicious- The
church was filed with men. and il IS the
/ expectation Of the priests IN charge that
] the same attendance VIII continue
throughout the week
Gods right denied was the topic Of
/ Father Lyons sermon He said. IN part:
Little Attention shown.
AS strange as il may seem. while
]
man. but few are paying attention 10
mans Creator. In the discerning OF
rights before any legal court, documents,
deeds. titles. &C. solve rights The slight
est iutrospective and reflection VIII show
man that he has no title. document. or
deed to show ownership Of his Hfe or Of
any faculty that graces hts body. On the
other hand. there IS evidence Of Gods
ownership over ali.
1t Is for the purpose Of bringing mems
souls face 20 face with this paramount
/ truth that this retreat is being con
Quoted"
| Assisted by Father Mcdonnell. the rec
tor VIII conduct the service each night
and close the retreat with a special mass
for men next sunday morning at O'Clock
Under the auspices Of the Society of
the Good shepherd. the service st St
/ Patrlck's attrac ed more than LOO pei
f! sons. and every available seat was oc-
/ cUpieG. Father Russell. in place Of a ser
mon. read the various questions that
/ have been sent 70 him, and answered
each in turn Following are some or
I the queries answered
Does the Roman Catholic Church con-
slider PrOtestanrs as hereticsT
I'VE look upon adherents Of Protestant
I ism as persons who have strayed from
the influence Of their mother. In the case
OF the first reformers. they were cOnsid-
/ cred heretics, inasmuch as they accepted
the dictates Of their conscience, rather
than the teachings OF Cod
Why Catholics Kiss Ring.
why do Catholics kiss the ring Of the
bishop
/ Catholics kiss the ring FOR the same
reason that a person salutes a friend by
removing MS hat; for the same reason
/ that members Of the English bow before
the empty seat OF the King. Il is a
greeting showing thai the bishop holds
authority" was the answer
why do priests never marry?"
a married man owes his first duty 10
HIS wife and family. u Is a priests
/ first and highest obligation. TO care for
/ his congregation and minister 70 their
/ spiritual wants" said Father Russell.
/ Among the numerous other questions
/ answered by tEe clergyman was, Why
| "a the mass said in Latin?"
| Father Russell explained that Latin
/ was adopted by the Catholic Church in
| order that the sacrifice Of the mass might
/ be celebrated f. all parts Of the worle in