Evening star., 1914-10-05
Impressive Services Are Held
in the Church of the
Holy Land.
PAPAL DELEGATE PRESENT
TO ASSIST AT THRONE
Feast of st. Francis of Assissi,
Apostle of Peace, Is Solemn
ly Observed.

Franciscans at Mount st. Sepulchre.
Brookland. yesterday observed the feast
Of st. Francis Of Assissi. apostle OF peace
Of the early days of the Christian church.
the celebration, which was conducted by
the Dominican fathers, being held In the
Memorial Church Of the Holy Land Ira
dition reaching back into the remote
ages of early Christianity and based on
the intimate association between st.
Dominic and St Francis holds that the
services St. Francis day must be con-
Quoted by the Dominicans. while st. DOM
inics day the Franciscan monks conduct
the services.
By coincidence of which President
Wilson possibly was unaware or forgetful
when he designated October as a ma
tional day Of prayer for peace. the nation
wide observance Of Peace Sunday fell on
the day set aside in the calendar of the
saints Of the Catholic Church as that of
st. Francis.
Added Impressiveness.
The fact that the President of the
United States had called for peace sup
plications on this special day lent
added impressiveness to the services.
which were participated in by Mgr.
Bonzano. papal delegate to the United
States. who assisted at the throne.
and others prominent in the church in
Washington. The sermon at high mass
was preached by Rev Leo L. Dubois.
who told of ST. Francis mission OF
peace to all mankind Assisting at the
mass. in addition to Mgr. Bonzano.
were Rev. Reilly. o. p. celebrant:
Brother Francis Becker, o. p. deacon.
and Brother Gabriel Moore. subdeacon.
The monastery choir was in charge of
Rev. Godfrey Hunt, o. F. N.
The special service of the afternoon
included the compline and the bene-
diction, which were followed by the
ceremony of the ''transitus." or death
Of ST. Francis. The service closed
with the veneration of the sacred relic
of ct. Francis.
Visitors From Whole City.
Catholics from all parts of the Dis
F, trict began to fill the church an hour
before the thine set for the afternoon
service. As the time drew near for
the beginning of the service hooded
| monks moved here and there in san
daled feet. lighting the hundreds of tall
| candles banked on the affairs. The tiny
| colored votive lights cleaned here and
F, there in groups and the rose-colored
hanging lamps spread a glow of color
over the arches of the high roof. Palms
and flowers from the monastry garden
decorated each altar.
The organ pealed forth the opening
bass of the Gregorian chant of COM
pline and the voices of the monastery
choir were heard in the responses.
The procession of Dominican cele-
brants descended from side balcony,
| one bearing the canopy above the head
of the chief celebrant, another swing
| ing the incense lamp. While the pro-
| cession bowed before the altar the BEN
| ediction Of the blessed sacrament was
| given before the kneeling congrega-
| tion.
Fransiscans Head Procession.
After the final amen" of this service
| the procession, preceded 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 monas-
terry choir sang 20 Sanctissims
motet ''Salve Sancte Pater." The con-
gregation knelt in a compact mass in
order that they might be among the
fortunate ones close to the altar, who
would be allowed to touch the chalfce
of the relic. When the relic had been
blessed and the favor of touching IL
conferred upon the visiting Dominican
fathers, the congregation was allowed
to file before the altar for the coveted
contact This marked the close OF the
service, and as the members of the
congregation received the blessed favor
they filed from the church.