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 OF the immaculate
conception special services we're held in
all the Catholic churches in Washing
ton today. Because of the solemnity of
the day the schedule of services i'm most
OF the churches was the same as on
Sunday. Special musical programs were
sung and many eloquent sermons on
the immaculate conception were heard,
the observance of the day ranking with
that of Christmas and Easter. f.
The most largely attended services
were held at the C~tholic University,
Church of the immaculate Conception.
College of the Immaculate Conception.
st. Patrick's and st. Aloysius' churches.
At Catholic University the feast was
patronai one and n general holiday
was observed throughout the insti-
tuition. Solemn high pontifcal mass
was celebrated in the chapel in Glib
bons Memorial Hall by the Rt Rev.
versity. who also preached tho ser
mon.
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
Rev. Michael Piordan at the Church
or the immaculate Conception and
the sermon of the day was preached
by the Rev. Francis ]. Donnelly, 6. j.,
rector Of st. Aloysius' Church.
will be chanted at the Church of the
Immaculate Conception and q sermon
will be delivered by the Rev. Charles
Warren .Gurrier. bishop of Matanzas
novena will be recited and the new mem
bers Of the Sodality of the Blessed Vir-
gin Will be received.
At the Church of the Immaculate e
| held in connection with the observ
ance of the feast OF the Immaculate te
Conception. Solemn high mass was
celebrated at l o'clock by the Rev
Michael j: Riordan and the sermon OF
celebrated at IL o'clock by the Rev
Francis J. DonnelIy. the newly sp.
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
The novena which began Novembe,
~ Will close with impressive serv.
ices. when a large number of new
| members will be received into tn,
| sodality.
The Rev. Godfrey schilling. O. r. M.
| at the Franciscan Monastery. being as
sisted by members Of the community
AT $3.50 o'clock this afternoon there vii
be combine and benediction OF the
blessed sacrament
In the chapel of the College of tn,
immaculate Conception Very Rev. NJ
\. Waldron celebrated solemn high
mass. assisted by two members of tn,
rosary will be recited. to be fol
lowed by benediction.
Five Masses Celebrated.
Five masses were celebrated at st
| Patrick's Church, the 10 o'clock serv,
ice being a solemn high mass sung b,
the Rev. James A. Smyth. The sermon
was delivered by the Rev. John M Nc,
Namara. A similar number of service.
were held at st. Aloysius' Church. the
Rev. George Kelly. s: j.. officiating anc
The celebration of today as a reas
day is based upon the teachings Of ths
Catholic church that the blessed vir
gin Mary in the first instant of hel
conception by a singular privilege ant
grace granted by God. in view of the
! merits OF Jesus Christ. the Saviour o
| the human race. was preserved exemp
| from all stain OF original sin at tn,
first moment OF her animation, ant
| sanctitying grace was given to her he
| fore sin could have taken effect in he
| soul"
The person OF Mary, in conseuuenc.
| Of her origin from Adam. should hav,
| been subject to sin, but being the new
| Eve, who was to be the mother of tn,
new Adam. she was by the merits O
Christ. withdrawn from the general Law
| of original sin. He Is a greater Re
deemer who pays the debt that It ma.
| not be incurred than he who pays afte
! 1t has fallen on the debtor. Such is tn
meaning Of the term immaculate con
ception.'"