Sketches Grave and Gay

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 5, 4 February 1925, Page 17

Sketches Grave and Gay

(By Pedestrian for N.Z. Tablet.)

There is no ceremony that ever impressed ' me more deeply than the ceremony at which a young friend of mine, Norman O’Donnell, was ordained priest. I have hoard from some who have had the rare privilege of witnessing the Consecration of a bishop that for solemnity and impressiveness it far surpasses the ceremony of Ordination. It seems to me, however, that I could not be more deeply stirred than I was when “dear old Norman” (as up to' that time I called him) was raised to the dignity of the priesthood. It was 'in one of the warmest parts of Victoria and in the month of November. I had great sympathy with the aged Bishop, oppressed as he was by his numerous vestments, each vestment no doubt, light but the , cumulus of them amounting to no small weight and causing no little inconvenience. Prom the little guide-book, which gave a detailed account of the ceremony, I learned that the unusual vestments are named the dalmatic and the tunic. He wore also buskins and shoes, white like his vestments, and also white gloves. The orderly way in which the various vestments were taken by the altar-boys to the throne stood in sharp contrast with the way in which, in my young days, the altar-boys carried out less difficult duties. Norman was the only candidate. He looked rather lonely as he stood awaiting the beginning of the ceremony. “Doesn’t he look grand?” whispered his Aunt Catherine to me. His mother, who was in the bench in front of me, heaved a sigh now and again and, if I mistake not, let more than onetear trickle down her wrinkled cheeks.- In his deacon’s vestments, the stole resting on ‘one shoulder (I forget which) and fastened beneath the other, he looked grand as well as lonely. He also looked healthy, but his subsequent ill-health illustrated the wisdom of not taking looks for a criterion of strength. rThrough the kindness of the Administrator, the relatives of the young man were provided with special .benches and, what was equally important, with a booklet containing the translation of the prayers and directions employed in the whole rite. Thanks to this booklet and my English Missal, I was enabled to follow the impressive ceremony and from the same sources I borrow the information that I am permitted to give to the readers of the Tablet. The Bishop sat down almost immediately after the Epistle. * The priest acting as Archdeacon called Norman O’Donnell who answered Adsum (“present”) and advanced to the altar. The Archdeacon said, “Most Rev. Father, our Holy, Mother the Church asks that you will ordain this deacon hero present to the priesthood.” In answer tov - the Bishop’s question, “Do you know him r to be worthy?” the following reply was given i by the Archdeacon, “So far as human frailty can know,' I both know and testify that he

MY DEAR FRIEND'S ORDINATION.

is worthy of the duty of this office.” To this the Bishop rejoined in a voice feeble with age, “Thanks be to God.” The Bishop then/ reading from the hook, addressed all assembled and referred to the necessity of having suitable servants in the sanctuary, inviting those to come forward who could prove that the present candidate was unfit for the responsible burden to be placed upon him. We had several jokes about this with Father Norman when the ceremony was over, his brother, Tom, saying that he had felt tempted to tell ‘the Bishop that Norman had often knocked him about at football and had even given him a black eye in the days ■of their childish pranks.

A beautiful exhortation to the candidate made allusion to Moses and the seventy men chosen by him at God’s command to assist him in his office, and to Our Lord who chose seventy-two disciples to aid in the work of the Apostles. “'Let your teaching,” it continued, “be a spiritual remedy for the people of God; may the sweet odour of your life be a delight to the Church of Christ so' that, by preaching and example, you may build a mansion—a household of God —and also that we may not be condemned for promoting you nor you for receiving this great office, but, on the other hand, that we may merit a reward, which reward may God in His mercy grant to us.”

At this stage my dear friend prostrated, remaining in that posture of humility while the Litany of the Saints was being recited by the Bishop and the priests. Towards the end of the Litany occurred what was to me a thrilling rite: the Bishop arose and holding the crosier in his left hand, raised his right hand to bless the prosrrate deacon saying, “We beseech Thee that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bless this elect (or, candidate),” then “to bless and sanctify this elect,” and a third time “to bless and sanctify and consecrate this elect.” He made one sign of the Cross at the first petition, two signs at the second, and three at the third. A cold shiver even now runs through me as I recall that touching ceremony. What an effect it must have . upon a priest in after-life when he remembers that thrilling moment!

When the Litany was ended, the young man rose up into a kneeling position while the Bishop and priests in turn pressed their hands upon his head. Afterwards, each priest as well as the Bishop held his right hand extended while the latter prayed lo Almighty God to multiply His gifts upon His servant whom He had elected to the duties of the priesthood and to grant him His Divine help faithfully to do. what, through God’s mercy, he had undertaken to accomplish.

