The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-08-21


SOLEMN DEDICATION OF THE
RRo-cATHEDRAL OF ST. MARY
LAST SUNDAY, AND PREACHED
THE SERMON ON THE occA-
SOMA LARGE NUMBER OF
PRIESTS PREsENT-coNeREGA.
TIoN FILLS SACRED EDIFIcE-
BRIEF SKETCH OF THE PRO-
CATHEDRAL PROJECT.
With all the richness of ceremonial
prescribed by the ritual for such an
event, the Pro-Cathedral of st. Mary
of Minneapolis was formally dedi-
Gated to the service of God on the
Feast of the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, it's tutelary
saint and patron. 1t was an occasion
of more than ordinary significance to
the people of the parish, and they
and their friends thronged the sacred
edlhce to participate in the services
and give expression to their gratitude
to Almighty God for the success which
had attended their efforts to erect on
the main thoroughfare of Minneapolis
church which is not only credit
to the Catholics of that city but an
object of civic pride to all it's inhabi-
tants. The dedication was attended
by nearly fifty priests from st. Paul.
Minneapolis and vicinity.
The ceremony took place in the
afternoon under ideal weather condi-
tions. At three o'clock the priests
who had vested in the Pro-Cathedral
school filed in procession to the sane
tuary and on the way were joined by
Right Reverend Mgr. Guillot of Min
neapolis, Right Reverend Bishop Law
Ter of ST. Paul, and the Most Rever-
end Archbishop who was the of1iciat-
ing prelate. The Most Reverend
Archbishop took his place on the
throne where he vested for the cere-
mony. He was assisted by the Rev.
Othmar Erren, o. S. B., pastor of st.
Joseph's Church, Minneapolis, and the
thongs Church. The Rev. "A. syzsslov-
SKY of st. Paul Seminary was master
of ceremonies, assisted by the Rev.
Joseph o'Neil of the Pro-Cathedral
parish.
The acolytes, cross-bearer, altar
boys and priests, accompanied by the
sacred ministers, proceeded to the
front of the church where they re-
manned while the Most Reverend
Archbishop sprinkled the exterior of
the edifice with holy water During
this time the priests, under the direc-
ton of the choir-master, Rev. J.. A.
Kern, sang the Miserere. When the
celebrant returned to the main en-
trance he recited the prescribed
prayers after which the choir chanted
the Litany of the Saints while the
procession returned to the sanctuary
AT the conclusion of the Litany the
celebrant blessed the interior of the
church and said the prayers Gus
tomary on such occasions. In the
meantime the men of the congrega
tion who had assembled in front OF
the church and led the procession
around it during the blessing, together
with many others who had gathered
to witness the ceremony, entered the
church and filled the auditorium.
The Sermon.
The Most Reverend Archbishop
took his text from the Gospel of st
Luke (1:48): Behold from hence
forth all generations shall call me
blessed" He said in substance:
BY use, the Pro-Cathedral of st
Mary, for some time, has been dedicat
ed to the service of Almighty God
Today it is dedicated by solemn cere
mony Henceforth, by right and il
fact, it is the house of God, the gait
of heaven, the tabernacle of the Eter
nal. The prayers recited during thu
ceremony were to the effect that Coz
extend the shadow of His graciou
protection over this building, that
be separated from all profane uses
that His children may worship in j
and offer UP to Him the tribute o
their love. The sprinklfng of thes
walls means their separation fron
mundane things. Cleansed of the dus
of earth, this temple stands apart,
place where we may come to revel
ence and adore God for His infinit
blessings. 1t is offered to God
token of love and gratitude for a
His goodness When we cross il
threshold, we breathe the air of tn
skies and stand in the presence {
the Most High.
Every Church is dedicated prima
lily and essentially to God for th
purpose of worshipping Him, prayin
to Him, and uniting the people
Him. But together with this offerir
to God, mention is made of one
Gods saints to whom it is dedicate
whose memory it recalls to the wo
shippers, whose example they WI
initiate, for whose prayers they vi
petition. Each temple is dedicated
God under the name of one of
saints.
The Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary
dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, Il
Mother of the Incarnate God. She
the most perfect of Gods creature
Queen of heaven and of earth. Bea
tiful though it be in its majestic pl
portions and rich in the adornme
soon to be lavished on it, its sweete
grace comes to it today when t
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