THE EUCHARIST

Southland Times, Issue 20586, 10 September 1928, Page 7

THE EUCHARIST

CONGRESS CONTINUES OPEN AIR MASS FOR WOMEN SERMON BY NEW ZEALAND BISHOP (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, September 8. A congregation of over 200,000 attended the special open-air mass for women at the Showground yesterday. Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Duhig, Bishop White of New Zealand preaching the sermon.—Australian Press Association. REMARKABLE SCENES WITNESSED. MEMORABLE WEEK CLOSES. PROCEEDINGS THAT MADE HISTORY. (Rec. 11.50 p.m.) Sydney, September 9. Wonderful scenes of religious fervour and adoration were witnessed during the progress of the Host through the city streets from Circular Quay to Saint Mary’s Cathedral. Thousands upon thousands fired with religious enthusiasm lined the route and as the canopy borne by eight Victoria Cross winners covering the Papal Legate carrying the Monstrance containing the sacred wafer, passed, remarkable scenes were witnessed, the crowds containing members of all denominations bared their heads and thousands of men and women dropped to their knees securing benediction from the Cardinal as he passed. From early morning a colossal pilgrimage commenced and all roads literally led to Rome’s representative. Thousands thronged the approaches to Saint Mary’s Cathedral hours before the ceremony commenced. The Host was brought from Saint Patrick’s College, Manly, where Cardinal Cerretti at an immense high altar on the steps of the college celebrated High Mass, by the Papal barge which was a converted ferry steamer, to Circular Quay. The scene coming up the harbour was magnificent. The Papal barge painted snow white with a yellow band all round, being the Papal colours, in stately progress passed up the harbour accompanied by an immense fleet of small boats with numbers of aeroplanes overhead and the foreshores of the harbour at every vantage point were thronged and as the stately procession passed heads were reverently bared. Reaching Sydney the procession formed at Circular Quay and thence to the Cathedral the Host was reverently borne. AN INDESCRIBABLE SCENE. The scene in the vicinity of the sacred edifice was indescribable. As the procession passed the bareheaded multitude provided a scene of remarkable ecclesiastical splendour, princes, prelates of the church from all countries in gorgeous robes accompanied by priests, monks of all orders with members of all Roman Catholic brotherhoods pacing majestically through the paved streets lined with Children of Mary in veils and robes gave a kaleidoscopic effect to a scene of religious solemnity never before witnessed in Australasia. As the procession winded its solemn way to the Cathedral, raising which was the life work of Archbishop Kelly the strains of sacred music broadcast from the Cathedral lent an added touch of solemnity to the almost overpowering scene of religious fervour. As the aged prelate, Archbishop Kelly passed the enthusiasm of the onlooking multitudes reached fever heat and cheer after cheer greeted the Archbishop. The culminating point of a day which made history in Australasia was reached when the Papal Legate appeared on the steps of the Cathedral and after declaring the Eucharistic Congress closed blessed the waiting multitude who fell to their knees to receive the Cardinal’s benediction. FERVOUR NEVER BEFORE WITNESSED. To-day’s extraordinary demonstration marked the close of a week’s devotional fervour never before witnessed in the country. People from all parts of the Commonwealth and New Zealand and other countries flocked to the city and the accommodation was taxed to the utmost. From early morning to late night Saint Mary’s Cathedral has been thronged with worshippers and such a wave of religious enthusiasm has swamped the city that all other issues have been crpwded out altogether. Many wild threats of violence were made but to-day’s proceedings passed off without a hitch. It has been a memorable week which will live perpetually in the history of the Roman Catholic faith in Australasia.—Australian Press Association.