ST. JOHN BAPTIST VIANNLY (CURL D’ARS)

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 22, 17 June 1925, Page 15

ST. JOHN BAPTIST VIANNLY (CURL D’ARS)

CELEBRATIONS IN HONOR- OF HIS CANONISATION AT THE HOME OF COMCOMPASSION, ISLAND BAY.. " I

(From our Wellington correspondent.

Many who climbed the'hill in the cold rain tried .to visualise, that scene' that links the name of John Baptist Vianney forever with this country. Mother Aubert, young'then, was among the pilgrims who sought . the counsel of the lowly and sainted Cure D'Ars. Her own people hoped certain things of her, but he foretold, clearly and simply, the work that was destined for her, hand. He foretold it all. •It is hard for a New .Zealander of to-day to realise the conditions in those days. There is recorded in our annals the fact that in those early days of colonisation a relief fund was opened in Paris to assist emigrants to, return from this wild land where life was less uncertain than death.. If the peril was overestimated it was: none the less'/ believed

Sunday afternoon fell cold and wet, a cold dampness that sank into the bones, but the bleakness of the day did not affect the streams of people who, having learned that the Sisters of the Order of Compassion were to hold a service celebrating the canonisation of Blessed John Baptist Vianney, came flocking to the great stone building on the hill. No greater proof of the power of faith, such as John Baptist Viamiey's can be found than this same building of grey stone, on the low ridge of the seaward hills of a country that he saw only by the eye of faith when he foretold such an undertaking to its foundress. The building -is, here in truth. Its walls came from our land, but its corner-stone was laid in France. " : • ■ ; . ■•

in afar, and it is to the everlasting honor of France that the prophet and the subject of his prophecy alike calmly ignored the of the enterprise. France cannot fail because she has the faith that scorns seas and mountains, - gKs3g2gg£ fj- ' At the Home itself it had been hoped that ; the sun would shine and that Benediction r : ; might be sung in the open air. The rain ? i'P drove the crowd indoors, but that was exH pected t 00,,. and »the V stone of the corridors f;j was hidden that day by trails of Isoftffern// |l the emblem of Maoriland. ,;•■ 11 If ? |Wj g Benediction followed in the chapel, sjßev. II Father Heffernan, S.M., being celebrant, asH sisted by Rev. Fathers Kennedy and McM Hardy, of St. College. M the procession. Past"-:tlie; reverent:crowd;I through the that -.corridors with-their fern, the emblem of Maoriland. Benediction followed in the chapel, Rev. Father Heffernan, S.M., being celebrant, assisted by Rev. Fathers Kennedy and McHardy, of St. Patrick's College. Then came the procession. Past the reverent crowd, through the long corridors with their drapt:i ings of gold and white, went the Host, borne rj aloft, the Host, that had known the longM vigils of the humble,, suffering little parish I priest, John 2 Baptist 'Vianney, now acclaimed ; &by men as a saint in glory. In life, it is || true, men said, "This man is a Saint of' M God," and had his heart been shallow it v# might have welcomed their praises and their J! pilgrimages,toi his .bare dwelling at Ars, but : '|| Mother} Aubert tells us that he rebuked 1| sternly, almost fiercely, the. idle curiosity and ;i§ wearisome importunity of those who came |§ merely to stare at a new wonder in a jaded I world. , r .,, Vi ~,,,.,; -/•.«,-,.:: ,;-...,• ■ M'-'l'"' M It was an .afternoon to be remembered, ■• : and the. laity are grateful for the privilege B of permission; to share in the celebrations. J| Numbers of clergy were also present. ••.--. !i • ; On .Monday-'morning the official celebrate tions took place. These were private. The : ; chapel was exquisitely decorated, a large por- § trait of the Saint "occupying a place of honor. | Wa This portrait, a gift to.the Reverend Found- [,': ress by an anonymous donor, was decked P; with filmy fern and rich autumn flowers. H Mother Aubert, herself, occupied a posi.M tion near- the chapel door. - „*» ~.., .-., -J** vji S Solemn High Mass was J sung, Monsignor McKenna (Masterton) being celebrant, Rev. Father Campbell, C.SS.R., deacon; Rev. Father Joyce, S.M., subdeacon; and Rev. Father M. Devoy, master of ceremonies. A most eloquent and moving sermon was ifV^prenched^by fife: of St. Patrick's College. Father Ryan, in f& simple,*'beautiful jwords reviewed^the life of j| ; St.r.J6lin~Baptisi^Vi"a^ II the homeliness, the sanctity of it. Of special || interest 1 to'' the''- Sisters'■*themselves I account,; by Rev. Father concerning ~their of St. Patrick's College. Father Ryan, in simple, beautiful words reviewed the life of St. John Baptist Vianney, the simplicity, the homeliness, the sanctity of it. Of special interest to the Sisters themselves was his acoount of his prophecies concerning their 11 Order. He repeated some of these in the '|;|. native .tongue .of, the, Cure, as rhe had -heard ||| them from the lips of that aged/ but in- }|: domitable witness, Mother Aubert.ltW .:*< !|} : The Marist Brothers' Boys' Choir, under i|] Brother : Gerald, sang ? sweetly K the Mass i||| music. .''...;'.&'\'& .£•■£. X;oi ,~\B t §|. z g' ,^\' -||h ; v Those present included t his Grace ArchM s bishop, Redwood, ; Dean Regriault,. S.M., Rev. f Fathers Collins, J C.SS.R., McDonnell, S.M. V (St. Patrick's College), Lenihan, Connolly, llf Quealy, Kane, S.M., Spite?;* S.M;, and the || Venerable Archdeacon Devoy, S.M. f| 41 After the Mass the visitors were entertained at breakfast by the Sisters and so the celebrations ended.