Evening star., 1954-11-17

1O2 Bishops in
Marian Year Mass
A majority Of the Roman
Catholic hierarchy in the United
States last night took part in a
solemn pontif1cal mass at Cath
olic University in honor Of the
Virgin Mary.
The four American cardinals
were Joined by 102 bishops and
archbishops and more than 5000
priests, religious and laymen at
the mass, which marked the
high point in this country of
year-long Marian observances.
Hundreds Of persons were
turned away from the jammed
hall.
Edward Cardinal Mooney of
Detroit celebrated the mass be-
fore a large chrysanthemum-
covered altar in the university
gymnasium. At the right Of the
stage, under a gold and red
canopy, sat the other three card
inals. clad in their ermine and
rlet-Samuel Cardinal Stritch
Of Chicago, Francis Cardinal
Spellman Of New York and
James Francis Cardinal McIn-
tyre Of Los Angeles.
The Most Rev. Amleto G.
Cicognani, Apostolic Delegate to
the United States, preached on
"The Queenship Of Mary.
Flags and Bunting
The gymnasium was draped in
red, white ana blue bunting, and
American flags hung on three
walls. One end of the, llall was
covered with blue and white
cloth, in front Of which stood
the flowered altar. Above the
affairs six candles hung q statue
Of Mary. crowned, in her tradi-
tional white and blue robes and
with a spray Of ferns and pink
roses at her feet.
Above all hung the tinsel let
ters, stretching from side to side
Of the hall-"Queen Of Heaven
and Earth.
"Still resounding," said Arch
bishop Cicognani, sis the echo
of the voice of our Holy Father,
Plus XII, who on the first of
this month proclaimed the Ii
turgical feast Of the Queenship
Of Mary" which hereafter will
be celebrated each year on May
81.
A year ago, the Pope had pro-
claimed 1854 a Marian Year in
celebration of the Tooth ami
versary Of the PRONUNCIATION of
the dogma Of the Immaculate
Conception, which declares Mary
to be free of the stain Of original
sin under which the rest of
mankind is said to suffer. Last
nights ceremony climaxed q two
day convocation at Catholic Uni
versity of the Nations Catholic
theologians and clergy. marking
the closing days Of the Marian
Year.
Long Called Queen.
Gas early as the Fourth Gen.
tury, Mary has been called
queen" said Archbishop Cicog-
mani. MARY is queen because she
is the mother of the son Of God,
and the son Of God is king. !.
the only sovereign. king Of kings
and lord of lords"
The archbishop said Mary is
queen because she is the media
trix Of graces and co-redemptrix
Of mems sins. J.
Furthermore. Mary is queen
because, in a Superabundant de-
gree, she surpasses every other
creature in grace, privileges,
prerogatives and qualities" he
said,
But finally. he said, "heed
must be paid to the voice Of the
people. It Is a plebiscite. uni
versal and unending. The faith
full want her for their queen"
He cited the monuments. insti-
tutions and works Of art which,
for centuries, have been dedi-.
Gated to the Blessed Mother.
Celebration Held.
The Catholics Of the United
States, he said. have held "ex-.
traordinary celebrations" and
there has been arls "extraordi-
nary reception of the sacra-
ments" this year. with 9 'piety
and charity perhaps never before
SO fervent and generous.
Archbishop Cicognani called
on Catholics to ''irnitate the
great virtues Of her, the Heavenly
Queen Of our Most Beloved
Mother.
Music for the mass. ranging
from the ancient chants to d
setting Of the ordinary of the
mass by the contemporary Meth
erlands composer Franssen, was
sung by the 5O-voice Sulpician
Choir Of the university's theo-
logical college. !.
Thro ug hout. the plImed.
sword-carrying knights Of Co
lumbus formed an honor guard.
The mass ended with the final
procession from the gymnasium
or the bishops and then the four