The Washington times., 1915-12-08
Immaculate Conception Is Com
memOrated in All Catholic
Churches Of City.
HOLIDAY At UNIVERSITY
Bishop Shahan Entertains
Deans of Schools at Dinner
in Divinity Hall.

In commemoration bf the immaculate
conception special services were held in
all the Catholic churches in washing
ton today. Because Of the sOlemnity of
the day the schedule of services in most
of the churches was the same as on
Sunday. Special musical programs were
sung, and many eloquent sermons Dn
the immaculate conception we're heard,
the observance OF the day ranking with
that of Christmas and Easter.
The most largely attended services
were held at the CStholhe University,
Church of the Immaculate Conception.
College of the Immaculate Conception,
ST. Patrick's and ST. AloySius' churches.
At Catholic University the feast was
a patronal one and 4 general holiday
was observed throughout the insti-
tuition. Solemn high pontihcal mass
was celebrated in the chapel in Glib
bons Memorial Hall by the Rt. Rev.
Thomas j. ShahRn, rector of the unl-
versity. who also preached tho SER
Bishop Entertains Deans.
The entire faculty and student body,
wearing caps and gowns. assembled in
Divinity Hall Immediately before
the services began and marched in .
body to the chapel After the services
Bishop Shahan entertained the deans
of the various schools at dinner In
Divinity Hall.
Solemn high mass was sung by the
Of the Immaculate Conception and
the sermon Of the day was preached
by the Rev. Francis ]. Donnelly, 8. J.,
rector OF st. Aloysiue' Church.
AZ 7:SO o'clock toniHht solemn vesperI
will be .chanted at the Church OF tbs
Immaculate Conception and . sermon
will be delivered by the Rev. Charles
Warren Currier. bishop Of Matanzes
cuba. The closing prayers Of tbs
bers Of the Sodality OF the Blessed Vir,
/ gin will be received
! At the Church OF the Immaculate
Conception elaborate ceremonials were
held In connection with the observ,
ance of the feast of the Immaculat,
Conception. Solemn high mass wal
celebrated at 1 o'clock by the Rev
Michael J. Rtordan and the sermon o
celebrated at IL o'clock by the Rev
pointed rector OF Gonzaga College
Solemn, vespers will be followed b,
benediction at 1880 o'clock this even
+, ing and the sermon will be preached
by Bishop Charles Warren Currier
The novena which began Novembe
20 will close with impressive sery
! ices, when a large number of new
members Will be received into tn
| sodality.
The Rev. Godfrey schillinE. o. F. M
III
at the Franciscan Monastery, being rs
sisted by members of the community
| At $3.50 o'clock this afternoon there Wfl
be combine and benediction OF tn
| blessed sacrament.
In the chapel OF the College of tn
immaculate Conception Very Rev. N
a. Waldron celebrated solemn higl
! mass. assisted by two members Of tn
community, Tonight at $40 o'clock tn
rosary will be .recited. to be fol
| lowed by benediotion.
Five Masses Celebrated.
Five masses were celebrated at ~
Patrick's Church, the 10 O'Clock serv
ice being a solemn high mass sung b.
the Rev. James A. Smyth. The serno
Namara. A similar number OF service
were held at ST. Aloysius' Church, tn
| Rev. George Kelly, s. j., officiating an
preaching at the 10 o'clock mass
The celebration Of today as a teaa
day is based upon the teachings OF IN
Catholic church that the blessed Viz
gin Mary in the first instant OF ne
conception by singular privilege an
grace granted by God. in view OF tn
merits or Jesus Christ. the Saviour q
from all stain OF original sin at IN
first moment OF her animation an
sanctifytng grace was given to her be
fore SIN could have taken effect in he
THE person Of Mary. in conseauenc
of her origin from Adam. should hav
/ been subject to sin, but being the ne,
Eve, who was to be the mother of th
new Adam. she was by the merits {
Christ, Withdrawn from the general Ia
!. OF original sin. He Is a greater Re
deemer who pays the debt that II ma
: not be incurred than he who pays aftt
It has fallen on the debtor. Such q II
meaning Of the term immaculate cor