ITEMS FROM TEMUKA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 26, 19 October 1888, Page 21

ITEMS FROM TEMUKA.

(From an occasional Correspondent.) Temnka, October i, 1888. Improvements in St. Joseph's Church. Thk Rev. Father F navel is never tired of making improvements to his famous church, and bringing it nearer and nearer to perfection, His heart and soul seem to be fixed on beautifying the abode in which dwells the Saviour of mankind, and making it look more impressive in a spiritual sense. The latest step in this direction is the placing of the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on a handsome pedestal, which stands at the north* west end of, and a few paces from, the Communion rails. The pedestal has been handsomely got up, and the painter has faithfully imitated what is kfnown as black and gold marble— indeed, so much go as to deceive one at a distance. It is not necessary for me to describe the statue, as that has been already done by me. On the panels and caps Father Fauvel has caused to be printed scriptural quotations and other beautiful ejaculations. On the west (front) side are : "My son, give Me thy heart " (Proverbs xxiii., 26) ; " Come to Me all you that labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up My yoke upon you and learn of Me, because I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest to your sou Is " (Matt, xi,, 28 and 29); " If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments " (Matt, xiz., 17). On the north side ; " Praise be to God I" " Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit within my bowels " (Psalm 1.) ; " Moßt Sacred He tit of Jesus, have mercy on us 1" " Seek ye the Lord while He may be found " (leaiah ,lvi., 6). On the south side : " Love be to Je9us I" " Blessed •re the clean of heart, for they shall see God " (Matt, v., 8) ; " Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like an to Thine 1" " Walk before Me and be perfect " (Geaesis xvii., 7). This completes the number on the Sacred Heart pedestal. The large crucifix which formerly projected from the nortn-west end of the vestry, above the •m all has been taken down from its lofty position and placed on a similar pedebtal to that of the Sacred Heart on the south end, in an opposite position to the statue. I must remark the rev. father acted with much wisdom to effect this alteration. Previously th 6 face of the crucified Saviour was not so visible as now. Though on the pedestal are some stirring inscriptions, yet none can be so impressive on the heart as the excruciating suffering which is so beautifully pourtrayed on the countenance of the Redeemer of mankind. Anyone to gaze thoughtfully on that wan face cannot fail to be hnrriedly carried to the Bcene of the crucifixion on Mount Calvary. The streams of blood from the wounds must undoubtedly recall to the pious, as well as the irreligious beholder, the necessity for the shedding cf that blood, and bring to the mind of all that as often as a mortal sin is committed a new crucifixion is brought about again. To the sinner it Bhould be an aid to contrition. But it is impossible to describe the lesson the Christian learns from the scene. On the cap of this pedestal is painted a spear, near which is the text : " One of the soldiers with a spear opened His side" (John xix., 34) ; also a hammer, with the text : " They have pierced My hands and My feet" (Psalm xxi., 17). The nails, crown of thorns, and sponge, are likewise there. The cap bears also the wordß: "O CruxavespesunicaV The panels are inscribed as follows : — Front : " He loved me and delivered himself for me " (G»l ii., 20) ; " And, bearing His cross, He went forth to that place which is called Calvary " (John xix., 17) ; "O, all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to My sorrow " (Lament, i., 13) ; "Mors tua, Jesu, vita nostra." On the south side : " He that takeih not up his cross and followeib Me, is not worthy of Me " (Matt, x , 38) ; " Whosoever doih not carry his cross and come after Me, caunot be My disciple " (Luke xiv., 23). On the north : "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and fo low Me " (Luke ix., 23) ; " Uod forbid that 1 should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ " (Gal. vi., 14). — Your readers will, no doubt, remember my description of the beautiful Adoring Angels we have in our church. Previously the ten angels were turned to the altar ; now four of them face the body of the church. They stand on the wall — one on each side of the lateral altars. The improvements are certainly an acquisition to the appearance of the church. It is the prayer of everyone that the Rev. Father Fauvel may long ba spared to continue his good work ; and all breathe fretly, as we have been assured by our beloved Bishop, the Right Rev\ Dr. Grimes, that death alone will — temporarily, 1 hope — separate the good pastor from his devoted flock. Commemoration of the Dead. Oq Sunday, September 30, the generally glittering appearance of the main altar of St. Joseph's Church was wonderfully changed — it being impressively draped in black, and making the general appearance very solemn. The congregation was larger than usual, and first Mass was celebrated by the pastor of the church. It was most beautiful to behold the large number (over 150) who approached the Holy of Holies, in obedience to the command cf the Holy Father, for the repose cf the souls of the departed faithful. At half-past ten o'clock, the Rev. Father Fauvel celebrated a Solemn High Mass for the dead, and in his sermon — the text being, " Have pity en me, have pity on me, at least you, my liiends, for the hand of God has touched me" (Job xix., 21) — he most plaintively appealed to his congregation on behalf ol the souls iv purgatory, and at length spoke on the sulterings they eudured. — The choir, under the conducturship of one o£ the Bisters, rendered a solemn Gregorian requiem, the "Dies Irae," and "O Salutans" (Galuppi).— ln the evening, the holy Rosary was recited, followed Dy the devotion of S^tions of the Cross. After a sermon, the Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament brought the day s ceremonies to a close. The Propagation or the Faith. The Rev. Father Fauvel has commenced his appeal on behalf of those who are siill without the knowledge of God. On last Sunday ■week, the rev. gentleman preached his first sermon on the above subject, taking for his text Luko vi., 38 : •' Give, and it shall be given to you : good measure, and pressed down, and shaken together, and

running over shall they give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that you shall mete, withal it shall be measured to you again." After having clearly shown from Scripture that it it absolutely necessary to perform works of mercy, the ; rev. father claimed that none were so efficacious as the noble work of the propagation of the faith, which was a continuation of the work which our Lord came upon earth to begin. He spoke at length on the advantages derived by th* members, and all could be such, as it required only once to offer the Pater and Aye of our morning prayers, and subscribe a halfpenny per week. Speaking of foreign missions, the rev. gentleman said that savages who not many years ago committed all sorts of vices, were now the best of Christians. There were still 900,000,000 pagans, aod, therefore, we had a large field to perform missionary work in. Alloould be missionera by becoming members of the society. After speaking at great length on matters bearing on the subject, Father Fauvel wound up with a very touching appeal to all to join. Last year £52 were sent, and this year he trusted would not be less fruitful. Yesterday (October 7), the Rev. Father Fttuvel again returned to the subject of the propagation of the faith. He took, for his text, " Redeem thou thy lias with alms, and thy iniquities with works of mercy" (Daniel iv., 24). The re 7, father again dwelt at length on the subject, and besought the collectors to work most energetically. After dealing with the propagation of the faitb, the Rev. Father Fauvel said be had still something to speak on the devotion to the Sacred Heartrof Jesus. After dwelling on the advantages accruing to its members, and their duty, the rev. gentleman read from the Messenger of the Sacred Heart many miracles wrought through devotion to the Sacred Heart. Confirmation at St.Josbph'B Church. On Sunday next the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes, Bishop of Christchurch, will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation in the above church. His arrival is anxiously awaited. Thb Bazaar. The ladies who are engaged in the good work of collecting for tha bazaar have been working most assiduously, and I am pleased to be able to Btate there is every probability of their efforts being crowned with success. They deserve every praise for their strenuous endeavors to clear off the debt on our church.