LOUGH DERG AND ITS PILGRIMAGES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 326, 18 July 1879, Page 9

LOUGH DERG AND ITS PILGRIMAGES.

The oldest existing institution of the Irish Church is the Pilgrimage of St. Patrick's Purgatory. It forms a connecting link between the days of St. Patrick and the present day. Its penitential exercises are most singular, have always been regulated and conducted by the ecclesiastical authorities, and, moreover, have ecarcely ever been interrupted for any notable time. The lake is situated about four milea Irom the Bay of Donegal, and about ten miles from the town itself ; it is approached by three routes, the principal of which is that from mtigo, which place is easily reached by train, cars being in waiting to convey the pilgrims to the lake, and- a ferry boat, appropriately named the St. Patrick, plying between the shore and station island, where the devotional exercises are performed. iKf i Ta 6 tim f ft^perfonning the pilgrimage is from the Ist July till 15th August. It lasts, according to modern custom, three days, although many persons remain for six, or even nine. Each day three fhP cwT P f e « f ,°T e A he day be 2 iunin g with "prayers and Mas* in Ch f ™^ St Patrick, and closing with a sermon and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Each station consists, besides the visit to the Blessed Sacrament, of 97 Paters, 160 Ayes and 29 Credos, and, at the end of the day, five decades of toe Eosary are said ; but some persons, who follow the old practice, add to these several other devotions ; m every case the penitent makes the circuit of the churches and » Saints' Beds" while reciting bis prayers, and, as a rigorous fast upon one meal of meagre food is observed during the whole time, it will be seen that the pilgrimage to Lough Der* is no ligh. matter. But the most singular part of it is the vigil « in pnson %.e., St. Patrick's Church, which now takes the place of the ancient purgatorial cave, a whole night being spent there in reciting Kosanes, making the Stations of the Cross, etc., previous to Confession and reception of Holy Communion. Pilgrims are also forbidden to take intoxicating drinks on tLe island, or within three miles of it, or to carry away pebbles or water from the lake, lest they should attach undue value to thesethinge.— Exchange.