CATHOLIC CEREMONIES IN DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 26, 18 October 1889, Page 5

CATHOLIC CEREMONIES IN DUNEDIN.

Some montbi ago, the Confraternity of Our Laiy of Perpetual Succour received from the Very Rev. N. Mauron, 0.88. R., Superior General and Rector Major of tbe Redemptonsts at Rome an authentic copy of tbe celebrated picture which is venerated at tbe Church of St. Alphonsus between the basilicas of St. John Lateran aad St. Mary Major,— and which has been the source of many miracle*. The picture is a remarkable one, and may at once be recognised as i\ Byzantine work of tha middle ages. It ia painted on wood, tbe ground being richly gilded. Our Lady is represented as of distinctly Eastern appearance, dark in complexion and of somewhat stern expression. Her bead is covered with a dark blue veil which it laced with gold, and a golden border edges her dress of which tha portion seen, under a mantle of the same colour as that of the veil, i 3 red. The glory surrounding the head of the figure is elaborately ornamented, and beneath it is a star. Tbe Blessed Virgin with one hand supports tbe figure of the Divine Infant, and with the other clasps his hand* as if to hold him from the coming doom. The expression of the Infant's face is one not so much of fear as of the recognition of a terrible do. m. The face, while that of a child, is full of a wisdom more than childlike, aid tbe eyes seem fixed on SJmething afar off. With his hands the child clasps that of the Blessid Virgin, as if clinging to her for protection. The upper part of his dress is green also laced with gold, around the waist is a red girdle, and tha lower draping is dun-colour aud gold. One foot wears a sandal, the other is b-ire, the sandaljhanging loose underneath it. The head of tie Virgin Mother and that of the Child wear each a r chly jewelled crowo, raised from the surface of tha picture. Above tue figures at the sides are respectively the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, painted in red dresses, on a much smaller scale, tbe one carrying a vase which contains the lance, the reed and the sponge, and the other balding out towards the Divine Infant the cross an i nails. Some Greek letters, explaining the figures, complete the picture. The copy received in Dunedin is enclosed in a frame richly gilt and ornamented, and surmounted by a dom; shaped superstructure terminating in a cross, and which contains tbe monogram of the Blessed Virgin raised in gilt characters on a ground of azure, thickly sprinkled with Btars, the whole elaborately decorated in gilding. It may be mentioned as a remarkable fact that on tha voyage from Europe the picture had got loose in the wooden case in which it was enclosed and had been so knocked about that the cross on the top had deeply indented the wood on the inside of the case, and yet, although itself of gilt wood, and by no means of exceptional strength, it had not been broken or suffered any injury beyond a slight abrasion of the gil ling on the extreme edge. As erected iv the cathedral the picture f ormsa very beautiful shrine.uccupying a position against theclußtered pillar of the transept on the Gospel side and at about six feet from the ground. On either side of the picture h a wooden door, richly carved and gilt, and with the paeaion fljwer painted on it. — The design was that of Mr. F. W. Petre ; tbe carving ihatof Mr. Godfrey ; the wood work that of Mr. D. W, Woods, and the painting aud gliding were done by Mr. Scott. The brass work was executed by Messrs. A. and T. Burt. — The doors, by which it is possible to conceal the picture if desired, are thrown wide open, and low down on each of them a bandsome branch of candlesticks is fastened. An arch of candlesticks of floral de3ign,nseß high over the picture, terminating ia a crown, which, like tbo candlesticks, is of burnished brass, and from wbicb a light and graceful, but nch, white veil, interwoven aud fringed with gold, is let fall to the back of ibe picture. Tbe bracket on winch tbo picture stands is supported on wooden bosses, also richl/ carved aud gilt — and, above these, in front of the picture, is a ledge on which vases of flowers are placed. When the candles of tbe br inches aod those on the arch above are lighted theeifect is singularly beautiful. On Sunday, at 11 a.m., the picture, which had been eree'ed in the cathedral, as described, a week or two ago, was unveiled — a covering of white silk haviug so far concealed the figures. Tue ceremonies commenced with a hymn, fcung by the Young Oecilians, under tru conductorship of th.ir Broiler Director. The music, the composition of the Rev. Brother, was givtn tery ewe 1 tly and softly, or,if we must use musical terms, varied from pianissimo to piano with some crescendo movements, aud as the air, though devotional and pieasiug, wag not very marked and the haimony was perfectly maintained, we do not know that, we have ever heaid a more successful effort made by the boys. The music thus rendered was a hymn to Our Lidy of Perpetual Succjur. The Bishop ibeu entered 1 the ca^heiial by the priucipal door, tne " Ecce fcacjrdos," being sung by the choir mdntime, and, before the celebration of a Pontifical High Mass, proceeded to unveil the picture 1 Thu brief of the Holy Faihtsr authorising the erection of the picture in th-j cathedral, ani granting a plenary indu'gence, on the usual conditions, on tbe uay ot the unve ling, and o:her indulgences at oth- r times w>s read by the Rev. Father Lynch, Dnector of the (Jonfr tit nits of Our Lttdy of Perpetual Succour, who wore on the occasion over his surplice tne riboou aud medal of the Confraternity. The hj mv "Come O Creator, Spirit Blessed, " and that to our Lady of Perpetual Succoar, were sung by the choir aud congregation in union. High Mass was tben commenced, his Lordship the Bishop acting as celebrant, with the Rtght Rev. Monsignor Colennu as assistant prien ; the Very Ray. Father M'Kay and the Rev. Father Burke as deacons at the taroae ; the Rev. Father P. O'Neill, deacon ; the Rev. Father M'Mullin, subdeacon ; and the Rev. Fathers Lynch and O'Donnell, masters of ceremonies. Farmer's Mass in B 11 v was rtn iered, ilie choir being accompanied by a string quintett, consibtiug ot Mi ssrs. Scnacht (first vi.iliu), Zielo (second vioun), Cameroa (cello), Royc? (viola), and Robertsbaw (bats). Jliß3 D. Horan, organist of J»t. Jos-ph's played tbe oigan Tue vocal soloists were — Misses (Jorrigan, Woods, and Mills, (sopranos), Mrs, Angus and Miss Murphy (alioe), Messrs, Carolio, N#

