Opening of the Solemnity
The day before, at noon, all the bells of the thirteen parishes of the city announced the beginning of this feast, and excited the zeal of good Christians to celebrate it, according to the instruction which had been given to them on this subject the preceding Sunday at the sermon of the cathedral.
At the hour of vespers, Monseigneur d’Aubusson de la Feuillade, Archbishop of Embrun, and our worthy Prelate, having transported himself to the Monastery of the Visitation with a zeal of love that appeared on his face, was received at the door of the church by M. le Roux, Canon of the Cathedral, Vicar General and Spiritual Father of the house, assisted by the Curé of St Maximin, in whose parish the monastery is established, and five or six other priests. The Bishop, having received the holy water presented to him by the Spiritual Father, was led to the foot of the High Altar where he knelt. After some time of adoration, and of instant prayers to the Divine Majesty, to ask Him, with no less humility than eagerness, for the grace to begin this solemnity well, he was surrounded by the chapter of the Cathedral, whose zeal, rare modesty and piety, as well as his exactness in going to the church of the Monastery at the appointed hour, were admired. The Bishop then intoned the Veni Creator, which was followed by the excellent music of the cathedral, which is considered to be one of the best in France, and then His Excellency, having received his cope from the Chaplains, exposed the Blessed Sacrament to the sound of organs, trumpets, oboes and music, which made a most pleasant motet heard. Then his greatness went with majestic gravity to the throne which had been erected for him between the altar of the chapel of St. Francis de Sales and the preacher’s pulpit, opposite the gate of the Nuns. There, this great Prelate began pontifically Vespers, the music continued them as well as Compline, which were followed by several beautiful motets, after which the devotions of that day were ended by the blessing of the Blessed Sacrament. All the bells of the city were then heard until 9 o’clock in the evening to prepare everyone to celebrate the great feast of the following day.