GREAT FESTIVAL

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 291, 8 September 1928, Page 9

GREAT FESTIVAL

RELIGIOUS DEMONSTRATION IN SYDNEY SHOW GROUND PROCESSION OF ROMAN CATHOLIC SOCIETIES / (United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Sydney, September 7. Battalion after battalion of young meh of the Roman Catholic societies marched into the Royal Show ground to participate in the most colossal religious demonstration ever held in Australia. A solemn benediction under the open sky was given by Cardinal Cerretti to 130,000 men. Onlookers on this simple pageant .of faith will never forget the sight of over a hundred thousand human arms holding lighted tapers, as the deep-toned responses of the worshippers preceded the triumphant thunder of the “Adoremus.” Tlie huge congregation sang the hymn “O Sacrament Divine,” and then, before the Benediction, the rolling Latin of the “O. Salutaris” and the “Tantum Ergo.” The service ended witli the grandest of the Catholic hymns, “Faith of Our Fathers” and “O'Queen of Heaven.” A vast sea of faces looked towards the Papal throne at the far end of the ground, and the official stand was crowded with interstate visitors. Cardinal Cerretti yesterday laid a heart-shaped wreath on the Cenotaph in the presence of Returned Soldiers’ League officials. An excited crowd gathered when they observed the Cardinal's arrival. Archbishop Clune, of Perth, also placed a huge floral cross on the Cenotaph on behalf of the chaplains who served in the war. . PONTIFICAL HIGH MASS FOR CHILDREN REMARKABLE SCENE IN SHOW GROUND (Rec. September 7, 9.15 p.m.) Sydney, September 7. There was another magnificent religious spectacle at tlie showground to-day, when the Papal Legate celebrated pontifical high mass in the open air for children. There were over 30,000 present, and 100,000 adults watched the celebration of the mass. There was a most impressive sight when tlie Cardinal, accompanied by all the bishops, princes ami monsignori, entered the grounds, through a thousand boys and girls, to a white-domed altar erected in the grounds, surrounded by tlie flags of fifteen nations, to the aconipaniment of tlie chanting of a great choir of theological students. A few minutes after the Cardinal stepped from the throne in tlie canvasroofed presella and tlie first high mass celebrated in tlie open air in Australia, apart from church lands, began. Tlie whole vast army of 30,000 children sang the “Kyrle Eleison” and the mass with a wealth of ceremonial that gripped the imagination. The Sacrament moved to the most solemn part of the consecration of the elements of the host. At this stage tlie whole crowd of children knelt in silence, making one of the most amazing scenes that have so far marked the congress ceremonies. At the conclusion of the mass Bishop Dunn, on behalf of the Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, clergy and faithful of tlie United States of America, presented to Cardinal Cerretti a beautifully executed bound volume containing spiritual offerings comprising twenty-two billion spiritual flowers, “in honour of the birthday of OUr Lady and for the success -of the congress,” for presentation by the Cardinal to the Pope. The scene was unique in the history of the Catholic Church in Australia. '