The Washington herald., 1909-08-30
FEAST RITES GIVEN
st. AugUstine's Catholic
Church Has Observance.
OTHER PARISHES PARTICIPATE
Eloquent Sermon Preached by Mgr.
Starr, Rector of Corpus Christi, of
baltimore - House of worship II
EIabOrnteIy Decorated With Lighted
Tapers and Beautiful Blossoms.

blossoms decorated the high altar az ST.
Augustine's Church yesterday morning
for the solemn celebration Of the patronal
feast OF the church-the Feast Of ST. Au-
gustine, Bishop of Hippo-which falls on
August q and is always observed at this
church on the Sunday following.
1t was the first OF the big functions OF
the coming season In Catholic Church
circles. and it was well attended by per-
sons from a number OF other parishes.
Solemn high mass was sung by Rev
James ]. O'Connor. assistant pastor OF
st. Augustine's Church, with Rev. Eu-
gene Connolly. assistant pastor Of the
Immaculate Conception. deacon. and Rev
William ]. Carroll, assistant pastor OK
ST. Patrick's Church, subdeacon.
Mgr. William Z. Starr. rector OF Corpus
Christi Church. Baltimore. preached the
sermon, which was a little out OF the
beaten track for such occasions. He
Lrefaced his sermon by saying that the
life Of their patron saint was 10 them
an oft-told tale; that they had heard
many times Of how he had lived in the
early days OF Christianity, his father be-
Ing a pagan. giving him no example OF
virtue that he could follow. and how his
evil companions and associations had
drawn him down to a life OF prohigacv.
they had also heard how he had been fol
lowed by the prayers Of his Christian
mother until he yielded TO the eloquence
OF the great st. Ambrose, and from the
time Of his conversion lived a life OF the
closest union with God.
He was the first great systematic
theoiogian Of the church-the first that
gave theology the character Of a science;
and l will speak 10 you on a subject that
Grows out Of this brief consideration OF
your patron saint" said the speaker.
Mgr. Starr then took up the doctrine
Of the invocation Of the saints, why the
church honors the saints, and the possl-
bility Of their hearing and answering
prayers. which he treated in a simple
direct. and logical way.
Liberal Quotations.
He also quoted literally from both the
old and the new testament in support OF
the doctrine as taught by the Catholic
Church. and closed by urging his hearers
70 appeal TO their patron saint In all
the trials and crises OF their lives
A special programme OF music was
sung by the choir. under the direction OF
Anton Kaspar welI-known violinist Sc
lectlons included the Kyrie, Sanctus. and
Benedictus from Haydn's Third Mass.
Gloria. Credo. and ''Agnus Der from
Haydn's Second Mass; "Veni Creator. {"
BY Wiegand. and ofrertory, Ave Maria, -
by Arcadelt.
At the benediction service, which fol-
lowed the mass. the Salutaris was a
chorus adapted from the Good Friday
music in Wagner's "Parsifal." and the
''Tantam Ergo" was a composition by
Father Verdussen. While the congrega-
ton was dispensing the choir sang Gou-
mods Praise ye the Father"
Special mention should be made OF the
work of the choir. In the Ave Maria. %
by Arcadelt. which was sung without ac-
compartment their good tone quality
was especially evident. particularly IN
the pianissimo passages. At the conclu-
sion OF the ceremonies, Rev. Father Grif-
fifth entertained the visiting clergy at
dinner in the rectory. The guests includ-
ed Mgr. Starr, OF Baltimore; Mgr. James
F. Mackin. OF St PauTs Church; Rev.
Thomas E. McGuigan and Rev. W. J.
Carroll, OF st. Patrick's; Rev. Eugene
Connolly, Of the Immaculate Conception:
Rev. Charles NJ. Bart, Of St. Theresa's.
and Rev. J. r. Mathews, OF st. Cyprian's s
/ Church.