SERVICES AT ST. JOSEPH'S, DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 8, 21 June 1873, Page 7

SERVICES AT ST. JOSEPH'S, DUNEDIN.

On Thursday, Feast of Corpus Christi, Dr. Moran celebrated Pontifical High Mass at 11 a.m., assisted by Eev. J. O'Connor, Deacon ; Rev.* J. Crowly, Sub-deacon ; and Rev. J. Lenihan, Master of Ceremonies.

His Lordahip preached after the Gospel, taking his subject from John vi. Having explained the object of the festival, he proceeded with a commentary on various passages of the above chapter, and showed clearly that our Divine Redeemer intended the promises he therein made Bhould be taken, not in a figurative or metaphorical sense, but literally and according to the ordinary acceptation of the words He then used, as is evident from the context. Vespers were, at the usual hour, followed .by Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament, which his Lordship announced would be given every evening during the Octave, after the rosary, at 7 o'clock. The altar was tastefully decorated with a profusion of beautiful flowers. Last Sunday the Rev. J. O'Connor preaohed at last Mass, and the Bishop preached after Vespers, his sermon being a continuation of the subject commenced on Thursday. In it he drew special attention to the words of ther Institution of the Blessed Eucharist, and explained the Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence, which he proved, both from the words of the. Institution Hoc eat corpus meum, &0., and from th« universal belief of all Christendom from the Apostolic age down to the beginning of tlxe 16th century. Nor was it even called in question till the 11th century, when Bereagarius mooted his heresy, which was

so odious to the faithful that he found few followers, and it was almost immediately suppressed. In conclusion, his Lordship spoke of the ■olemnify and pomp with which the festival and Octave of Corpus Ibristi are celebrated in other countries, and expressed his ardent desire that Dunedin had a Cathedral in which the beautiful and touching functions of our holy religion could bo duly carried out, and he exhorted his flock to endeavor, to make up by the fervour of their prayer^ and their assiduity in frequenting the sacraments, for what is ftecessarilyjwaating herein the external ceremonial of religion.