Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-12-28
Chimes Peal Forth Welcome
From Mount Saint
Sepulchre.
Ceremonies Carried Out Just as
in Bethlehem Christmas
Night.
TRADITIONAL PROCESSION HELD


as the hands of the clock approached
the hour OF ~, throngs of the faith
ful wended their way from far and
near to Mount Saint Sepulchre,
which is situated on a hill beyond
the little village of Brookland, near
the Catholic University of America,
to witness the imposing ceremonies
of the midnight services, gone
through as they are in the little
town of Judea. Through the
courtesy of the Electric Car Com
pany special cars were run that night
to accommodate the large crowds
that flock to the Franciscan church
every Christmas eve, and these cars
are kept waiting until after the serv-
ices for the convenience of those
who wish to return home, but many
remain to pray in the quiet of the
Grotto of Bethlehem, where masses
continue to be read after the mid
night functions are over.
The convent bells pealed out
across the still night air, seeming to
say Come all ye faithful" and long
before the mass begun the Church of
Mount Saint Sepulchre was filled to
overflowing with reverent and plus
worshipers, who followed attentively
the beautiful chant of the festive Of
flee. AS the hour of midnight
chimed the peals of joy were rung
out by the convent bells, and within
the church, aglow with light from
hundreds of candles and adorned
with a profusion of flowers, the
heavenly song of the angels was
given forth, GLORY be to God on
high, and on earth peace to men of
good will" The music rendered by
the friars was strictly liturgical. and
In this large church was very ef-
fective.
After the high mass Cat which
there were no communions given this
ysssr t. a--ez4BiEE ,uIsssa
the "Adeste Fidsles, the traditional
procession with the infant Jesus to
the Grotto of Bethlehem was held.
In this grotto we see before us in a
semicircular niche between two
stairways the sacred shrine, with a
silver star set in the marble of its
flooring, precisely like the one that
In Bethlehem marks the holy spot
where our Lord was born. Around
the star is the inscription in Latin,
Here Jesus was born of the Virgin
Mary" Above it burn VotiVe lamps
day and night, the offerings of pious
benefactors. A large marble slab
forms the altar table, and in the
niche we see a relief figure of the
Infant Jesus.
The scene of this august event is
here Just as the traveller of today
beholds it, with even the stone bench
Whereon Turkish sentinels sit repro
duced, as is the case in the Grotto
, OF Nazareth. Turning to one side
we come to a cavern followed in the
rock. This is the place of the
manger where the Infant Jesus was
laid, wrapped in swaddling clothes,
by his holy mother. 1t is but a little
niche, hewn in rock, for the purpose
OF feeding the cattle, for here a
wooden manger was built. Arrived
/ in the grotto, all the ceremonies are
carried out just as they are in Beth
lehem on Christmas night. The
celebrant first lays the beautiful fig
ure OF the Infant Jesus on the place
CT the nativity, and the deacon sings
the gospel. AT the words, "And she
brought forth her first born, and
wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
ana laid him in a manger," the
infant is carried thence to the place
OF the manger. The gospel is then
finished and the procession returns
TO the upper church, singing the
'Te Deum." The Infant is left in
The manger, exposed to the Venera-
tion OF the faithful.
The church has ever encouraged
these beautiful deYotions, introduced
by the Seraphic st. Francis of As
slsi, which recall in such a wonder
tully clear manner the love of God
Tor the creature, who designed to
become man for the redemption OF
the sins OF humanity. The people
OF Washington appreciate the priv
llege OF going to Mount Saint
sepulehre, where the Grotto of Beth
lehem has been reproduced in its
every detail, as away Off in the lowly
city among the barren hills of Judea.
and the same beautiful Ceremonies
enhance the solemnity of Christmas
night. The ever increasing attend
ance at these services testify TO the
great good derived from these devo-
tions introduced by the Franciscans.
OF paying homage to their God, like
the shepherds and Wise Men of the
East, even in the humble stable OF
Bethlehem.