Evening star., 1959-11-20
SHRINE
SHRINE
Five Cardinals Attend
Dedication Ritual
Continued From First Page

tested 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"
A letter from Pope John
XIII was read to the gather
ing.
The Pope said that at was
an extremely gratifying and
enduring JOY that filed our
heart on receipt of the news
need"
which you, venerable brother,
took care to have announced to
us, namely. that in the coming
month of November in Wash
ington a shrine is to be dedi-
Gated with solemn religious
rites to the Immaculate Virgin
Mother of God, thus bringing
to happy fulfillment after so
many vicisSitudes a purpose
which the noble and renowned
Nation Of the United States OF
America mas undertaken"
The pontiff praised the
efforts of all Catholics, mo
matter what their rank or
group" in striving to success
fully complete this undertak-
ing.
There now rises up to
heaven a shrine, high and mas
Sive, wonderously bright within
with metal and marble aud
pictures, and with its dome and
lofty tower dominating the
scene far and wide, a clearly
visible manifestation of your
extraordinary piety," the Pope's
message continued. Surely it
will be for the citizens of the
present and for those yet to
come a strong and encourag-
ing reminder that, in the m.ust
of the waves Of earthly vicis-
situdes, they must keep their
eyes fixed with a lively hope on
things heavenly and eternal,
and that they must likewise
reflect that the cause of any
human progress worthy of the
name is religion founded by
Jesus Christ"
Pope John then reminded the
gathering that a temple built
of stone has little significance
unless there arises a temple
mystically erected with our
minds.
"Altar in Each Heart"
Therefore in keeping with
the conservation which is to
be made and which must be
diligently observed, let an altar
of the Most Blessed Virgin be
set up in the heart of each one
of the faithful; let families
held together by the sanctity
of marriage, by mutual love, by
moral integrity and a common
spiritual life, reproduce her vir-
tues and be fortified by her pro-
lection"
Pope John finally expressed
the hope that the Shrine would
be a pleasing and sacred
sanctuary for your people who
through the passing centuries
will flock to it in crowds and
will there obtain solace, light
and peace, ever gathering new
strength and virtue for living
their Christian life with piety,
energy and purity"
The shrine has been erected
to the honor of the Virgin
Mary, who was chosen under
the title Of her Immacu-
late Conception by the Catholic
Bishops of the United States in
1916 as the patroneSS of the
United States,
In his sermon Archbishop
Ritter reminded the gathering
that beautiful as the shrine is,
''in the last analysis it is not
what we build with stone and
precious materials to honor
Mary but what we build in our
hearts. To be genuine our
piety toward the Mother of
God must spring from the
heart. External acts have
neither utility nor value if the
acts Of the soul have no part in
them.
Excerpt From Conservation
The act of conservation came
at the end of the mass and
said, in part, as follows:
Most Holy Trinity, we put
the United States of America
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 resources of
this land and for the freedom
which has been its heritage.
Through the intercession of
Mary, have mercy on the Cath
olic church in America. Grant
us peace. Have mercy on our
President and on all the Off
GERS of our Government. Grant
us a fruitful economy born of
justice and charity.
Have mercy on capital and
industry and labor. Protect the
family life of the Nation.
Guard the innocence of our
children. Grant the precious
gift of many religious locations.
Through the intercession of
our Mother have mercy on the
sick, the poor, the tempted, the
sinners-and on all who are in
The dedication today eli
NAKED three days of special
prayers by the more than SO
million Catholics in over $4,000
parishes throughout the United
States. Tonight these triduums
will culminate in the recitation
in these parishes Of an act of
conservation to the Virgin
Mary.