Consecrations

. . . Christe, audi nos. Christe, exaudi nos. Pater de coelis Deus, miserere nobis, Fili. Redemptor mundi. Deus, miserere nobis. Spiritus sanctus. Deus, miserere nobis. Spiritus sancte. Deus, miserere nobis. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis. . . .

In Chicago's Cathedral of the Holy Name one day last week a choir chanted the Litany of Saints. In front of 2,300 plain people knelt 1,000 prelates including 14 archbishops of the Roman Catholic Church, 72 bishops, 14 abbots and Most Rev. Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, Apostolic Delegate to the U. S. On the altar steps knelt George William Cardinal Mundelein. All the officiating churchmen were vested in red, the color of the day which was St. Mark's. Flat on his stomach before the altar steps, his face in his arms, his arms on a pillow, lay a figure clad all in white.

. . . Omnes sancti Apostoli et Evangelistae, orate pro nobis. Omnes sancti Discipuli Domini, orate pro nobis. Omnes sancti Innocentes, orate pro nobis.

Cardinal Mundelein placed the Book of the Gospels on the nape of the neck of the prostrate prelate. Bidding him rise to his knees, the Prince of the Church imposed his hands and said: "Receive the Holy Ghost." He twice prayed: "Whatsoever thou shalt bless, may it be blessed. . . ." Then & there Rt. Rev. William David ("Willie"') O'Brien became a bishop, auxiliary of Chicago and titular of Calinda. Later, taking crozier (crook), Episcopal ring, Book of Gospels, mitre and gloves he walked with his consecrators through the Cathedral, blessing his flock, returning to the altar to utter thrice a well-wishing Ad multos annos. In all the great crowd none beamed with greater pride upon the consecration of Bishop O'Brien than his 73-year-old foster mother who had been rolled in for the ceremony in a wheel chair.

Chicago-born 55 years ago, "Redheaded Willie" O'Brien was baptized, given First Communion, confirmed and ordained in the same Cathedral-church in which he was consecrated. Educated at DePaul University and Kenrick Seminary (St. Louis), he has for 27 years specialized in the flourishing Catholic Church Extension Society (home missions) of which he is now president.

Omnes sancti Martyres, orate pro nobis. . . . Omnes sancti Pontifices et Confessores, orate pro nobis. Omnes sancti Doctores, orate pro nobis.

In SS. Peter & Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis, Most Rev. Joseph Elmer Ritter, 42, was enthroned as bishop of that diocese, in which he had been auxiliary to the late, able Bishop Chartrand. In attendance were Most Rev. John Timothy McNicholas, Archbishop of Cincinnati, and some 150 bishops, priests and monsignori.

. . . Omnes sancti Sacerdotes et Levitae, orate pro nobis. Omnes sancti Monaci et Eremitae, orate pro nobis.

In Trenton, N. J. this week Patrick Cardinal Hayes was to install Most Rev. Moses E. Kiley, 57, appointed bishop last February and consecrated in Rome in March. Once a floorwalker in a Boston department store where he saved his wages to study for the priesthood. Bishop Kiley was spiritual director of the North American College in Rome from 1926 until this year.

. . . Omnes sanctae Virgines et Viduae, orate pro nobis. Omnes Sancti et Sanctae Dei, intercedite pro nobis.

In Providence, week after next, Most Rev. Francis Patrick Keough, 42, is to be consecrated and installed as bishop, with the Apostolic Delegate and William Henry Cardinal O'Connell of Boston among those officiating.

Fili Dei, Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, parce nobis, Domine. Agnus Dei . . . exaudi nos, Domine, agnus Dei . . . miserere nobis.

In Vatican City last week the official Osservatore Romano appeared on the streets an hour late. The Consistorial Congregation (of which the Pope is prefect) had sent it an announcement which U. S. Press services carried in early dispatches to the effect that Rt. Rev. William P. McNally of Philadelphia had been appointed Bishop of Hartford. Soon the Osservatore was told to stop press, await a substitute announcement for the Consistorial Congregation had erred. Hartford's new bishop, succeeding the late John Joseph Nilan who for 24 years shepherded the nation's eighth largest flock, was to be Rev. Maurice Francis McAuliffe, auxiliary bishop and titular bishop of Derco.

. . . Christe, andi nos, Christe, exaudi nos. Kyrie, elcison. Christe, elcison. Kyrie, elcison.

In Manhattan's St. Patrick's Cathedral this week Cardinal Hayes, Coadjutor Archbishop Mitty of San Francisco and Archbishop-Bishop Mooney of Rochester were to consecrate as bishop Most Rev. Stephen Joseph ("Steve") Donahue, appointed last March as the Cardinal's auxiliary, succeeding the late John Joseph Dunn. Secretary to Cardinal Hayes for twelve years, strapping big "Steve" Donahue has rapidly advanced much as the Cardinal himself did under the wing of the late Cardinal-Archbishop Farley. Born in Manhattan's "Hell's Kitchen" 39 years ago, he was ordained in 1918, made a monsignor in Rome in 1924 when Archbishop Haves got his red hat.

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