SOLEMN MASS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22974, 28 February 1938, Page 13

SOLEMN MASS

HISTORIC RITUAL COLOURFUL SCENES CONTRAST WITH PAST Impregnated with historic ritual that is centuries old, and the mystic symbolism that speaks eloquently to every devout Catholic, the celebration of Solemn Pontifical Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral yesterday morning was at once an affirmation of faith, a service of thanksgiving for the establishment of that faith by Bishop Pompallier in New Zealand 100 years ago, and the conferment of honour upon his memory. The first Mass was celebrated on January 13, 1838, in a rude timber hut, which represented the home of 'Jhoinas Povnton and his wife at Totara Point on the Hokianga River. On that occasion there were solemnity, simplicity and faith. To those attributes 100 years later were added all the majesty and beauty of Palestrina's "Missa Brevis," sung by the Centenary Choir of 70 voices under Professor MoorKaroly, and because of its intricacy not often performed; the rich, colourful vestments of His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate, the Most Rev. J. Panico, the celebrant, the Most Rev. Dr. T. O'Shea, S.M., Catholic Archbishop of Wellington and Metropolitan of New Zealand, and many members of the New Zealand and oversea hierarchies. But the faith and the devotion were one. Arresting Picture To the 2000 or more Catholics who were gathered outside the cathedral yesterday some time before the prelates and priests filed into the cathedral to the strains of "Ecce Sacerdos Magnus," tl\e occasion was a memorable ouo. Many had equipped themselves with cameras. Others, particularly women, who because of the press of people could not see the procession, held aloft small pocket mirrors and used them as perescopes, thus were able to identify many of those who by personal contact or by virtue of the newspapers, were known to them. In the harsh whit* glare of the sun, the bright hues of the prelates' robes, the black-and-white habits of the Redemptorists, Passionists and Vincentians, and the brown of the Franciscans, blended in an arresting picture whose tones were subtly changed as the units in the procession passed through the vestibule, down the centre aisle and were distributed to their allotted places. Impressive Dignity Every seat was filled, and although the heat of the day made the interior of the cathedral very oppressive, the dignity of the Mass, its pathos and exaltation, the unblemished white of the altar candles, the golden tapestries and altar furnishings, lent their support to the devotion of the congregation. The most solemn act in the ceremony was the Elevation of the Host, which was signalled with the chiming of the warning bell used by Bishop Pompallier in early missionary days. Into this n?t were concentrated adoration, repentance, a petition for blessing and thanksgiving for blessings received—the symbolic representation of Calvary, performed while a deep hush enveloped the congregation. To those who were present—many had come from the farthermost parts of the Dominion —it was the most dramatic moment of the Mass. Triumphant Conclusion The complex harmonies in the music developed toward a triumphant conclusion, and when the celebrant had given his triple blessing the Apostolic Delegate was escorted from his throne in the sanctuary, the procession reformed and slowly passed through the church. His Excellency, with raised hand, silently blessing the people as he walked along the aisle. The men of the Holy Name Society who had formed a guard of honour outside the cathedral before the ceremony began, and afterward ranged themselves around the walls, reformed and once again shielded His Excellency and the prelates and priests from the pressure of the waiting crowd. The procession broke up, its members were carried away in cars, and there remained only the hundreds of men and women who had witnessed the conclusion of the first ceremony in the Catholic Centenary celebrations.

THE INCARNATION SERMON BY DR. RYAN The significance of the Incarnation of Christ formed the subject of the sermon by the Very Rev. Dr. Arthur H. Ryan, professor of scholastic philosophy nt Queen's University, Belfast, preached at Solemn Pontifical Vespers, at St. Patrick's Cathedral last evening. "God became Man in the Person of the Incarnation to reveal God to man, to lead man to God and to reveal man to himself," Dr. Ryan said, in outlining his address.