HOLY CROSS COLLEGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3842, 1 November 1927, Page 31

HOLY CROSS COLLEGE.

FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING. Tho second annual celebration of tho feast of Christ, the King, took place in Mosgiel on Sunday at Holy Cross College grounds. Two special trains ran from Dunedin in addition to the ordinary train to convey Dunedin worshippers to Mosgiei. In addition, members of the Mosgiei parish were present in very large numbers. The invitation to attend was prefixed by the following paragraph, aud this explains fairly well what is meant by the feast, recently instituted bv the Roman Catholic Church : “ ‘ Come, let us adore Jesus Christ, the King of Kings,’ is the burden of the message which on Sunday, October 30, the mighty voice of the church shall send tinging through the world. Yes, to the very ends of the earth shall that living voice penetrate, summoning every loyal Catholic to come and pay a public act of homage to Christ, the glorious King. What a wonderful day indeed, this feast should be in the yearly life of every true member of His earthly kingdom. Over 3,000,000 of such souls there are, and what grander spectacle could be imagined than all these members of the Church Militant united in praise and worship before the Throne of the King of Glory. Nay, aot only united with one another, but with the choirs of angels and the hosts of saints as they sing their eternal Hosannas. And in keeping with this, Dunedin and Mosgiei Roman Catholics joined in large numbers in praise and worship. The weather was fine and the college grounds provided a perfect setting for a ceremony of such a character. For days beforehand the students had worked to make everything m and around the college as attractive as possible. A special altar was erected over the front balcony, and this was beautifully decorated with flowers and lights. The decorations in the college chapel were also magnificent. The sermons preached pointed out that from the days of the Apostles the one aim of the Church had been the spreading of Christ’s Kingdom—its constant prayer, “ Thy Kingdom Come ” —so that the bounds of that Kingdom, being even more aud more enlarged, might eventually embrace, every nation and people under heaven. The institution of the Feast of Christ’s Kingship was. indeed, the beginning of a new chapter in the realisation of that aim and that prayer. Though the feast was new, the idea it embodied

was as old as the Church herself. The superscription set above Christ's head in mockery as he hung on the Cross of Calvary was more than verified—“ From the Cross God reigned,” not not only as King of the Jews, but as King of the world. “ Shall I crucify your King?” said Pilate, who little dreamed that in his cowardice he was enthroning Our Lord in the manned predestined from the beginning of the world. At Holy Cross College. Pontifical High Mass was celebrated at 7 a.m., his Lordship Bishop Whyte having paid a visit to Mosgiei over the week-end. The Rev. Father Finlay was assistant priest, the Rev. C. C. Barr-Brown was deacon, the Rev. P. J. Herlihy sub-deacon, the Rev. G. V. Daly being master -of ceremonies. The students’ choir, under the baton of the Rev. Father M'Glone, sang the music of the Mass. In the parish church Masses were celebrated at 8 a.m. aud 10 a.m. At the former the Rev. Father Scanlan (rector of Holy Cross College) officiated, and at the latter the Rev. Father Anderson. Appropriate sermons were preached on each occasion, and at the early Mass a ver> large number received Holy Communion. In the afternoon a procession was formed at 3 o’clock. The order of the procession was—Cross-bearer, members of the Hibernian society. Children of Mary, altar boys, students and clergy. The Bishop carried The Blessed Sacrament in the procession. During the procession around the collego grounds, the following were sung:—“Paugo Luigua, ’ “ Verbum Supernum.” and ’’ Adoro te.” Everything possible had been done to organise a magnificent procession—one that would be worthy in every way of tne grandeur of the Feast. The efforts wero not in vain. The procession—in which moved tho bishop and clergy in their robes, tho 60 students in their sou'annes and white surplices, the various sodalities in their regalia, and a long concourse <>f men, women, and children, was magnificent. The procession moved around tho college grounds and halted in front of '.he temporary altar. Here Benediction of 'ho Blessed Sacrament took place, and <i. esca viatorium,” “ Christus Rex,” “ Taninm Ergo,” “ Divine Praises,” “ Adc. amus Te Panem Coolitum.” “Faith of Our Fathers” was sung by the assemblage at the, end of the Benediction. >• Tho ceremonies closed with a second Benediction service in the college chapel, the students’ choir again singing.