THE LATE POPE PIUS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2239, 27 August 1914, Page 8

THE LATE POPE PIUS

IMPRESSIVE REQUIEM MASS AT THE . BASILICA

"THE POPE OF THE BLESSED

SACRAMENT"

' Ail impressive ceremony took place at the Sacred Heart Church, Hill Street, yesterday morning, when Solemn Requiem' Mass was offered up for the repose of tho soiil of the late Pope Pius X. One of tho largest and most representative congregations over seen in tho church was present, and the service was a memorable one. His Grace Coadjutor Archbishop O'Shea was the celebrant; tho Rev. Father O'Coiinell, deacon; the Rev. Father Smythe, sub-deacon; the Ven. Archdeacon Devoy, . assistant priest; and the Rev. Father Hurley, Master of Ceremonies. Among those present were, a large number of the clergy, the Right Hon. tho Prime Minister ' (Mr. W. F. Massey), Sir Joseph Ward, His Worship tho Mayor (Mi-: J: P. Luke), His Honour the Cliief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), tho Roy. H. Van Stavcron, the Hons. W. Fraser, A. L. Hordman, F. M. B. Fisher, and others. . Tho choir, which, sang tho Vatican edition of the !'Missa Pro Defunctis" (old Gregorian music) was composed of tiic massed voices of male representatives from the different Catholic choirs of the city. Mr. Bernard F. Page presided ab the organ, and at the conclusion of tho service gave a most impressive rendering cf tho Dead March iu "Saul."

His Grace Aichbishop O'Shea- delivered a fine panygerio on tho late Holy Father. In the course of .his sermon the Archbishop expressed his thanks and the thanks of the Roman Catholic community, to'the. large number of tho citizens of' Wellington, either for their presence at Holy Mass that morning or-for their messages of sympathy sent to him during the past few days. 'These messages, said His Grace, had greatly affected his people, and he and they felt that such expressions, coming from those who in many instances were not of,their faith, would serve to draw more closely together all sections of tho community, especially at the present time, 60 critical for the nation and its people.

Late Pope's Statesmanship. ' The Archbishop went on. to refer to ;the loss- tho whole of the Eoman Catholic world had sustained at the death of its Chief Pastor. During the eleven years of. his Pontificate, Pope. Pius X had ruled the Church with wisdom and'gentleness, and at tho same time with' firmness. The late Holy. Father's reign had been remarkable for many and great reforms, and in.all. of these they could see tho result of his influence.; The preacher went on to say what a strong and straightforward man the late Pope was, and how this was reflected in his dealings with the French Government, end how '.through .his (statesmanship.and foresight the Church of France had been freed from its shackles and is stronger and more vigorous to-day. The preacher referred to tho Pope's'attitude towards.Modernism ; how he had unmasked ite real tendency, and issued' several-decrees whioh had had,the immediate effect of cleansing the Church' from the effect of the movement./ His Grace touched on the mjiny reforms of the late Pope in the internal administration and working of the Church. His greatest work had beenthe revival of the practice of. the > receiving daily of Holy Communion and the admission to the Sacrament of children of i tender years. This, said the speaker, would have a tremendous and far-reaching effect on the' great Catholic levival which is going on in the world. In a generation or two this influence would become more pronounced and the namo of Pope Pine-X would go down for all time as "the Pope of the Blessed