midnight
The Mass was performed under the open sky , upon a table covered with the sacrificial linen , and other apparatus for the ceremony . The priest stood , robed in white , with two large torches on each side of his book , reciting the prayers in a low , rapid voice , his hands raised , whilst the congregation were hushed and bent forward in the reverential silence of devotion , their faces touched by the strong blaze of the torches into an expression of deep solemnity . The scenery about the place was wild and striking ; and the stars , scattered thinly over the heavens , twinkled with a faint religious light , that blended well with the solemnity of this extraordinary worship , and rendered the rugged nature of the abrupt cliffs and precipices , together with the still outline of the stern mountains , sufficiently visible to add to the wildness and singularity of the ceremony . In fact , there was an unearthly character about it ; and the spectre-like appearance of the white-robed priest as he `` Muttered his prayer to the midnight air , '' would almost impress a man with the belief that it was a meeting of the dead , and that the priest was repeating , like the Gray Friar , his `` Mass of the days that were gone . '' On the ceremony being concluded , the scene , however , was instantly changed : the lights were waved and scattered promiscuously among each other , giving an idea of confusion and hurry that was strongly contrasted with the death-like stillness that prevailed a few minutes before . The gabble and laugh were again heard loud and hearty , and the public and shebeen houses once more became crowded . Many of the young I people made , on these occasions , what is I called `` a runaway ; '' -LRB- * Rustic elopement -RRB- and other peccadilloes took place , for which the delinquents were `` either read out from the altar , '' or sent ; probably to St. Patrick 's Purgatory at Lough Derg , to do penance .