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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
7
The custom of the Catholic Church forbids the
consecration of a church until it is entirely free from
debt, dedication only being permitted before that time.
The consecration, therefore, in addition to the un
usual and impressive character of the ceremony, was
of special interest to the members of the congregation
themselves and an occasion for special rejoicing.
A very elaborate ritual, descending from the early
days of the church, is followed in such a ceremony,
with chrism, oil, salt, water, and ashes as the sym
bolical articles used in the blessing of the church in
side and outside, its walls, doors and altars; with the
relics of saints carried in solemn procession and de
posited in the altar stone; and with antiphonal pray
ers, psalms and litanies recited by the clergy.
Five bishops and about forty priests took part in
the service. Bishop Keiley, of the Diocese of Savan
nah, was present, but did not take an active part in
the service. With him in the sanctuary was Rt. Rev.
Leo Haid, O. S. B., of Belmont Abbey.
The beautiful Gothic marble altar of the Cathedral
was adorned with quantities of flowers and lighted
by many candles for the pontifical mass which came
as the climax of the consecration service. An aug
mented choir of thirty male voices under the direc
tion of the organist and choirmaster, James B. Copps,
sang the mass, using many of the Gregorian chants
and ancient church music, which gave it the greater
solemnity. The Rev. Father G. X. Schadewell, former
rector of the Cathedral, acted as deacon. Father
T. A. Foley, of Savannah, was subdeacon. The dea
cons of honor to the celebrant were Father G. Obrecht,
of Savannah, and Father Bernard, O. S. B., of Sa
vannah. The chaplains to Bishop Haid were Fathers
Ambrose and Eugene, O. S. B., of Savannah. The
chaplains to Bishop Keiley were Father Henry Clarke,
of Athens, and Father O. N. Jackson, of Atlanta.
The assistant priest at the mass was the Very Rev.
J. D. Mitchell, V. G. The master of ceremonies was
Father Leo M. Keenan, assisted by John O. McNamara.
The following boys acted as servers and acolytes:
Reid Lucas, Joseph Lucas, Walter Kraemer, Joseph
Sheehan, William McDonough, John Hennessey, John
Fitzpatrick, Dan McCarthy, James McDonald and Wal
ter Berry. The trainbearers to Bishop Keiley were
Thomas Anglin, William Sasseen and Thomas Cor
coran.
Solemn Pontifical Blessing.
A solemn pontifical blessing, followed by benedic
tion of the blessed sacrament, concluded the mass,
which was marked by the usual ceremonials reserved
for this service on great festivals, the carrying of in
cense and the incensing of the congregation, the in
toning of the prayers, the carrying of lights at the
canon of the mass, and the exchange of the kiss of
peace among the clergy. Archbishop Glennon’s ser
mon was beautifully suited to the occasion and was
heard with interest by the large congregation.
Within the cornerstone of the altar of the Blessed
Virgin the relics of the saints, Sts. Innocent, Modes-
tinus and Constantius, were laid and sealed at the
conclusion of the consecration ceremony preceding
the mass, with the following inscription on parch
ment: “A. D. 1920, on the 3d day of the month of
June, Bishop Russell of Charleston, has consecrated
this church and altar, and enclosed therein the relics
of the holy martyrs, and has granted to all the faith
ful of Christ, on this day, one year of true indulgence,
and on the anniversary of this consecration, to them
that shall visit it, forty days, in the usual form of the
church.”
This had not taken place until the entire consecra
tion service which began at 5:30 o clock had been
completed. The relics in a sealed packet had been
deposited outside of the church and vigil had been
kept over them by the clergy, with the singing of
matins and lauds. Holy chrism, oil of catechumens,
incense and a thurible, a pan of burning charcoal,
ashes, salt, wine and hyssop were all placed in the
church, together with such other articles as were
needed, before the service began, with a deacon in
charge, no one else being within the church. One
vessel of water to be blessed was kept in the sanc
tuary, and one outside the church. Twelve crosses
had been placed on the walls of the church, three on
each wall, with a sconce holding a candle at the top
of each. Bishop Russell entered the church alone
when the hour for the service arrived, and the twelve
candles were lighted at his order. On returning to
the door of the church the litanies were chanted and
the salt and water were then blessed with the tradi
tional prayers and ceremonials of the Catholic
Church.
The procession moved around the church three
times, the bishop sprinkling it with holy water, and
stopping each time to knock at the door while the
following responsive reading was given, the deacon
within the church replying to the words uttered by
the bishop:
‘‘Lift up your gates, ye princes, and be ye lifted up,
ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall
come in.”
‘‘Who is this King of Glory?”
‘‘The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in
battle.”
Having completed the procession for the third time
the bishop traced the sign of the cross with his crozier
on the threshold and entered, saying, ‘‘Peace be to
this house.” An attendant strewed ashes in the form
of St. John’s cross from opposite corners of the
church while the litanies were said and the name of
the patron saint of the church twice repeated, and
Bishop Russell then traced in the ashes the letters
of the Greek alphabet, to typify the enlightenment
received by the catecumens in baptism.
Approaching the altar the bishop blessed the vessel
of water, the salt, ashes, and the wine, mixing them,
and with them a cross was traced on the church door
and then three times on the altar while the prayers
of blessing were recited. Four crosses were traced
on the altar with holy water while the blessing was
repeated, and the clergy then passed around the altar
seven times in procession, the bishop sprinkling it.
Passing to the interior of the church, holy water,
symbolic of purification, was sprinkled here, the walls