BEATIFICATION OF A MARTYR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 9091, 30 April 1890, Page 3

BEATIFICATION OF A MARTYR.

SPECIAL TRIDUUM. The anniversary of the martyrdom of the Yen Peter Louis Marie Chanel, who suffered death at the hands of the natives of the Island of Fatuna, in Oceaaica, on April 23, 1841, was celebrated at the pro-Cathedral, Barbadoes street, by a solemn triduum, which began on Saturday and was concluded on Monday night, and consisted of special services of prayer. On Sunday Solemn High Mass was sung by the Very Rev Father Cummings, assisted by the Revs Fathers Aubrey and Halbwachs acting as deacon and sub-deacon respectively. The music was of a special character, and consisted of Gounod’s Messe Solennelle, the choir being augmented by several members of the Opera Company now in. Christchurch. Mr and Mrs Neilson and Messrs Behan and Briggs took the solos. lu the evening Gounod’s “ Ave Maria” was given, Mrs Neilson singing the solo. After vespers, the Very Rev Father Cummings delivered a panegyric on the subject of the martyrdom, giving a brief sketch of the life of the beatified, and eloquently pointing to the advances made by Christian missions during the past fifty years. Ho showed that the commencement of the present century was marked by wonderful geographical discoveries, which being followed up by the introduction of religion were second only to those made hyColumbus and Cook. He traced the history of the missionary work in the South Sea Islands, where, in exploring, these devoted men found everywhere new beauties as they advanced. In fact,, they presented before them an illustrated book which proved beyond a doubt the mercy and majesty of the Almighty. Only one voice was wanting to lead this universal concert; that want was due to the people being sunk in savagery and under tyranny of the worst sort. Through tho efforts of these devoted servants of God they were able to bring in the gentle light of the Gospel of Christ, and perilous though the work of evangelising these islands was the Pope had sent trustworthy men to undertake it. On Christmas Eve Dr Pompallier, with Father Chanel and other priests, set sail for tho Antipodes, and began the grand work. Fat her Chanel arrived at Fatuna in 1837. Contrary to all expectations he was well received by the king, but as soon, as the holy priest had learned the language of the country, he began forthwith to preach the doctrine of Christ, and soon succeeded, in making many converts. Tho king, indignant at this successful conversion of his subjecls, forbade any one of them to supply Father Chanel with food. Without being daunted, the holy priest cultivated a piece of ground for his own use, and, like the apostles of old, ate his bread at the sweat of his brow. At last tho king, growing exasperated at the progress of the Christian religion, resolved to stop it in the bud and drown it in the blood of its first apostle. Satellites were despatched to Father Chanel’s poor little hut, where they mutilated him horribly with their clubs and pierced him with a spear, splitting his skull in two with a hatchet. As Christ’s blood had been shed for the salvation of the world, so the blood of martyrs became the seed of tho Gospel. He instanced tho fact that the four men who had committed the murder were converted, and assisted in the erection of a church on the spot where Father Chanel was killed. Now the most flourishing Christianity exists there, owing to the great devotedness and holiness of the missionaries. He made a graphic reference to the recant Samoan trouble, where, though cannibalism and brutal atrocities had previously existed, the natives recently manifested true heroism and exemplified Ciiristian virtues which put to shame many in older countries. _ The triduum concluded on Monday with a solemn high mass in the morning, celebrated by tho Very Rev Father Cummings, with tho Rev Fathers Le Meaant de Chesnais and Aubrey, Deacon and eub-deacon. The other clergy present were the Rev Fathers Chervier, Gouteuoir, Marnane, O’Donnell, Laverty, and Purton. Farmer's Mass was beautifully rendered by the choir, assisted by tho same members of the Opera Company as before. In the evening solemn benediction of the Blessed Sacrament closed the Triduum.