Smith end P. J. Dunne, a visitor from Wellington, who kindly gave his MPsistance, (tenors), Messrs. Conigan and Cantwell (basses ; Mr. Ward as usual conducted the choir. At the conclusion of the Gospel a sermon was preached by the Bishop, who took for bis subjec , in particulHr reference to the unveiling of the picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, the Catholic doctrine of the veneration of picturf 8 aod images. On the conclusion of the sermon, the Mass was proceeded with. At the offertory Mr. Hchacht played w; ii chaimmg (ffect, as a violin s >10, an appropriate selection from Oampagnoli, an-1 on the teimination of tbe Mas-* the Key. Dr. Ciookhall's " Te Deum " wsb sung antiphonally by the choir cf the cathedral and that of the altar boys. Ihe Bishop afterwards thankod the choir and the gentlemen ot the oichentia who had ailed them tor their valuable services, which had done so much to promote the success of tbe ceremonies. His Lordship also referred to the presence op tae occasion of a Roman prelate. The Holy Father, he said, bad been pleased to recogui«e the meritorious services of Archdeacon Coleman by raising him to the rank of Roman prelates of tbe first class after bishops, with the title cf the Right Rev. Monsignore Coleman, by which the people would henceforward be happy to address him. The congregation, which bad been densely crowded, then dispersed, the out-going voluntary being orchestral.

In the afternoon at 3 p.m. the laying of the corner-stone of the Dominican convent school buildings, and the blessing of the foundations were preformed. The ceremony was attended by a numerous assembly of people, who took their places on the concrete flooring, now almost completely laid, of the first story. The buildings, on the plan of Mr. F. W. Petre, with Mr. D. W. Woods as contractor, begin now to give the passer-by some idea of what they will be when completed, and the expectation thus foimed is reasonably considerable. Tbe style is Gothic, and different periods are to be illustrated, graduating from the wing of the convent already standing, to the portion of the building next the cathedral, which will be of blue stone faced with Oamaru stone, and is so planned as to assort with the coble architecture of tbe church, close to which its site is placed. The choir for the occasion was one combined of the priests and nuns, the members of St. Joseph's choir, and that of the altar boys, and of the convent pupils.and the singing was particularly fine and devotional. Under tbe stone, which was laid by tbe Bishop, who also blessed the building, were placed copies of the Dunedin daily papers and of the N. Z. Tablet. His Lordship afterwards spoke a few words recommending the building fund to the assistance of his hearers. He bad he said, been given by a gentleman in Ireland a handsome subscription, which, together with an instalment of what he himself meant to give, he would now lay on the foundation stone. As, however, it had not been announced thar a collection would be made the names of those desirous of subscribing would be taken down.

