MIDNIGHT MASSES

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 284, 10 December 1934, Page 2

MIDNIGHT MASSES

AN EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS GREAT CROWD IN PROCESSION By Telegraph—Copyright—Press As»«. MELBOURNE, Dec. 9. Midnight masses at all churches on Saturday night prepared Congress visitors for the great Eucharistic procession this afternoon, with which the Congress virtually ended. The day was dull, but fine. From an early hour crowds began to swarm citywards. Special trains were run, and all roads were packed with motor traffic. When the procession was due to begin it is estimated that 300,000 people were lining the two mile route. Beginning of St. Patrick s Cathedral, the procession, comprising 600 prelates and priests, and 60,000 laymen, followed the principal city streets, ending at Mount Stevens Hospital, the city's principal Catholic hospital, where, from a platform on the facade high above the street Cardinal Macßory pronounced the final Benediction. Elaborate preparations were necessary for handling such a vast march, and 120 amplifiers were installed at various points of the route, so that , at no time was any part of the processton out of range ot directions from the control point in the tower of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Cross-bearers lead the march, followed immediately by 6000 whiteveiled Children of Mary, clad in white with blue capes. Marching 10 abreast followed 40,000 laymen of metropolitan and country parishes and monks and friars in sombre habit singing hymns and chanting. Colour was provided by the brilliant vestments of the hierarchy. Silence fell upon the throng as the Host approached under a canopy preceded by 100 flower girls scattering blossoms. Spectators dropped to theii knees as the Host, carried by the Cardinal, went by. The great event, which was the largest procession ever‘seen in Melbourne, taking more than two houis to pass a given point, went off without any untoward incident. Efficient organisation marked every phase. The final scene in trout of Mount St. Evins, where 200,000 people heard the bent diction, was a spectacle that will live long in the memory as the closing event of a memorable week in Melbourne's Catholic history. KNEEL IN THE RAIN 50,000 WOMEN ASSEMBLED By Telegraph—Copyright—Press As. 1 MELBOURNE, Dec. 9. Fifty thousand women kneluin the rain at the showgrounds at Saturday morning's ceremony, the counterpart of the men's Eucharistic night on Thursday. Of the many remarkable demonstrations of the Catholic faith this week none displayed so much the triumph of spirituality over discomfort. The colourfulness of the scene was spoiled by the rain but its significant pageantry prevailed. The sermon was preached by Archbishop Downey, of Liverpool. Discussing the new morality, which he described as the old immorality with a thin veneer of respectability. Arch- I bishop Downey described a valiant * woman nowadays as one who stood up against current views, not sway-» ed by fax conventions, not dazzled by the glitter of the smart set *and not seduced into frivolous behaviour. The old portrait of the female homewrecker had lost none of its actuality. It seemed the fashions in folly varied little in 3000 years. When people spoke of broadmindedness in religion it should be borne in mind that error was broad and truth w T as narrow. POPE’S GIFT OF £lOOO TOWARDS FLOOD RELIEF FUND MELBOURNE, Dec 8. The Pope, through the Apostolic delegate, has given £lOOO to the ' flood distress relief fund.