ROSARY SUNDAY

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 43, 15 October 1924, Page 31

ROSARY SUNDAY

ST. PATRICK’S DOMINICAN CONVENT,

'..--■•. TESCHEMAKERS. ;; : : - : . Rosary Sunday! What happy memories are awakened in the. mind of every child of St. Dominic at the mere mention of this sweetest of our Saints's feasts. In every . Dominican Convent throughout the world the great feature of the day is the Procession of the Holy Rosary, during which the Fifteen Mysteries, are sung and recited. Rosar&.Snnday of 1924 will long be remembered by all < those who were present at St. Patrick's Dominican College, Teschemakers, on that day, when to the usual Rosary Procession was added the more solemn one of the Blessed Sacrament —a ceremony .unique /in the history of Teschemakers. . \ All through the preceding Saturday the dark, gray mists of early October drifted in from the sea, deluging the plains around. It was one of those rains which invariably lasts for three daysan ominous/foreboding for Sunday's devotions; but as Faith can remove mountains so also can it remove thunder clouds. On Sunday morning, contrary to all the laws of weather forecasts, the beams of the morning sun pierced the,, veil. It was wonderful and mysterious and could find but one explanation, viz., "Answer to Prayer." Nor was the golden light of morning faithless to its promise of a bright afternoon. The grounds were looking their best, for careful hands and loving hearts had left nothing....undone to beautify the pathway that must for evermore be a hallowed one. At about 2.30 arrived his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Whyte, Right Rev. Monsignor Mackay, Rev. Fathers Ardagh, Fenelon, Martin, and Brother Goggins, followed by a large portion of the Oamaru congregation, including the children of the parish school and of St. Thomas's Dominican Academy, and the members of the local choir. The Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary having been recited in procession, the more impressive function of the ' day began. AS r the Sacred Host was borne from the church there floated through the solemn stillness of the v grounds the devotional strains of the "Pange Lingua" -and other hymns to the Blessed Sacrament, intermingled with the happy notes of Nature's choristers who seemed to vie with one another in singing''their Maker's praises. The first Benediction was given from the front balcony, at the end of which was erected a temporary altar tastefully decorated in white and gold blossoms—the choicest of Spring's fair gifts. The procession then wended its way to the college hall where was erected the second temporary altar, beautifully adorned with magnificent arum lilies', typical of the purity of the . Honored Guest "Who was to bless His people.... from this, His second throne. After the third Benediction, in the convent chapel, his Lordship addressed a. few appropriate words to the congregation, reminding them of the origin of the Rosary and of all that St. Dominic had accomplished by its fervent recitation. Finally he exhorted them to be ever faithful in reciting it devoutly. Then followed the singing of that grand old hymn, "Faith of Our Fathers," and. the heartstirring "Hymn to St. Patrick." ..The unqualified success of the day's 'proceedings was certainly due to the untiring zeal and unswerving faith of , Rev. Father Ardagh who was the first to suggest the procession of the Blessed Sacrament through the Teschemakers grounds, and who encouraged so many of his congregation to take part .in a ceremony which cannot fail to bring a blessing on them and v on all those belonging to them. On Sunday morning, undaunted by the inclemency of the weather, he arrived at Teschemakers to celebrate Holy Massbringing with him the promise of sunshine and of efforts crowned with success. On Monday afternoon his Lordship administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to a number of the children of the college. After the ceremony the Bishop addressed the children in his usual earnest but kindly way appealing, especially to the senior girls, always to remain faithful to the lessons and. advice of their devoted teachers, the Sisters of the Dominican Order, under whose zealous care they had spent so many happy and useful years. '■-.,. V