Norwich bulletin., 1921-11-21

Rev. Charles Kirby, NJ. S.. arrived IN
Norwich from Hartford Saturday to take
the place of Rev. Francis ]. Ledwith M.
S., who had left for Norwood, Mass. TO
open a mission Sunday. Father Kirby
Joined the two other fathers OF La
salette who have been giving a mission
at st. Patrick's church for the past two
weeks. He addressed the men SATURDAY
evening on The Holy Mass.
Sunday at 100 was set aside especial
ly as the mass for the men who were mn
fishing their mission week Low mass
was read by the rector Rev. M ID. May,
and then one of the convincing proofs Oh
the success of the week came in the long
lines of men who went to the altar Ior
holy communion, following CONFESSION
and the sacrament of penance the Prev
GUS DAYS. 1t was necessary to open the
| galleries to provide pews for the great
| congregation. Three mission priests au-
ministered communion to SO many that
| by actual count on the part OF one Oh
! the ushers % minutes were required Iof
this Father Conlon delivered the ser
| mon. his theme The Home.
| At high mass at 1870 Father Conlon
again preached "a forcefui. logical ex-
| position of the Catholic prohibition of the
| evil of divorce. His text was What
| therefore God hath joined together let no
man put asunder" He quoted the por-
| ton of the gospel, John 2: Ill, begin
| ming AT that time there was wedding
| in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of
Jesus was there. And Jesus also was in
vited and His disciples, to the wedding
/ Favored as were those welded in oiden
| time in having the Saviour and His
blessed mother as guests, said the
nd
| than are those who are duly wed before
the altar wherein reposes the same
| Saviour who blest the wedding in Cana
by His presence. Marriage instituted by
the Creator has been advanced to the
dignity of a sacrament by the Redeemer;
| the church of Christ ratifies the marriage
| contract as forever, indissoluble. What
God hath joined together let no man put
| asunder, said the Lord to the Jews OF
old, and the Catholic church is the only
church which continues to declare the
same binding character of marriage now
as in the Saviours time.
In modern days men in their pride
have set their will against that of Their
Creator-have said as did. the angels OF
old, I'VE will not serve :" Sadly enough
it Is our own country which is the mos
fragrant transgressor on this point Of
permitting divorce, with its awful
wrongs, especially toward children of thu
disrupted homes. Che preacher express
ed the hope that the time was not coming
when the wrath of an offended God woult
be manifested toward this land, SO in
differently permitting and condoning the
abominatien Of divorce.
During this mass, as throughout thu
exercises of the mission, there was in
spring music by Organist Frank L. Far
| II ota
at St Patrick s-which was the SHOW
instrument at the Buffalo exposition
retains its fine quality of tone and wa
heard to splendid advantage Sunday, no
tably when, at the offertory. Mr.. Farrell
played his. own mastery variations Of
! Pleyels Hymn.
At 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon the mis-
sion fathers had invited the mothers Q
the parish to bring their babies and othe
young children to be blessed and for
nally consecrated to God. The invitatio
was ardently accented, more than 1.sO
assembling. Father Kirby gave shor
talk on Motherhood. then bestowed tn
blessing on the children as the churc
prescribes, afterwards going through tn
aisles and continuing this benediction in
divdually.
1 The browning ceremonial of the tw
weeks mission came Sunday evening
D | when the men of the parish assembled
y 1900 strong, for +he final services. Their
was congregat ~ singing of familia
hymns. including the majestic Hol
Cod, We Praise Thy Name. the hymn
| the Catholic church for SO many Ger
turie sthat even tradition gives no hir
e as to its composer as the date when
I was written. The leader of the singin
l. was Father Kirby, who also led in til
e recitation of the rosary
II Then came the solemn ceremony Of til
y renewal of baptfsmal VOWS. AS veste
/, altar boys carrying lighted candles move
e through the auditory and galleries. eac