Other prayers followed in which again reference was made to the seventy prudent men who assisted Moses in his difficult mission. The vocation of the sous of Aaron

was also mentioned, and the teachers who worked in the ministry with the Apostlesf| “May he be a prudent co-operator of our Order, may all righteousness shine forth in his life that he may render a good account; of the dispensation entrusted to him and so obtain an eternal reward.” ' The Bishop then arranged the stole as it is worn by priests at Mass, saying to the candidate, “Receive the yoke of the Lord; for His yoke is sweet and His burden light.” Placing the chasuble upon him, the Bishop said: —“Receive the priestly garment which signifies charity, for God can increase your charity and the perfection of your work.” In. a beautiful prayer, full of exhortation as well as petition, the Bishop proceeds: “0 God, Fount of all Sanctity, to Whom belong true- consecration and full benediction, pour forth Thy blessings upon this Thy servant whom we set apart for the honor of the priesthood that . , . pondering Thy law day and night he may believe what he reads, teach what he believes and practise what he teaches. May he show forth in his life righteousness, constancy, mercy, fortitude, and the other virtues. May he give good example, strengthen others by his counsel and preserve the gift of Thy ministry pure and unspotted. May he change bread and wine . . into the Body and Blood of Thy Son and rise, ... on the day of just and eternal judgment a perfect man • . . pure of conscience, true in faith, and filled with the Holy Spirit.” The Van Creator was then recited by the priests, the Bishop having risen after he intoned the hymn. At this stage the candidate’s hands were anointed with the Oil of Catechumens, the prayer accompanying the unction being, “Vouchsafe, 0 Lord, to consecrate and sanctify these hands through this anointing and our benediction, that whatever they bless may be blessed, and whatever they consecrate may be consecrated and sanctified in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.” His hands, which he had held open for the anointing, were now closed by the Bishop then offered to Norman’s touch the chalice v containing wine and water, the Bishop saying, “Receive the power to offer sacrifice to God and to celebrate Mass both for the living and the dead. In the name of the Lord.” Norman was then taken to the side-table and the cloth removed from his hands. His hands having been washed, he went once more before the Bishop and made an offering to him of the lighted candle he had carried during the greater part of the ceremony. My old friend, now Father Norman, read the Mass word for word with the Bishop, for he was now to concelehratc. Even the words of Consecration ere said by both at the same instant. He received Holy Communion in the ordinary way, excepting some little details that have escaped my memory. Standing before the Bishop, the young priest made an Act of Faith, reciting the Apostles’ Creed. After this the Bishop imposed both hands upon his head saying to him, “Receive the Holy Ghost, whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven them, and

whose sins you shall retain they are retained.” The Chasuble was then unfolded with the words, “May the Lord invest you with the stole of innocence.” Another touching ’ incident was enacted here. The Bishop took the folded hands of the young priest between his own hands and said in a deeply impressive tone, “Ho you promise to me and my successors reverence and obedience?” The answer, “I promise,” was given in a voice equally impressive, whereupon the Bishop, kissing him, said, “The peace of the Lord be always with thee,” to which Father Norman answered “Amen.”

The rite of Ordination was not yet quite finished, for the Bishop still wearing the mitre and holding the crosier in his left hand pronounced upon the young priest the solemn blessing;—“May the Blessing of God, the Father Almighty, descend upon you that you may be blessed in the Order of the Priesthood and that you may offer to Him acceptable sacrifices for the remission of sins. To Him be honor and glory for ever and ever. —Amen.”

With some directions'as to the three Masses he was to offer up in thanksgiving, the beautiful ceremony ended.

It is needless to say that we eagerly assisted Norman’s mother to the altar-rails to receive his first blessing. She was so stunned and overcome by the solemnity of what she had seen that we had no small difficulty in making her understand what we aimed at doing. When Father Norman was laying his hands upon her head, his voice quivered with emotion. How he looked at that moment I cannot say with any authority, for I felt a moistening about my eyes that did not help acuteness of vision. After he had blessed his own special group, be proceeded to give his blessing to each member of the large congregation. By the time the vast assemblage were • satisfied, we felt that our temporal wants needed a little attention. The Ordination breakfast could not be truthfully pronounced a dull affair. On the contrary, it was brighter and more genial than any breakfastnot excluding wedding-breakfasts which I had ever sat down. W© were calling out “Norman” bn this side and “Norman” on that, joking him, congratulating him, asking him questions and answering some of his numerous inquiries. But his mother, with a twinkle in her eye, corrected us, “Father Norman, please.” “I’ll call you Mother Norman,” .said the poor fellow and kissed her reverently on the forehead.

Next morning we assisted at his First Mass in the convent chapel and received from his hands the Holy Communion. I had one distraction coming to me off and on during Mass: I was thinking of his mother’s happiness, and do what I could, I failed to expel that thought once for all from my mind. His parish priest was his guide through the trying ceremony, and he seemed lo me more excited even than the young celebrant. The good nuns had prepared the breakfast-table with the delicate taste for which nuns are unequalled. Two of the Sisters had taught Norman in his tender years and regaled us with several little in-

cidents about him which were either very amusing or distinctly edifying. It is now many years since these events happened and I recall several of them with no little difficulty. On© incident, however, made an indelible impression upon me, but what effect it had upon the others I cannot say. It was this:The Rev. Mother asked the good old lady whether she had prayed at Mass that Father Norman might be a Bishop some

day. Mrs. O’Donnell’s answer came on the instant, “No, Sister, I only asked God to make him a good priest.” His pious mother’s prayers were answered; for during /the few years that God spared him, he was a good priest and a zealous priest; and when he went to Heaven he met there, no doubt, many souls who, under God, owed their eternal happiness to his ministrations.