The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-11-20
National Shrine Dedication =. :.

into the hands OF Mary I'M
maculate in order that she
may present the country to
You. Through her We wish to
thank You for the great re-
sources Of this land and for
the freedom which has been
its heritage.
Through the itercession OF
Mary, have mercy on the
Catholic Church in America.
Grant Us peace. Have mercy
on our President and on all
the officers Of our govern
ment. Grant US . fruitful
economy born Of Justice and
charity. Have mercy on capital
and industry and labor.
Protect the family life of
the nation. Guard the in
nocence of our children. Grant
the precious gift of many re-
ligious Vocatlons. Through the
intercessicn of our Mother,
have mercy on the sick, the
poor, the tempted, sinners
on all who are in need"
Following the Act Of Con
secration, a TIE Deum was sung
by a choir made up of 30
priests and Religious from
houses of study for men af-
filiated with the Catholic
University. The congregation,
accompanied by organ and
symphony orchestra, then join
ed in the national anthem.
Archbishop Ritter described
the American people in his
sermon as "a providenfiaI peo-
ple," and said of the shrine
dedication that ii marks a
significant epoch in the his.
tory of the Catholic Church
in the United States"
Somewhat like the Israel
ties Of old, we have come to-
day to the promised land of
fulfillment after 40 years Of
planning and preparation,
hope and sacrifice" he declar-
ed.
"The span Of time has test
ed our people and, as this
magnificent structure so well
demonstrates, has brought
forth not only their admirable
generosity but their universal
enthusiasm as we'll"
The Archbishop, chairman
of the US. Bishops commit.
tee for the completion of the
shrine. compared the great
church TO the famed eathe.
dralS of Europe. As the cafhe.
draIs expressed the religious
aspirations of whole nations,
he said, so the national shrine
is "the expression of the
Catholic democracy of the
United States and of the
Catholics love and devotion
TO Mary immaculate"
Recalling the nationwide
ceremonies being held in
Catholic parishes to dedicate
the country to Mary, he de-
clared: What is being done
here this morning Is, in the
truest sense of the words, he
ing done in behalf of, in the
name Of, and with the en-.
thuslastic approval of the
whole Church in the United
States"
Archbishop Ritter traced the
history Of the national shrine,
beginning with the decision
of the US. Bishops in 1916
to consecrate the nation TO
the Blessed Virgin under the
title OF the Immaculate Con
ception.
From that day on, in a
special way, she belonged TO
us and we to her" he said.
She has protected us, guild
ed us, obtained for us the
means of grace and salvation"
rs IL any wonder then that
the bishops, the clergy, the
Religious and the faithful
committee themselves 10 give
some tangible and appropriate
expression of their gratitude
for the past and their conf.
dence in the future with her
as their patroness7"
Archbishop Ritter paid tri-
butte TO individuals who made
significant contributions to the
building of the shrine. He
recalled that the idea for a
national shrine was first ad.
vanced by Bishop Thomas
Shahan, fourth rector of the
Catholic University, He also
saluted the first director Of
the shrine, Msgr. Bernard A.
Mckenna of Philadelphia, who
was seated in the sanctuary
for The dedication ceremony.
and The late ArehhiSboD Iohu