MASS IN THE RAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21993, 27 December 1934, Page 12

MASS IN THE RAIN

WORSHIPPERS' DISCOMFORT WOMEN'S DRESSES SOAKED Heavy rain, which drenched the worshippers and compelled the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool, Dr. Downey, to curtail his sermon, did not damp the ardour and piety of the 100,000 women who attended Pontifical High Mass at the Royal Agricultural Show Grounds in Melbourne on the morning of December 8. Although the 60,000 women in the arena were wot to the skin, they remained without thought of personal discomfort, says the Argus, and sang the hymns and responses with fervour, which spoke eloquently of their faith and devotion. A pull of dark clouds overhung, the Show Grounds and a few drops of rain were falling when, at 10.30 a.m., the long procession of clergy, followed by the Papal Legato, Cardinal Macßory, and his suite, made solemn progress through the dense ranks of the women to the great white and gold temple surmounting the High Altar. Hopes that the shower would be short were dashed as tlie clouds gathered thickly from the south, and before the Mass was half-finished rain was falling steadily. Soon the heads of the worshippers, kneeling 011 the soaked turf, were invisible beneath umbrellas. Several hundreds of women on the outskirts of the throng hurriedly tried to find shelter in the stands, which by then did not contain even standing room, but most of tho women stood their ground. Somo 1500 Children of Mary did not waver though the rain soaked their sky-blue dresses and white muslin veils. Tho celebrant of the Mass was tho Archbishop of Brisbane, Dr. Duliig. He and tho assisting prelates and priests found scant shelter from the rain under the panoply of the temple. Tho other members of religious orders on the dais were drenched. Even the throne had to bo moved slightly to give more shelter for tho Papal legate.