Pageant of Faith

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 453, 7 September 1928, Page 9

Pageant of Faith

IMPRESSIVE SYDNEY SCENE Great Worshipping Host (United P.4. —By Telegraph — Copyright) Reed. Xoon. SYDNEY. To-day. BATTALION after battalion of young men of the Roman Catholic societies marched into the Royal Showgrounds to participate in the most colossal religious demonstration ever held in Australia. A solemn benediction under the o]x-n sky was given by Cardinal Ceretti to 130,000 men.

Onlookers at the time of this simple pageant of faith will never forget the sight of over 100,000 human arms holding lighted tapers, as the deeptoned responses of the worshippers preceded the triumphant thunder of the "Adoremus.” The huge congregation sang the hymn, “O, Sacrament Divine,” and then before the benediction the rolling Latin of “O, Salutaris” and the "Tantum Ergo.” The service ended with the grandest of Catholic hymns, “Faith of Our Fathers,”~~and “O, Queen of Heaven.” A vast sea of faces looked toward the papal throne at the far end of the ground, and the official stand, crowded with inter-State visitors. Cardinal Ceretti yesterday laid a heart-shaped wreath on the Cenotaph. in the presence of Returned Sodiers’ League officials. An excited crowd, gathered when they observed the cardinal’s arrival. Archbishop Clune, of Perth, also placed a huge floral cross on the Cenotaph, on behalf of the chaplains who served in tlic war. BRILLIANT SPECTACLE A brilliant spectacle was witnessed yesterday morning at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in connection with the Eucharistic Congress.

The building was crowded and people were outside to hear a pontifical High Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Namur in the presence of the Pupal Legate, Cardinal Ceretti. The Mass was heard by the crowds in the park outside by means of wireless amplifiers. Many persons in the waiting throng dropped to their knees and prayed. From an early hour the Cathedral was a scene of great activity. A congregation of more than 9;000 worshippers had asembled long before the Mass commenced. They included members of the Consular Corps and the chieij Civic Commissioner. KNIGHTS LEAD PROCESSION There was a most impressive and magnificent sight as a procession entered the Cathedral headed by the Knights of St. Gregory and SL Silvester and the wearers of the Crown of Leo. All were in dress clothes and wore their.orders. They were followed by the Monsignors of the Papal household, the Vicars-General of the diocese and the Master of Ceremonies. In the long line of purple-elad bishops the colours of many different nationalities, and orders made a remarkable spectacle. It was by far - the most brilliant sight of the proceSings in connection with the Congress.