REQUIEM MASS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22975, 1 March 1938, Page 13

REQUIEM MASS

A MOVING CEREMONY REMEMBRANCE OF THE DEAD CATHEDRAL AGAIN THRONGED The scene in St. Patrick's Cathedral for the Solemn Pontifical Mass of Requiem yesterday morning presented a picture which was in marked contrast to the splendour of the opening day, and in the words of the preacher, tho Very Rev. Father D. H. Hurley, S.M., Provincial of the Marist Fathers in New Zealand and Australia, it had been transformed from the pageantry of life to tho solemnity of death, that remembrance might be made of the glorious dead. Again the cathedral was thronged long before the Mass began and many were unable to gain admission. The first sign of the changed scene was the significant peal of the organ expressing the theme of a funeral march instead of the triumphant "Ecee Sacerdos Magnus" as the procession of prelates and priests filed into the cathedral. Black Vestments Worn Further, there was no glorious cloth of gold in the vestments of the celebrant, Bishop Liston, and the deacon and subdeacon, the Rev. Fathers M. Murphy. S.M., and A. Wardle, of the Mill Hill Fathers. They were vested in the colour appropriate to the occasion, black. The cope of the assistant priest, the Very Rev. Dr. J. A. Kennedy, of Christchurch, was also black. His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate, tho Most Rev. Dr. J. Panico, presided at the Throne, attended by Monsignori T. J. King, private secretary, T. F. Connolly (Wellington), and C. J. Morkane (Dtinedin).

The whole atmosphere surrounding the Mass of Requiem was designed to make the congregation mindful of their dead. The Mass for the Dead has many features distinguishing it from others, partly .suggested by the solemn character of the rite. There were still the candles burning, symbolic of Christ the Light, oi the World, and a survival of the necessary custom observed by the early Christians during the Roman persecutions, when they lived underground in the Catacombs and had to congregate in torchlight. Impressive Music

It was no maudlin mourning. From the first words of the Introit, "Eternal Pest Give to Them, O Lord," to the Absolutions at the Catafalque, the thoughts of the congregation were for the eternal happiness of the dead. One of the most important duties of the Catholic is to remember in charity the departed, that they might be granted eternal rest.

Even the music was expressive of the significance of the occasion, and instead of the ecstasy of polyphony heard on Sunday there was the majestic chant rendered by a choir of priests, and most impressive was the singing of the beautiful Sequence, the "Dies Irae." There was a solemn hush «vs the final verse was chanted in subdued tones: "Jesus, kind, thy souls release, Lead them thence to realms of peace."

HONOUR TO THE DEAD ARCHBISHOP LAYS WIiEATH CEREMONY AT CENOTAPH MANY PRELATES ATTEND '1 lie purple and black robes of some 30 overseas and New Zealand prelates lent an unusual touch of colour to the surroundings; of the Cenotaph yesterday, when His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate, the Most Rev. J. Panico, deposited a wreath in honour of the Dominion's war dead. The ceremony took place immediately after the civic reception at the Town Hall. A guard of honour had been formed on three sides of the Court of Honour by the boys of Sacred Heart College and the girls of St. Mary's College, Ponsonby. The dignitaries, who were accompanied by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, were welcomed by Major General Sir George Richardson and the president of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association, Mr. J. W. Kendall. Two boys and two girls from the schools mounted guard over the wreath, a large one of dahlias and other flowers, tied with a ribbon in the Papal colours of white and gold. Archbishop Panico, who was accompanied by Monsignor T. J. King, formerly senior Catholic chaplain to the Australian Imperial Force in Egypt, France and England, advanced and, having received the wreath from the guard, placed it at the foot of the monument.

The "Last Post" and the "lteveille" were sounded by trumpeters stationed in the portico of the War Memorial Museum, and the band of St. Joseph's Orphanage, Dunedin, played the National Anthem. Before the end of the brief ceremony Archbishop Pauico inspected the guard of honour. He showed an obvious interest in the memorial and its commanding site and spent some minutes in conversation with Sir George Richardson on the way to his car. Attached to the wreath was a card inscribed: "For the valorous dead. 1 pray their souls may rest in peace.