FUNERAL OF SISTER MARY GABRIEL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6137, 25 March 1898, Page 2

FUNERAL OF SISTER MARY GABRIEL.

Yesterday the obsequies of Sister Mary Gabriel were carried out at Mount Magdala with the impressive and solemn ceremonies peculiar to the Catholio Church. Ab 9 a.m. punctually, the solemn office bf the dead wras chanted by. .-the'- -priests "':'• in "the sanctuary. Immediately, afterwards the Requiem pATass .was sung by the Vety Eev Father Cummings; "V.G., the Reverend Fathers Foley and Marnane respectively acting as deacon aud subdeacon ; the Rev Father Bowei*3, of Geral-'ino, being master of ceremonies. The singing ot' the Requiem was entrusted to the nuns ot Mount Magdaljifarid '""'the penitents of the institute. The body of the deee-iseM w«s. placed 'before the altar, with the coffin lid removed. The Requiem Mass finished, the aucient ceremony; of the Absolutions was sung by the clergy around the bier. The processions' was then- formed. First went the one hundred and thirty penitents of the establishment, next the coffin carried by the Marist Brothers, of Barbadoes Street, followed by the acolytes and clergy ; lastly walked the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, the Sisters of Mercy, of Colombo Street, and the Sisters of the Mission, of Barbadoes Street, followed by most of the representative Catholics of Christchurch and its environs. After the funeral and burial service, the Very Rev Father Cummings, with great emotion, addressed those present. He regretted the absence of Bishop Grimes and the Rev Fathers Ginaty and Goutenoire. He referred to the holy lite of the deceased and of the good work done by her, more especially in the uplifting of her fallen sisters. Those who were, present that day had come to do honour to one who had dedicated her life to good works, and who was now in the presence of her Creator and had rest from her labours. Her life was like that of one of Nature's smallest, yet most beautiful flowers, the actual worth of which was only -known to those who looked closely into it. He considered her a hidden saint', who had done the work of a Christian, heroine. She had been a very great factor in bringing the Magdala Asylum to the position it now held, and her influence had made itself manifest in the feeling which the large number of penitents entertained towards her. He concluded by saying that the grave, the coffin and its contents were more eloquent than the sermons of preachers. At tho conclusion of the discourse, those present knelt and praj-ed. In the sanctu&ry there were present — The Very Rev Father Cummings, V.G., Very Rev Father Chervier, S.M. (Leeston), Fathers Marnane, Goggan, J. Hault, Bowers, Rafferty and Foley. In the Chapel were the Sisters of Mercy, the Sisters of the Mission of the Sacred Heart, and a large contingent of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd and all the penitents. A number of the leading Catholics, of Christchurch and suburbs were present at the services.