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July 23, 1854
FASHION AND PLACE IN THE NEW CATHEDRAL
Edward Morris in his diary for July 23, 1854 reports that this was a busy day in the life of the Roman Catholic Cathedral (now Basilica) in St. John’s. He wrote: “The Cathedral looking beautiful and advancing in its finish very fast.”
“A MORE FASHIONABLE HOUR”
Although not yet completed the new Cathedral was being used for mass and was the source of some unexpected tension in the Morris household. Mr. Morris wrote “Mrs Morris went to 8 o’clock mass at the Cathedral giving as a reason for going early that she had no decent dress to appear in at a more fashionable hour.”
It appears that Mr. Morris went during the “more fashionable hour.” He wrote: “Went to mass myself where the Bishop consecrated two Bells part of the intended chime one the largest dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The other & smaller to St Patrick the Patron Saint of Ireland …The Bishop having consecrated the Bells ascended the pulpit and explained the ceremony.”
A PLACE FOR THE EVANGELISTS
Edward also observed that “Today (July 23, 1854) the figures of the four evangelists were all fixed up in their places.” The statues of the four evangelists, St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke and St. John are located some thirty feet above the floor of the Cathedral. These are of Italian workmanship. They are of marble and are slightly larger than life-size. Each evangelist is shown with his appropriate symbol: St. Matthew with a child; St. Mark with a lion; St. Luke with an ox; and St. John with an eagle.
A PLACE FOR THE NUNS
It was not only the evangelists that found their place in the Cathedral on July 23, 1854. Mr. Morris also noted: “And the nuns (Presentation Sisters) for the first time occupied the gallery appropriated to them behind the high altar.” The gallery is now situated behind a grilled window set in the east wall of the apse. From the small room behind this window, the Sisters of the Presentation can participate in the Parish Masses.
For more information on this and other related subjects contact the Archives of the R.C. Archdiocese.
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Larry Dohey
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