The San Francisco call., 1910-12-18
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call

readily be called down again to re-
light the candle.
Catholics. less superstitious and
credulous-or shall we say gullible?
than our good non Catholic corre-
spondents, recognize in this description
a distorted account of the ancient cere-
mony of blessing the new fire which
takes place on Holy Saturday, in every
Catholic church throughout the world
IN which the ceremonies of Holy Week
are carried out according to the pre-
scrlbed ritual. The Holy Week manual,
to be had at any Catholic book store,
describes in its minutest details the
blessing of the new fire
flre Is struck from a flint, or some
times lighted with match; it is
blessed by the priest, and from it the
lights In the church and about the altar
are lighted, as also the Easter candle
Inc ceremony reminds us that Christ
is the Tight of the world" and that
thls light. apparently extinguished in
death, has Just been rekindled by his
glorious resurrection from the dead
The orientals. often being more ex-
cltable In manner than their more
sedate western brothers. are filled with
the joyous spirit of the Easter day, and
exchange glad greetings and saluta-
tons, and they still retain the ancient
practice among the early Christians of
taking some of the blessed fire to their
homes to keep there in commemora-
tlon of the beautiful ceremony wit
messed in the church, and as a protec-
ton to their homes, through the risen
Savior in whose honor they preserve
it so carefully
Thus, once more we see how preju-
dice and preconceived theories may
blind men. otherwise bright and alert
In their daily occupations, and lead
them into absurd superstition and err
rors as to the simplest practices of the
Catholic ritual. And. if you question
their accuracy, they will assure you
that they have seen all this with their
own eyes. AS we have stated, they
may see the same thing on any Holy
Saturday (the day before Easter Sun
day., in any city in the United States.
In the death recently of Mgr. A.
Oster, vicar general of the archdiocese
of St Paul, as Archbishop ireland re-
minded his hearers at the funeral the
northwest has lost the last of that
band of heroic missionaries and pio-
neers who were ordained by Bishop
Cretin, for the then immense expanse
of wilderness included within the
bounds of the diocese of st. Paul.
Father Oster was one of those low
able characters whose simplicity in
the true sense, genuine holiness and
deep learning won all hearts. His
evenness of temper steadfastness in
his love of souls. and absolute self
sacrifice to the call of duty, endeared
him to all who came in contact with
him.
This was emphasized in an unex-
pected manner at his funeral The
great archbishop of st. Paul, with all
his kindness and thoughtfulness. would
never be accused by those who know
him intimately of what might be called
sentimentality. or giving ready express
sion to softness of manner in any form.
Yet. al the funeral of Mgr. Oster. hav-
ing begun bravely his words of eulogy
of the dead priest, and uttered several
sentences, suddenly his grace's voice
broke and he stood motionless, amid
the dead silence that prevailed; while
those near him were struck by the
sight of the tears coursing unchecked
down his cheeks. 1t was only for a
few moments. BY an. effort he recov-
cred his self-possession; and the beau
tiful, heartfelt discourse was continued
to the end. 1t would be hard, however,
to find a more eloquent tribute to Mgr.
Oster than those tears flowing unbid-
den down the cheeks of his archbishop
and companion of many years in the
hardships and trials of missionary life
in fba i16 no n