EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1928, Page 3

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

CHILDREN’S DAY. MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE. (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, Sept., 7. There was another magnificent religious spectacle at the Royal Agricultural Showground to-day, when the Papal Legate, Cardinal Ceretti, celebrated Pontifical High Mass in the open air for the children. There Were over thirty thousand children present, and one hundred thousand adults watched the celebration of Mass.

There was a most impressive sight when Cardinal Cerretti accompanied by all of the Bishops, and Princes and Monsignori entered the grounds through the thousands of hoys and girls and proceeded to the white-domed altar erected on the grounds, and surrounded with the flags of fifteen nations, to the accompaniment of the chanting of a great choir, including theological students. A few minutes afterwards Cardinal Cerretti stepped from the throne in a canvas-roofed prenlta, and the first High Mass to he celebrated in the open air in Australia, apart from those on church lands, began The whole, vast army of thirty thousand children sang' the “Kyrio Eleison” and the Mass. There was a wealth of ceremonial that gripped the imagination. The Mass moved on to tlio most solemn part; that of the Host. At this stage the whole crowd of children. Elicit in silence making one of the most amazing scenes that have so far marked the Congress ceremonies.

At the conclusion of Muss Bishop Dunn on behalf of the Cardinals, Atoll bishops, Bishops, Clergy and the Faithful of the United States of America, presented to Cardinal Cerretti a lseaudifully-exe'cuted hound volume containing spiritual offerings, comprising twenty-two billion spiritual flowers, “in honour of the Birthday of our Lady and for the success of the Congress,” for presentation by the Cardinal to the Pope. The scene was one unique in the history 'of the Catholic Church in Austra*l ia.