Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-05
CATHOLICS HONOR
MEMORY OF SAINT
Rev. A. [. Cortie, Noted Astron-
omer from England, breaches
at Cathedral
RELICS SACRED POSSESSION
Members of Church Fortify Their
Association to Fight Evil
in World
RELICS SACRED POSSESSION

Vibiana, virgin and saint, titular OF
the cathedral that bears her name ana
patroness of the diocese of Monterey
and Los Angeles, was honored with
solemn services in st. Vibiana's cathe-
dral yesterday morning on the occa-
sion of the annual Observance OF her
feast day. The cathedral was crowded
by a large congregation gathered to
honor the girl saint who died a martyr
in the third century.
The white altar, shimmering in the
light of many burning tapers, was re-
lieved with huge clusters of flaming
carnations. The curtains in the shrine
above the main altar were drawn,
showing the figure of the saint encased
in a golden casket with glass panels
Within this figure were placed the
relics of the saint on their discovery
in the catacombs at Rome. Lighted
candles and tiny electric globes gave
additional brilliance to the shrine.
SERMON BY DIR. CORTIE
The officiating priests were clad in
red vestments the color of martyr
saint. Solemn high mass was cele-
brated at 10:30 o'clock The sermon
was preached by the Rev. A. /. Cortle
of Stonyhurst college, England, one OF
the noted astronomers who came mere
to the international convention on MI
Wilson. In the vast congregation
were many scientists who attended to
hear their noted colleague preach.
Father Cortie took his text from the
second chapter of st. Paul to the
Ephesians: Now, therefore, ye are
no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow citizens with the saints, and
of the household Of Cod"
In his opening remarks Father Cor
tie gave a brief history of st. Vibiana,
and said in part:
1--WE are assembled here this morn
ing, dear brothern in Jesus Christ, to
assist at the solemn celebration of the
titular of the cathedral and the patron
ess of the diocese. Her relics were
for ages lost in the catacombs at Rome,
where the Roman pontiffs and bishops
offered their masses. There were
buried those who had suffered death
for the Christian faith.
MARTYRS TOMB LOCATED
when the church came forth from
the catacombs they fell into ruins
through the lapse of time and through
earthquakes. In comparatively recent
years they have been restored and in
1852 Plus TX opened the catacombs on
the Appian way and there was found
the tomb of Vibiana. A simple slab
bore the inscription to the pure and
chaste spirit of Vibiana.'
From the location and condition of
the catacombs it is known that she
died in the third century and that she
was of a noble family. All else is
hidden-What year she died, how she
suffered, whether through the wild
beasts in the amphitheater or by those
awful tortures that we read about.
1--WE are proud to possess her relics.
In 1854, at a great gathering of bishops
in Rome when the doctrine of the I'M
macuIate Conception was pronounced
to the world, many bishops begged for
the relics, but the Pope bestowed them
on Bishop Amat for this diocese.
In the world men are united for
many interests. We have political as
sociations-associatio for business,
trusts and combines; societies for the
spread of literature and learning, for
scientific research, such as that which
we have travelled 80 far to attend last
week. Men who belong to such asso-
Citations have a columon motive. What
sacrifice of time and money will they
not endure to advance their ends.
1--WE are gathered in one grand as
sociation with the identity of end and
the means for that end. That associa-
tion is the Catholic church. We who
are still here fight the battle against
ourselves, the devil and the world. We,
the church militant, are united with all
the saints of heaven, among them
Vibiana. We are one great association,
the Catholic church being founded by
our Lord.
CHURCH CHRISTS KINGDOM
Here came the second person of the
Blessed Trinity to found a kingdom,
as he termed it. 1t is not limited by
time-behold, l am with you always
even unto the end of time 1t is not
limited to certain times and nations,
but to all. Jesus Christ is the corner
c,fn of this 9CEnpi9 tinn-1Jnnn this
stone are the prophets and apostles,
and we are the other stones. He set
up a kingdom, association, union-call
it what you Will--to save our souls
You see beautiful paintings a piece Of
literature, and does your admiration
terminate in them? You Immediately
ask who painted or composed that.
Your admiration terminates in the per,
son who created it, and so it is with
Almighty God, his admiration must
terminate in himself"