The Washington herald., 1914-10-05
DOMINICAN ORDER
OBSERVES FEAST
Solemn Service Celebrated by
Monks at Brookland
Monastery.
HONOR ST. FRANCIS ASSIST
Catholics from All Sections Of City
Attend Mass Held Jointly with
Peace Observance.

Solemn celebration Of the Feast OF st.
Francis Assist. the great apostle OF pesRe.
which. by q coincldence, came on the
day set apart by President Wilson as
Peace Sunday was made by the
Franciscans Of Mount st. SepuIchre
Brookland, d. G.. yesterday morning and
afternoon in he Memorial Church OF
the Holy Land.
The ceremonies Of the feast. accord
ing to tradition founded on the associa-
ton between St. Francis and St. Dominic,
were conducted at the Franciscan mon
astery by the Dominican fathers On
ST. Dominics day the Franciseans will
act as celebrants for the DomInicans.
Father Dubois breaches.
The morning service was solemn high
mass at which the sermon delivered by
Father Leo L. Dubois was on St Francis
mission OF peace. Father Dubois re-told
the story of st. Francis and his ministry.
Mgr. Bonzano, the apostolic delegate TO
the United States, assisted at the throne.
The special service OF the afternoon
included the compline and benediction.
followed by the ceremony Of the trans
itus' or death of ST. Francis. and closing
with the veneratlon Of the relic OF St
Francis
Catholics from all sections of the city
began to fill the great vaulted church an
hour before the time set for the afternoon
service. AS the time drew near for the
beginning Of the service. hooded monks
went shuffiing here and there In sandled
feet with wax tapers. lighting the hun
dreds OF tall candles banked on the
ua oil
lights cleaned here and there in groups
and the rose-colored hanging lamps be-
gan to spread a glow OF color over the
gloomy arches Of the high roof Palms
and flowers, from the monastery garden
decorated each altar.
Abruptly the organ pealed forth in the
opening bass OF the Gregorian chant OF
compline and the deep voices Of the mon
astery choir were heard in the responses
The procession Of Dominican celebrants
descended from a side balcony. one bear
ing the canopy above the head OF the
chief celebrant. another swinging the in
csnse lamp from which the scented
smoke ascended to the roof While the pro-
cession bowed reyerently before the al
tar the benediction Of the blessed sacra-
ment was given before the kneeling con-
gregation.
Touch the Sacred ReIIc.
After the final Amen" Of this service
the procession, proceeded by Franciscan
friars. who made a path among the
kneeling people, threaded its way to the
altar OF the relic Of st. Francis. The
congregation crowded about while the
ceremony of the veneration Of the relic
was performed and the monastery choir
sang 20 SanctissimG Antma," the psalm
''Voce Mea" and the motet "Salve Sancte
Pater." The congregation knelt In
compact mass in order that they might
be among the fortunate ones close to
the altar who would be allowed to touch
the chalice Of the relic. When the relic
had been blessed and the favor of touch
ing It conferred upon the visiting Do
mlnican fathers. the congregation was al
lowed TO file before the altar for the
contact. This event marked the
close of the service and as the mem
bers OF the congregation received the
blessed favor they filed from the church.
The Dominican Fathers who took part
In the ceremony were Father Reilly. o.
p. celebrant; Brother Francis Becker.
o. P, deacon, and Brother Gabriel Moore
subdeacon. Rev. Godfrey Hunt o. F.
NJ. was in charge OF the monastery
choir.