BISHOP GRIMES IN ASHBURTON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1787, 12 March 1888, Page 2

BISHOP GRIMES IN ASHBURTON.

Servicas of a special nature were oon* duo ed m the Oatholia Ohuroh yesterday and the congregations were vary larg* oa each occasion, the Oh arch being crowded ia all its parts At 8 a.m. the R'V Fa'her Ohastagnon oelebrated M*sa, when 50 received Holy I mcnunion. His L-rdsh'p the Bishop oelebr» l o«3 Maas at. 9 'olock, on -which occasion 220 .erioni received Holy 0 >ramaai >n. Hi^h Mass wka celebrated at eleven o'clock by the B shop, assisted by the >tev* Fathers Oh»«tagnon and dimming!. The building was densely p*oked with ft large o >ngret>at»nn that had cime m from ill psr ; s<if the dia'dot, A. large number of children, together with men and ><on)en, prea^nt^d themselves aa oandltat b for confirmation Some fotty children from the 0 invent uchoo), arrayed ta whitp, with wreatha of fl .v^rg round ibeii* he«ds ani we»r ng w. ite veils on rat'ohed m pr j OAfB oa to the church, and f< nned a pleasing feature In the pro* ceed nt;s. At the op-mins* of the serclaa the Biahop deaoauded from hia throne to the altar steps, and explained th« purpose of his episcopal visitation. Hi^h masa VH4 then celebrate ■•, after which the Rev Father Oaram'nus delivered a moat able tddress, appropriate to the o3oi*lon. The rite of Oicfi mation was then admnmrered to 110 Dersons, a nambar of w orn were of ma' ore yean A.' three o olock m the afternoon the ;hn eh waa itg-iin crowded, with a o-mgre* who hid a&artn v i'edt> to take part n the ceremony of a renewal of ihair t'aptiamal vows. The service w.is also mended to be (he closing one of the epsclal mission 'hat. h»b b en conducted by the M-tiiat Mi aioner, the Rev Father Ouiumings. Prwvioafl to the ceremony of the renewal of the baptismal v >ws Father Oummings delivered a most powerful address, the text of which «ras, '* Rejoicu and you Bhall be exceedingly glad for your reward shall be very great In h< avrtn." The Ray Father spoke for ove? an hour, aud his earnest eloquence mast have m»de a laating impression ou his name one listeners. He then conducted the corem-ny of the renewal of the baptismal vowp f %nd afterwards annonnced chat the mission would not close that *fern >on, but would be extended another tw > days, m order to enable those who had •it had an opportunity of being present to a't^nd. His Lirdßhip the Bishop then <vJ dressed 'he congregation, andcongratul»tei the P.s'or the Rev Father Oha8« agnon on the great blessing that had a tm ded the m saion he had aßked for, Hlb Loroahip alno spoke feelingly of the etrnea ness an* e'oqaenca of Father Gummime la bis rpeolal work He then b«i« towed the Popai blessing on those present eta'ing that when m Roma H s BoUneas had m response to his solicitation readi y granted the blessing, and aho a Plenary indulgence. His Holiness, m grant ng this great privilege, said : — "Tell toem it is fain I who would bless them, but as that oannot b 8 Ido it through yon " The blessing wax pronouno: d, and the most imposing -er vice ever co ducted m the A «h burton Roman Catholic Church, was brought to a : lone In the evening the church was crowded to its utmost capaci y His i-oriohip preached the serm >o, taking for his text Proverbs \lli, 31. His a fdr<* s was a most powerful ani thrilling one, and was li.teneii to with rapt attant-oa. After a few wonts devoted to tue Creatlm and bull, and t" the difference between the oldLiwaad the Curietiaa di>pens tion, His Lordship went on to Bp ;ak of wy i 'at holies neliev d m the Real Presence, or that whic > was aptly expressed by the worl Tranau intant atiou. He main* taiued th*t th* doctrine was oonsidteatlv

■au,>lit oy Jeans, and (hit had authoii y for th<ir belief m the tn-pir^d pages of Boly A rit. He a<sked any who dil not believe to ri<id the sixth Canpter of .*>t John, a d if they dd not agree with him, he could on y pity, he oou d

I nly pr>y tor t'.em. Uter Jeam had pert'oitnud the miracle of feeding the five tlious »nd, tie Jews came to trim and abk",d lor further proof of his hein^ Uod. Jesus replied "Amun, Amen, 1 say on o you he that belioveih m me shall have everlasting life. lam the Bread of Life," and immediately afte wards tie added, ■' This ia the bread which oometh dowa from Heiven that a in. in may c t thereof and not die. iam the living bread which o ime down from He iveu ; if any m*n eat of thin bread he ehiil live for ever, and the bread that I will giva is my fleab, which I will give for the life of the wad." Tan J iws unders'col as the Catholics understand thut Jusua literally meant His fl oh, and they sad: *• Hovr can this tu+n give us hio fl;sh to eat." What did JdBUB auswer ; it was this :

■' Amen, Amen, (tlusa words are equiv*lent to an o»th). 1 »>y onto yon, except ye eat the fl -«h of the Son ot men and •Irink Hib bio >d, y« have no lifa m yon " VVhoßo eateth my fl-isti and drluketa my blood hath eternal lirV. aud I wlil raise him up at the last day. Fjt m, fljsh is meat ndeed and my blood m diink indeed. Ha that eateth my fleah and drinketh my blood dwelieth mMc and lin him. As the liviDg Father has sent me and I lira by the Father ; so he that eateth me even he ahail by me. This Is that bread whioh O.me down from Heaven; not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead ; he t)m eataih of this bread shall live tor ever." Jeans did not mean this as a mere figure, a o mraemorati jo, but literally. Tqobb who hoard Him murmured, and as he was just, uood, and merciful, idle was oound it they had misunderstood Him to tell them bo. Itjany of His diaoiplei left Him ; how tie wast have been grieve^ yet if they tniaun. erat od Him how e»By would it have bedO for Htm to have spoken but one word a>d set them right. His Lordship asked way If Jusm merely meant a figure, a oommem oration, why did not He tell dis disciples so at the last supper ; He <iid uot da so and there again He clearly shiwed that it was no mare figure He meant. These were the grounds Oatholicß had for behaving m the Real Presence ; they coald no<-< believe other* wise There was no one so oouststeot In H« beliaf aud Ju practice of that beildf at a 0 ithotic.

The muafeal portions of the service! were of a special nanre, ao<l for tneir creiitab'e performance, Airs Q dan, the Jlisßds fleury and ottura are emitted to credit.