Christmas Eve and Midnight Mass IN THE CONVENT OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, The celebration of midnight mass at Christmas is amongst the most impressive of the ceremonies which have been instituted by the Catholic Church for the purpose of successively bringing before the minds of her children a representation of the wonders of redemption, for it is the commencement of the great mystery; it is, properly speaking, the beginning of the Christian year, having been preceded by four weeks of preparation for its introduction. After this period of expectation, of wonder, and of humiliation, answering to the ages of comparative darkness which preceded the birth of the Messiah, at midnight, when the world is wrapt in repose, she announces, in imitation of the choir of angels, that at this moment a Saviour is born into the world. Then does she call upon all her children to unite with her in a canticle of praise. Who can refuse the summons? The angels, in announcing the glad tidings, rejoiced for our sakes, and can we be silent? The courts of Heaven resounded with hallelujahs, and will we not join in the celestial hymn? The Shepherds hastened to Bethlehem, and will we not accompany them in spirit to worship at the shrine of the Nativity? On this night each heart should be an altar illuminated with holy joy; each soul should overflow with gratitude and love; each voice should unite in the ecstatic burst of triumphant exultation with which the Church hails the birth of the Redeemer. But the gorgeousness of the splendidly illuminated churches and cathedrals, the heavenly strains of music that resound through their vaulted roofs, are not more emblematic of the inward joy of the heart than the comparatively humble decorations of the small, unornamented edifices (raised, probably, by the contributions of the poor who worship there), or the voice of praise that is raised in the plain and simple apartment, consecrated, perhaps, only by the tears and the prayers of the penitent, and by the presence of Him who inspires them, and in which is likewise celebrated the joyful event that fills the whole Christian world with gladness. Perhaps no more acceptable homage was offered up on this sacred night than that which ascended from the hearts of the faithful few assembled in the little chapel of the Convent of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. The events of the night were most interesting. The penitents had been prepared for this festival by a five days' retreat, during which time they had been fortified in their good resolutions by prayer and silent meditation, and had been instructed and encouraged by their Director, in the exhortations he daily addressed to them, to persevere in the path of virtue they had so happily entered upon. A little before the midnight devotions, the little community being all assembled in the class-room, preparatory to repairing to the chapel, the penitents agreeably surprised their pastor by singing, with evident emotion, the following hymn, which had been hastily written for them, at their own request, by one of the religious. They had themselves composed a short address to the Director, and another to the Superior of the establishment, which they were likewise permitted to read, and in which they feelingly expressed, in very correct and simple language, the gratitude they felt to them, their benefactors, for their unwearied exertions, to which, under Heaven, they owed the happiness of their conversion. In joyous accents let us loudly sing Th' immortal glories of our God and King, In David's city, and His sacred name. Let's hail the splendour of this cheering night, Hail to the Pastor of the scattered flock! A mother's love is never wanting here. Hail Angers' daughters! Hail! our mothers dear! And Angels greet you with celestial lays. The chapel, which is a very small room, was on this occasion simply ornamented with evergreens |