The church, decorated with flowers, glittering with the taper lights, seemed beaming with joy from the Sacrament.
Then there were nearly two hours more of solemn pomp; the Mass being sung and the incense being burnt.
The officiating clergyman had appeared, dressed in his white chasuble, accompanied by the director of the ceremonies, two censer-bearers carrying the censer and the vase of incense, and two acolytes bearing the great golden candlesticks, in which were lighted tapers.
The presence of Monseigneur complicated the rites, the salutations, and the kisses.

Every moment there were bowings, or bendings of the knee, which kept the wings of the surplices in constant motion.

In the old stalls, with their backs of carved wood, the whole chapter of canons rose; and then again, at other times it was as if a breath from heaven prostrated at once the clergy, by whom the whole apse was filled.

The officiating priest chanted at the altar.

When he had finished, he went to one side, and took his seat while the choir in its turn for a long time continued the solemn phrases of the services in the fine, clear notes of the young choristers, light and delicate as the flutes of archangels.