CHURCHES MARK CHRISTMAS DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18645, 26 December 1928, Page 14

CHURCHES MARK CHRISTMAS DAY.

SPECIAL SERVICES HELD IN THE CATHEDRAL

There was a large congregation for the Choral Eucharist at the Cathedral yesterday morning. During the service the choir sang “ There were Shepherds Abiding in the Field ” (Handel). Bishop West-Watson was the preacher. Using the parable of the Prodigal Son as an illustration, the Bishop said that God was trying to win men to Him. to get them to draw near to Him. The same message was urged by the Lord Jesus Christ in His life and ministry. The pathos of it lay in the fact that although men glimpsed the truth while He was on earth, they hardly dared to believe it. Surely today, they could draw near, and in drawing near. learn to trust the Heavenly Father. His kindness went to men and women who were even outcasts, for He knew how bad they felt about it. The Bishop reminded the congregation of the Divine rebuke: “ Fear not, only believe. O ye of little faith . . .” Men’s knowledge and discoveries had shown some ancient beliefs to be baseless, but the faith of Jesus Christ would stand against any oncoming tide of research and scientific discovery. The relationship of God was the relationship of a person to a person, of a father to a son, of a familj* to a family and to those a person called his brothers and his sisters. That was the religion that was shown by the parable of the Prodigal Son.

CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL. The Christmas festival was appropriately ushered in in the Roman Catholic Cathedral with Pontifieal High Mass at midnight. The congregation filled the building to its utmost capacity. His Lordship the Bishop was the celebrant, Dr Kennedy being assistant priest. Dr Geaney S.M. deacon and Father Maguire, sub-deacon. The ceremonies were carried out by the Cathedral altar boys under the direction of Brother Luke and Mr Frank Geogehan. The decorations of the Sanctuary, the High Altar, the Crib, and the Oratories were greatly admired by the congregation and visitors. The choir, under the direction of Miss Mary O’Connor, rendered the music of the Mass very artistically, the “Adeste Fideles” being sung at the offertory and played by the organist as a recessional. Bishop Brodie before his sermon had words of warm congratulation to the Cathedral workers, the evidence of whose devotion they saw around them. He congratulated the choir with their conductor and organist; also the Altar Society and the Sacristan.

Taking as his test “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will.” from the Gospel of the Nativity. The Bishop asked them to picture the reception which the Saviour of the world, the Expected of Nations, had met with upon His entrance into the world. But each Christmas they in their celebrations, in their communions and in the influence which the festival exercised over their lives, compensated Jesus Christ for that neglect. Christmas made an appeal to them that was irresistible. It appealed to mind and heart. They must yield to that influence and redouble their loyalty to Christ, Who was always with them in the Church in Holy Eucharist, in which the features that characterised His life on earth were retained. His Lordship urged all to imitate the Virgin Mother, of whom they read that she kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.

A feature of the midnight Mass was the great number of Communicants, 1080 being recorded. Morning Masses were celebrated in the Cathedral from six o’clock to 11 o’clock, Father M’Donnell, S.M., of Highdon, and Dr Kennedy being the celebrants. The evening devotions at the Cathedral brought the festival to a close. The Bishop occupied the pulpit and took for his text, “ For the Grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all Men; instructing us that denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly and justly and godly in this world.”—Titus 2, 11. His Lordship said that in the epistle read in two of the Masses that day, St Paul had given his disciple material for thf instruction of his people. It was in the Mystery of the Incarnation which they were recalling. The Incarnation must be the norm of the Christian’s life. We must live by this faith; our conduct must be characterised by it. The Bishop then outlined the

circumstances of Christ’s birth as supplied by the evangelists, whilst the Incarnation was a mystery of abasement on the part of God’s Son. still even at his birth there were not wanting proofs that He who was born in a manger was the Eternal All-wise Son of God by Whom all things were made. The fulfilment of the prophecies as to the time and place of His birth were amongst such proofs, whilst the coming of the shepherds was entirely supernatural. The Church advisedly chose as the Gospel of the last Mnss the first fourteen verses of the Gospel of St John: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.” The Divinity of the Child of Bethlehem was the cardinal truth of their holy religion. “This is eternal life to know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent.” Condescension in measured by the dignity of him who performs it. What must be said of the condescension oi God’s Son in all the circumstances of His birth and life on earth. Corresponding love, loyalty and service were demanded on our part. The fruit which the Church hoped from the celebration of Christmas was a renewal of fervour in the lives of her children.

The Bishop concluded by offering his Christmas greetings to the congregation and his congratulations to all who had contributed to the success of the celebrations. Masses were celebrated at St Anne’s, Wo.olston, at 8 and 9.30 a.m. and attended by a large congregation. The Rev Father Timonev officiated. A very large congregation, which filled the beautiful Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, attended the Mass celebrated at Sumner at eight o’clock. The Rev Father Maguire officiated. Midnight Mass was celebrated at the Convent, Ferry Road, and at Nazareth House, Mount Magdala, and St Joseph’s Home, Middleton,