DUBLIN CONGRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1932, Page 6

DUBLIN CONGRESS

A MILLION PEOPLE,

HEAR HIGH MASS

(United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright.)

(Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) DUBLIN, June 26,

The Eucharistic Congress leached a climax to-day when an assembly estimated at a million heard the mass in Phoenix Park. Later the Blessed Sacrament was taken in a procession miles, to th 6 altar at o’Conned bridge, in the centre of the city, where the Legate pronounced the Benediction upon a multitude stretching as far as the eye could see, along .seven roads converging on the bridge. Four columns of men and women worshippers marched to the city along separate routes as a single, procession would take eight hours, the tramping columns carrying banners,*and singing hymns. As a tribute to thu people’s devotion, a record crowd began to assemble around the 'Park altar in th e early hours. Apart from the throng of visitors who have spent the week in Dublin representing every country in Christendom, scores of special trains brought thousands from every part of Ireland, including Ulster. When they had ‘ taken their places at noon, the whole of the fifteen acres of the field was a mass of humanity, which was hushed in silence as th e Mass opened in a circular space where there were hundreds of priests, members of orders, and a choir of five hundred men and boys. Then began the arrival of the church dignitaries and the procession of Archbishops and Bishops who took their places in colonnades. Finally cnm e the Cardinals, headed by the Legate who took his place on the throne as the Celebrant of the Pontifical Mass, the Legate delivering a simple devotional homiiy iin English. Everything was heard by th e huge congregation through loud speakers, until the climax came at-the end of the Mass, when th e Pope's brief message was broadcast.

Photographers and aeroplanes drowned the Pope’s words. They were the simple quotation in Latin from Saint Patrick. —“As you are Christians be ye also Romans.”