The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-08-21

millod for their services to the cause of the
Definition. Thanksgiving have been Of
fered in every church, convent and college,
in the shape of Masses, Tridui and Benedic-
tiOns.-TabIet.
The Irish Cross for tho Rock Of Cashel
The following description of this beauti-
full Cross we take from the Dublin Nation
1t is composed of four pieces of fine
Portland stone, and stands close on twenty
five feet high, exceeding by quite one
fourth the height of the largest cross ever
previously executed by the firm. It's mag
nificent proportions are most happily united
with q general design, of exquisite grace,
exact suitability of which denotes wide his
torical research, while it's careful finish
proves how much artistic skill has been
employed in its production. On the front
of the cross, in bold relief, there is an ex-
quisite life size representation of the Cruel
fxion. Immediately above it is the figure
of dove; Immediately beneath it are ears
are figures of the Evangelists, as they are
symbolyzed in the fourth chapter and
seventh verse of the Book of Revelations.
The front of the shaft contains three pam
els leach three feet and a half in height)
devoted to representation of three of the
Apostle. In the first, he appears as a cap
tive before King Mai; in the second, as a
shepherd youth, surrounded by his flock,
and planning to gain liberty by fight; and
in the third, as Christian Bishop and
Apostle, returned to the scene of his youth
fol bondage, baptizing Engus, King of
Munster, whose sandaled foot is pierced by
the crosier of the Saint. In the back
ground stands Benignus, the beloved dis
ciple, bearing in his hand est. Patrick's
Bell" On the back of the Cross ia a repre-
senfation of the General Judgment. Our
Redeemer appears as Judge of mankind !;
the blessed and the cursed are separating
before Him, and departing to enjoy or to
suffer. Below, the Angel of the Resurrec-
ton commands the presence of the yet I'M
judged above, a winged angel blows two
trumpets. Higher still, the Divine Hand
appears, and in small surrounding panels
the cardinal virtues are symbolized. Faith
Choir and rising sun, and Charity by heart
The back of the shaft is
uniformly, with the front, divided into
three panels, of which the upper and lower
contain specimens of fine intricate inter
lacing, after antique Irish patterns, and the
central one is occupied by an ingenious
monogram of the initials of the name of
Vincent Scully, the erector of the monu-
ment, and his wife, Susanna Scully, the
letters being formed of swords, as denoting
valOr, and the other initials of twisted
serpents, as typifying prudence. The
monogram is enclosed by shamrocks. The
sides of the Cross are richly sculptured.
Two corresponding panels at the top repre-
Sent the Ascension of our Lord and the
Assumption of His Blessed Mother. Two
smaller panels in the extremities of the
arms are filed with devices drawn from
Greek and Latin words expressing the
Divinity and the Passion of our Saviour.
The sides of the shaft have each three
panels, quite uniform in size with those
upon the back and front which we have
already noticed. The upper and lower
panels ON both sides are filled with speci
mems of intricate tracery, copied from
various Irish ornaments of great antiquity.
The central panel ON the south side of the
shaft contains figure of Cormac MacCul-
warrior, king and prelate, is represented
with his mitred crown, his sword, his crosier
of Cashel and his famous Glossary and
Psalter. The corresponding panel on the
north side of the shaft contains figure of
st. Patrick as Archbishop, in his declining
age, driving the reptiles out of Ireland
The circular ring or halo is richly adorned
with emblematic designs and tracery copied
from ancient Irish sculpture. The four
panels on the base are devoted to the Scully
family. In front are the family arms and
motto. Upon the opposite panel is depict
ed q dream wherein six members of the
family are seen regarding with amazement
the new Cross of Cashel, supposed to have
been supernaturally erected in the night.
The north panel represents Denys Scully,
the immediate ancestor of the present head
of his family, seated in his study, engaged
in teaching that able History of the Penal
Laws" which gained for him the distin-
guished honor of prosecution by the State.
And the panel upon the south of the pedi
ment commentaries the death of Catherine,
the wife of Denys Scully, and mother of
the gentleman who is about to place this
splendid monument above his ancient
family burial-place. We should add that
this Cross is designed to surmount the
monument erected in 1867 above that part
of the Rock of Cashel, known as st.
Patrick's Rock, which contains the mortu
airy vault of the Scullys. This monument
is inscribed with the names of the heads of
the Scully family who have died within
the past three hundred years. 1t stands
upon the brink of a PERCEPTIONS cliff, one
hundred and fifty feet in height, 40 that,
w hen finished by the addition of the cross
which we have been describing, it will
reach livel of quite two hundred feet
above the elevation of the adjacent plain.
1t is scarcely needful for us now to say that
this genuinely national work of art will add
another attraction to this famed spot,
whose interest is to Irish minds supreme.