The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-22
BLESSING OF BELL
 Al ORPHANAGE Many Witness Ceremony at
 East Lake BISHOP OFFICIATES The Right Rev. E. P. Allen of Mobile Conducts Impressive Exercises. Bell Presented to Sister
 Catherine
 

beSDlte lHe liCleIlltIl WedlneF QulIe a large number of Catholics from Birming- ham were present at the East Lake or phanage yesterday aftrenoon to witness the rare and beautiful ceremony of the blessing of large. new bell, lately pre- scented to Sister Catherine of that institu- ton.
 The Right Rev. E. P. Allen, bishop of
 Mobile, officiated. The ceremony of the bell Is very ancient and the formula Is to be found in the Pontfcale Romanum SO, only the bishop can ordinarily officate, although on rare occasions the sovereign
 pontiff may delegate an ordinary priest or empower a bishop to sub-delegate that faculty. Once the bells are blessed they are not, so the ancient canons prescribe l to be used for any other than a religious purpose.
 l The bell just blessed was suspended from a framework on the porch of the orphansge. This framework, as the cere- mony demanded, was decorated with flowers, gold and silver braid and other trimmings. The bishop during the greater part of the ceremony, that is, during the recitation of the psalms prescribed, was seated on faldstool on a small platform covered with carpet. The assisting clergy and servers, acolytes. thurifer crucifer and chanters were seated on benches ar ranged on each side of the bell.
 The bishop iptoned Psalms 5O 53 56, G. 69. S5 12e. After these psalms had been recited by the clergy and charters the bishop solemnly blessed the water used in washing the bell. After the water was blessed with many crossings and invoca- tions, the bishop wearing mitre and carrying his crosier dipped the sprinkler in the water and washed the lips of the bell inside and outside. The bishop then intoned Psalms 145, 146, 147, 14S, 149, by the clergy and assistants two priests with sponges and rough towels washed the bell within and without and after wards dried It.
 The master of ceremonies then mark ed with chalk seven crosses on the outside of the bell, on the lips equally distant from each other, aud four crosses QiSldhl lIOii cdCIl OtItI On tHe inside After the psalms were finished the bishop anointed these crosses with holy oil reciting the ancient prayers pre- scribed wherein Gods blessing is invoked on the bell and on all who hear its sound. The 2sth Psalm was then intoned and the four crosses in the interior of the bell were anointed with holy chrism.
 
 ineensing. On dish containing fire in cense was scattered and was then placed under the bell. The 76th Psalm was chanted and a prayer recited. A gospel was sung by a deacon and after the gospel the bishop preached.
 Bishop Allen gave a most interesting sermon explaining the signification of the ritual and ceremonial just wit messed. He showed how from apostolic days the Catholic church has used bless ings of things animate and inanimate. How, from the cradle to the grave, the faithful are blessed; how in every sac rament administered from baptism of tho babe to the extreme unction of the dying, Gods blessings are invoked in solemn prayer; how not alone man, but objects used in divine service, objects set aside for sacred ritual and rites, are also solemnly blessed and anointed; how the chalice that contains Christs precious blood Is blessed and set aside never to be used except by the priest offering up the sacrifice of the new law, holy mass how the altar on which that sacrifice is offered is blessed; how the church itself Is set aside as sacred, not to be used for profane purposes, but solely for the service of the Lord. So too, the bells that sound the call to prayer and ser- vice, that ring ioyfully on festive days and toll mournfully on occasions of grief are also specially blessed by holy church.
 The bishop then spoke of the uses of the bells. How the AHgelus thrice day calls the people to mediate on the in carnation; how the De Profpndus bell calls people to pray for the departed souls; how the Sabbath bells call peo- pie to observe the Lords day; how the consecration bell warns the people that the great sacrifice of Calvary is being. in an unbloody manner, re-enacted for the sins of the world.
 The bishop then urged on all rev. erence and respect for objects blessed by the church and imparted to all his ben ediction. The ceremonies concluded by the joyful ringing of the newly conse- crated bell as the bishop and his at tending clergy moved in procession to the sacrsty. In addition to the bishop the following clergy were present: The Rev. John B. Canepa, San Marcos church East Thomas, and chaplain of the or phanage; the Rev Michael F. Filan, chaplain at St. Vincent's hospital; the Rev. Robert R. McQuillen, St. Anthony's church, Ensley: the Rev. J. J. Maher, c. M, Opelika; the Rev. James E. Coyle, St. Pauls church, Birmingham the Rev. William M. Murphy, Our Lady Immac- ulate, Birmingham; the Rev James T. Coen, St. Paul's church. Birmingham; the Rev. John O'Kelly. Our Lady of Sor- rows Birmingham.
 There were also present many Sisters of Charity from the hospital and many Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of St. Ben edict from the convents attached to Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Pauis.