THE MONTH OF MARY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 265, 31 May 1878, Page 9

THE MONTH OF MARY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

_ May 2lsfc, 1878. TKK month, of May devotions at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament have been most edifyingly observed under the direction of the indefatigable pastors, Fathers Ginnaty and McNamara. On Sunday last" there was a special demonstration in honour of the Queen of Heaven, which deserves to be recorded in the columns of the Tablet. This was a grand procession in the Church grounds o f the Sunday school children and others. At three o'clock the boys from the Sunday school, each wearing a blue rosette, entered the church and were arrayed by their teachers on the epistle side of the nave. Nextenterecl the girls of the Sunday school each wearing a red scarf, who in like manner were arrayed on the gospel side, following these came the young ladies who are enrolled as Children of Mary, each wearing a blue mantle and a bridal wreath and veil. The Rev. Father McNamava, after a brief prayer at the high altar, ascended the pulpit and addressed those who were about to take part in the procession, of which he explained the meaning. They were assembled for the first time under the banner of the Blessed Virgin to show their respect and veneration for the Queen of Heaven who alone is worthy of the title as the Mother of our Divine Lord. They would never forget that day ; for his own part he rejoiced and felt proud to see so many assembled. They must pray that the love of God, of His Blessed Mother and of His saints, might never be eradicated from their hearts. They were all, in a broad sense, children of Mary, though some were specially so named. As .bei"; children they should imitate her example and cultivate her virtues f humility, love of God, and resignation to His will. He called upon' them to recognise the, duty they owed to those of either sex who taught them the Christian doctrine. He concluded by exhorting them to be obedient to their parents and teachers, to pray for them, to attend Mass every Sunday, to keep the commandments, and, above all things, to avoid bad companions. After the address was concluded the procession left the church in th<> following order : the cross-bearer with two acolytes, girls of the Sunday school, young ladies of the Christian doctrine, Children of Mary, boys of the Sunday school, young men of the Christian doctrine, altar boys, and lastly the officiating priest. Many of the girls carried blue bannerets inscribed with theraono»rani of Our Lady, and many of the boys carried small pink fla^s. The Children of Mary walked immediately in front of a banner of the Messed Virgin borne by one of their number, and in the rear of the the procession, just in front of the priest, four young men bore upon their shoulders a statue of her in whose honour the demonstration was made. During the procession the Children of Mary sane several hymns, and the Litany of Loretto. After the procession had returned to the church, benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given. This terminated a ceremony which must have given the greatest pleasure ■and edification to all who witnessed it. The number of children who took part in it has been estimated at »00. It may be- added that t hough there was a cokl wind blowing the s>un shove brightly ihirm<* the whole time. °