In tbe evening vespers and Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament were, as usual, celebrated iv the cathedral, the Bishop, assisted by Monsignor Coleman and the priests who had been present in the forenoon, officiating. The orchestra again gave their aid to the choir, and a very beautiful voluntary from Beethoven was played by Mr. Schacht. Mr. P. J. Dunn, who poseesses a mellow tenor voice, which has received careful cultivation, also sang an expressive "O,SWutariß." Tbe Bishop, in addressing the congregation, which was again densely crowded, referred to the addresses presented to him on Tuesday evening. He had not then had time, he said, to touch on some of tbe points alluded to, but had resolved to do so on other occasions. He would now dwell on the position of the Papacy. It had become worße every year during the last twenty je»rs, and now the H_>ly Father was abandoned by all tbe European Governments. It was sometimes asked why the Pope remained a prisoner in the Vatican, and the assertion was made that he was at libeity, if he would, to go freely abroad. But such was not the cassi. If the Holy Father left his palace, he would be received with acclamation by his adherents, who were the most numerous body in the country by tar. He had him« self lately computed them at 20,000,000, while the partisans of tbe revolution were but 4,000,000, and no one had dared to contradict his statement. Their rejoicing, however, would enrage the revolutionists, and the consequence would be disturbances which the Holy Father must not do anything to bring about. His Holiness was in truth a prisoner, and the fact that his prison was a palace did not serre much to lighten his confinement. He, who, when Archbishop of Perugia, had been used to take daily exercise in climbing ihe mountains was now confined to a garden of some twenty acres in extent, and he felt the difference keenly. It was, again, sometimes asked why, since the Italian population was Catholic and owned tbe franchise they did not send members to Parliament pledged to support the Pope. But the qualifications for electors were high. In Naples, for example, a city of some four or five hundred thousai<d people, there were only about four thousand voters. Again, all tbe States of Italy were in the hands cf « usurper, and as it was necessary to take an oath of allegiance to him for tbe purpose, people re f used to place their names on the electoral lists. The Parliamentary electors, therefore were controlled by the revolutionists. Tbe Most Rev. speaker was sorry to say the present occupants of Home were destroying a great many luteresting and venerable rronuments of the past. They were buildiDg a new city and already during their occupancy the population had been doubled. The object of this was to make the city an impossible one for the Popes. If the Pope was restored to his sovereignty this new population would be withdrawn from the town. Long streets of noble houses, lecently built, would be left tenantless and the consequences on the trade and commerce of the place would be disastrous. This was the end which the Italian Government had had in iutroiucing tbe new population drawn from other parts of Ita'y. History repeats itself — the Pope in the early ages had to take refuse in the cntacombs — and there was n<j intermediate position. The Pope must be Sovereign, or he must hide himself in the catacombs. He must be a prisoner, or seek for safety in flight. No one knew how soon the Pope might be obliged to fly. Yet for 1000 years the Popes had been the benefactors of Italy. Toeir Temporal Power had been of that duration, and it bad been used for the good of the country. When the Piedmonteae usurped the States

of tbe Church, tbey bad had no public debt. Now, tbe public debt of Italy equalled that of England. It was thus that her great army and navy had been created and wera maintained. There was no hope of the restoration of the Pope's sovereignty by any of the European Powers, and, if the Continental Governments had abandoned the Podo, England hdted him. England had encouraged and brought about the usurpation of the Temporal Power, and no English Statesman of any party would do anything to aid in its restoration. Any lupes that might be entertained of their doing so were baseless, The restoration of the Pope's swereignty, howover, ii God's aD pointed time, was a ceittmty to be looked forward to. It would be accomplished even if. a miraculous interpoaitioT were necessiry. The Mo9t Rev. preacber couciudvid by assuring his congregation of the fatherly uflLctioa borne them by the Pope, and exnortiug them to be constant in their prayers for His Holiness' safety and welfare.

The altar throughout the day was beautifully adorned. In addition to the usual festival ornaments, some fine branch candle* sticks prpseited to the cathedral by the Very Bfiv. James Canon Lee of Dublin' were used, wbish by their massive and well-designed shape, and by enabling a largely increased number of candles to be burned, added greatly to the general effect. The chief floral adornments were those in front of tbe picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. At either side was a beautiful vase of ruby glass with a rich gold pattern, and in the centre a bowl of thick clear glass with raised gold work on the outside and within a pattern of scattered rose leaves. Eich vessel contained a wealth of exquisite flowers — a quantity of splendid Marshal Niel roses being particularly remarkable. There were also clusters of narcissus, some lovely white heath, magnificent white pansies with dark centres, cinerarias auriculas, and many more choice blossoms than we can remember. The principal place however right in the centre was assigned to a glorious white clematis flower. The arrangement of these flowers as well as the whole appearance of the altar reflected tbe greatest posbible credit on the taste of tbe Dominican nuns to whom it had been committed.