PRAYERS FOR PEACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22094, 27 April 1935, Page 11

PRAYERS FOR PEACE

PILGRIMS AT LOURDES BEGINNING OF TRIDUUM LOURDES, April 25 Three days and nights of continuous prayers for peace have been begun at the famous Healing Grotto in Lourdes. There will be Mass every half hour. One hundred thousand pilgrims are expected, including contingents from Australia, South America, China and India. One million Masses will bo said throughout the world during the triduum, which originally was suggested by Cardinal Bourne. Solemnity and splendour marked the arrival of Cardinal Pacelli, Papal Legate. He was escorted by a squadron of Hussars and led a procession and blessed the kneeling crowd. He then opened the triduum by reading the Pope's exhortation to pray for peace. The Archbishop of Malines said the first Mass in the grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette.

All the nations of Europe have sent their representatives to Lourdes for the triduum, comprising cardinals, archbishops and bishops and lay people. Lourdes itself has been preparing to receive a record multitude. Special plans have been adopted to accommodate the multitude? around the grotto, lhe Catholic Association has, organised the national pilgrimage from England and Wales. Special privileges have been granted for the occasion by the Pope, and Masses will be celebrated continuously throughout the three days. Each dav a cardinal will celebrate Pontifical High Mass. Masses will be celebrated in every possible rite —not only in the Roman rite and its variants, but also in Eastern rites.