CONSECRATION OF THE CHURCH OF "ST. MARY OF THE ANGELS," WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 54, 9 May 1874, Page 11

CONSECRATION OF THE CHURCH OF "ST. MARY OF THE ANGELS," WELLINGTON.

The ceremony of consecrating, or, more correctly speaking, " blessing" the new Roman Catholic Church, Te .Aro, took place in presence of a congregation numbering between 400 and 500 persons, very many of whom, not being members of the Church, were attracted by the nature of the ceremony, while others attended as a mark of respect to the venerable Father O'Reilly, whose charitable actions and Christian life are, perhaps, as well known to the whole community as they are to the particular denomination to which he belongs. The ceremony throughout was very solemn and impressive, so much so lhat the general effect produced by the grand cathedral music, the chaste character of the decorations surrounding the altar, the rich robes of the officiating priests, and their fervid chants and intonations, was perceptib'e in its influences as well upon the faithful adherent, whose constant attendence it would be supposed would. render such scenes familiar, as upon persons to whom they were strange and consequently more striking. The ceremony was commenced at half-past tea by the Rev. Father O'Keilly, who, preceded by the cross-bearer, thurifer, and acolitos, and assisted by the Rev. Father Cummins, as Deacon, and the Rev. Father Q-outenoire, as Sub-Deacon, advanced to the porch of the Church, where the prayers usual upon such occasions were said. The procession then wioved along slowly, and prayers and aspersions wero said outside and inside theJChurch, as prescribed by the Roman Ritual; the Litany of the Saints was chanted, and the blessing given. On reaching the altar the hymn " Yeni Creator Spiritus" was intoned by the priests and taken up by a member of the choir, in a full melodious voice. At the conclusion of the hymn the pnests retired to the Sacristy to prepare for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice, and upon their return to the altar, attired in vestment 9of gold, High Mus3 corncommenced. After singing the Gospel, the Rev. Father Cummins, who intimated that he had been confined to his bed during the past week, preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion, taking for his text the words of the 56th chap, of Isaiah, ', Adduoam eos in montetn sanctum menm et latificabo eos in domo drationis mea," the meaning of these word being applied to the Church in which the congregation were assembled. Father Cummins proceeded to explain the object for which they were gathered together, beginning with the interrogatory, " Why sVmld they erec v a temple to G-od, all the Universe being his temple" Cio where you may, says the great Apostle, God is near, we live and move in Him. . . Nevertheless men have at all time consecrated to Him places which He deigned to honor with a special presence. The Patiiachs dedicated to Him those places where He had manifested Himself. The Israelites in the desert regarded the tabernacle as the seat of His glory : and arrived in Jerusalem, they no longer invoked Him with the solemnity of incense and victims, save in that august temple raised to Him by Solomou. This was then the holy place of the universe ; there, gifts and sacrifices were offered, and thither the Israelites directed their daily course unceasing. When exiles, captive in a stranger land, they turned towards it their thoughts and poured forth their aspirations, centre of their hope, place of their regard ; their joy, their regret, the object of their prayers. Daniel exposed himself to the lions rather than forget this duty, and often Jerusalem saw with pleasure the crowned head of the infidel impressed with awe therein, and bowing there before the God of armies. But now if we raise a temple, wherefore an altar ? Why another victim ? Sacrifice my brethren is essential to true religion, and no true religion can exist without it. Ask me where is the House of God ! where was, and where is His Church for ever ? I will answer— there ; where was and where is the altar. From the dawn of creation altars were raised whereon to offer sacrifices ; and the people of God always held sacred the placos where such altnrs were erected. Abel, Noah, Abraham, and other Patriarchs assemblel their families around them to offer up their prayers and sa-cnuL-ea. Abraham plantoJ. v, grove abuut bis altar. Jacob raised an altar, anointed it with oil, and called it the dwelling of God. Wl ci God made known to the Jews the manner in which He wished to be honored, He gave them laws, rites, and a complete set of ceremonies. He commanded two altars, an altar of gold for His incense, another not inferior for holocausts. tie wished all things consecrated to Him, anointed with oil as consecration, and when Inter on His temple wa3 the word of His will, what respect and maguificence haloed forth the execution. Then consult St. Paul — review the Acts. Consult the Doctors, the Saints, the. first Martyrs. Has it not been the same from the cradle of the Christian Church as the ages of peace or persecution permitted it. ? But an altar is indicative of sacrifices ; and I say no sacrifice, no religion. It is its charm, its very key, its foundation. The sacrifices of the old law were but figures of the new ; and the new has fulfilled all the figures of the old. Here the Rev. Father gave a definition of sacrifice, and he went on to prove that now, aa at all times, a truo sacrifice is offered in the true Church, and that sacrifice is the Mass — so-called from the Latin word Missa. It was proved by the Sacred writer and Prophet, when saying " Thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melohisodoch." A priest's duty was to offer sacrifice. Christ must offer sacrifice according to the ritual of His order, and Melchisedoch offered bread and wine because ho was higu priest — and his was the figure — Christ in the same order, gave the reality. Priest for ever must offer sacrifice for ever — this ho does by his priest ; and this is the only action they perform in the person of CLrist, and speaking in His very i nine. Malachy (chap. 1) foretold anew sacrifice — tlio old were to be rejected, a new one supplied — and that new one would be a pure oblation, offered in every place, and from the rising to the setting sun. The sacrifice of the Cross was offered only onci>, in a bloody manner, and in one place. Sacrifice of prayers and works, when pure, were never rejected — the Mass is then the true sacrifice. Jesus, (\liitt. xxvi. 2fi,) at the Last Supper took bread and blessed &o , and said take this and eat, this is ray body : and taking the chalice He said, take this and drink, this is my blood. Now it is not wine chub is shed for tho remission of sin — alas ! how many sins winehhri r occasioned ; — but the same voice and power that spoke and ci \ttiou answered, the same Word that said and it was done, the power that

