RELIGION IN THE FRENCH ARMY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 310, 28 March 1879, Page 7

RELIGION IN THE FRENCH ARMY.

Our excellent contemporary the Hosier tie Marie illustrates the deep religious spirit of the French army by relating the two following incidents. On the 14th of May, the (ith mounted chasseurs when marching from Sadan to the maneuvres at ths camp at Chalons, when passing through Monthois, in the Ardennes, found the good villagers busily engaged in preparing the church for the reception of the Most Rev. Archbishop of Cambrai. The gallant troopers would not be satisfied by idly looking on, and thanks to their generons assistance the vaulted ceiling of the church was decorated throughout with splendid garlands. The colonel in command of the regiment expressed great satisfaction that his arrival coincided with that of Monseigneur, so that h» and his soldiers coald give thsir as-sistanci to a worthy reception of their chief pastor. In the evening-, he assisted with his entire staff at the devotions of the Month of Mary, and the regimental band executed some delightful sacred' melodies. Another example of this kind is reported front Vanncs. As usual during the procession of Corpus Christi, four repositories had been erected in different parts of the city. One of the altars was built up by the artillerymen of the garrison. It rested on four pieces of ordnance, and the ornaments were tastefully ananged from sabres, bayonets, rifles and splendid colored flags. The artillery, infantry and pompiers (military fireman) formed spalier and marched in procession. Eight mounted gunners rode in front and as many artillerymen in the rear of the procession. Two generals and their staffs, two colonels, a great number of officers, and all the civil functionaries of the city, followed the canopy under which the Blessed Sacrament was carried. At the return of the procession to the Cathedral a grand salute was fired by the artillery.— Arc Maria.