The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-11-20

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Catholics 10 participate in
these services in their own
parishes.
Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter
Of ST. Louis, preaching at the
Solemn Pontifical Mass Of
dedication, hailed the national
shrine-l st Catholic
church in the United States
as "a majestic and COMPEL
ing witness not only to the
physical and material maturity
of the Church in our land,
but particularly to its spiritual
yigor, its dynamic Faith"
The dedication Mass was of
fered in the packed shrine by
His Eminence Francis Cardi-
nal Spellman. Archbishop of
New York. Prior to the Mass
the Cardinal officially dedicat-
cd the great church.
The huge building is the
seventh largest religious edi-
flee in the world. 1t has been
estimated that $50 million will
have been spent on its con
struction by the time it is fin
ally completed. The building
was begun in 1922. AT present
the exterior is largely com
pleted, but the decoration of
the interior will not be finish
ed for many years.
The shrine is dedicated TO
The Blessed Virgin under the
title of the Immaculate Con.
ception. This is the same title
under which in l846 she was
named patroness of the United
States by the nations bishops.
The impressive dedication
ceremony began with a pro
cession Of clergy from the
cast porch Of the shrine TO
the richly decorated main en-
trance of the Byzantine-Ro-
manesque building. From
there, accompanied by an hon
or guard of Knights Of Colum.
bus, Knights Of ST. John and
Knights OF st. Peter ClaVer,
the procession moved down
the main aisle of the church.
Among those in the process
sion were six princes of the
h: Their Emlnences
Cardinal SIP n; James
Francis Cardinal Mcintyre,
Archbishop Of Los Angeles,
Richard Cardinal Cushing,
Archbishop of Boston, John
Cardinal O'Hara, csc, Arch
bishop of Philadelphia; Jose
Cardinal Garibi y Rivera,
Archbishop of Guadalajara,
Mexico, and Thomas Cardinal
Tien, S.V.D, exiled Arch
bishop of Picking, China.
AS the procession reached
the sanctuary area, Cardinal
Spellman performed the of.
fetal dedication rite. The
Pontifleal Mass followed,
Above and behind the main
altar cleaned a huge mosaic
OF Christ the "Panfoerstor"-
Almighty King of the Uni.
verse. II is said TO be the Iarg-
est single mosaic in the world.
Assisting Cardinal Spellman
as officers Of the Mass were.
Father Raymond J. Hunt,
O.MI., of Boston, Provincial
Of the eastern province of the
Oblates Of Mary Immaculate,
deacon; Father John p. Me
Cormick. SIS, rector Of the
Theological College, Catholic
University, assistant priest,
and Msgrs. John j. Reilly of
Norwich, Conn, and Patrick
J. O'Connor OF Decatur, Ga,
deacons OF honor.
Both Msgr. Reilly and Msgr.
O'Connor are former directors
Of the shrine, which is now
directed by Ms2r. Thomas j.
Grady.
Archbishop Egldlo Vagnozzi,
Apostolic Delegate to the
United States, represented His
Holiness Pope John XIII al
the ceremony.
Among those seated IN The
congregation were us. Su-
preme Court justices, high of
ficials of tho government,
senators and representatives,
leading members of the diplo-
matte corps, the Commission
ers OF the District of Colum-
bia and Judges of the courts
of The District Of Columbia.
Following the Mass the Act
of Conservation to the Bless
cd Virgin was reclted. The
prayer stated in part
"Most Holy Trinity, We put
the United States OF America