©f nothing made the world, the power that fed thousands in the desert, changed water into wine, cured the living and raised the dead — the same— changed bread and wine into His very self, into the very Body and Blood of Christ ; and unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Wan and drink his blood, you will have no life in you. But though Christ as God effected this miracle, what then ? He was God ; God commands nothing impossible ; when He commands beyond our power, He gives the power to execute. What then He said — O hear it high Heavens— He said to lonely man, Bo this that I have done, great miracle of my power, do this in commemoration of me. His delight was to be with the children of men. For the sake of Hi 9 elect, He tarries in their midst, and leaves to creative man — His priest alone— »he power to bring Him on our altars. Hence Paul's word to the Corinthians ; hence his warning to prepare and worthily receive ; hence the decrees of our Councils j hence the love, esteem, and veneration for onr sanctuaries ; hence Catholics know and feel never enough can !>e spent on our temples, never enough can be done for our altars. Coming to the more immediate object of their assembling that day, the Rev Father said : This, then, is a day of joy for Wellington, Ay aged Father's heart is filled with joy to overflowing, and his children are thronged 1 a»ound him to participate in his joy and give echo to his emotions. People of Wellington, have you known and loved your pastor, who has many times and oft, like another victim, ascended theCalvary to his present dwelling, and, like another Moses, with uplifted hands, gained for you the battle. How often, heedless of self, he forgot all about food and raiment, to seek and uplift the fallen and degraded sinner. By day, in wet and cold, he has penetrated the 'Courts and alleys, the public-houses, to recover the lost sheep and laise the fallen drunkard— the orphan's futher, the widow's guide and protector— and when the dark, dead night fell on our city and the western wave rolled on, and chill winds warned the travellers, he, the man of God, might be seen with his lantern going from street to street in search of the sinner, the lonely, the afflicted, the needy. Oh, Wellington, raise your eyes and see. The shades of evenirg are gathering over the hoary locks of your loved and cherished father ; the hand of old age is upon him ; will you suffer his warm heart tc chill the sooner ? He could have had temples ere now. He could have had altars, but love of God and love of his neighbour are one with him, though each has contended in his heart for priority. He could have built a shelter for himself and an altar to God, but there were lonely and poor ones in need of his assistance,, and lie gave it to them. He stripped himself and shared whatever he had with them and bow God has gratified the wish of his heart. The dream of his life was to build a chut-cli fov God and Ilis attar. That dream is realised to-day ; but one dark spot is upon it — a debt, small though it may be. People of Wellington, will you leave that as a burden upon the bosom oi one who loves you ? Creed or class was not with him a reason why he should w ithhold his hand. He gave to all who were in need, and -will you in your turn not assist him ? He Las raised a temple and altar to God, but do not let it be said that he has added a debt to the burden of the diocese. His hand has often been raised to Heaven to stay justice and call foi? mercy ; do not let him sink to the cold grave with'lho thought that his children had been ungrateful. Catholics aud Protestants, rally round the aged man, and when departing in pence he will leave you all the blessing that will, I hope, unite jou all in Heaven. The choir, under the able direction of Mr F. Weber, late of Ch"istchurch, sang Winter's Mass, the Sisters of the Convent lending very material aid. The Mass was not, however, taken in its entirety, the Benedicts fiom Mozart's Twelfth MaBS, and the Inearnatus from Haydn's Third Mass being substituted for Winter in those portions of the service. At the conclusion of the sermon, £Sl were collected. The debt still remaining upon the church amounts to between £400 and £500.