The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-06-14
Bulk Of tho True Cross Relics.


THE Catholic Union of Ireland publishes
the following, which will prove gratifying
to all interested in relics of the True Cross
as refuting the plausible charges of decep-
ton, growing bold with iteration in the
absence of proof:
THE TRUE CROSS.
AT moment when his Eminence the
Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin is appeal,
| ing Gan appeal which is sure of q generous
response, and which we heartily commend
to the members of the Cath Ollie Union, not
alone in Dublin, but throughout Ireiand)
for aid in the erection of Church in honor
of Holy Cross at the College of Clonliffe,
which owes its origin to the zeal and in
part to the munifcence, of his Eminence,
the following reference to the relics of the
True Cross, which we take from Belgian
paper, may not be uninteresting: "Calvin"
says the article, maintained that the
number OF relics of the true Cross veneer
ated as such throughout the world is such
mat Joined together, they would reach a
bulk one hundred times larger than what
we must reasonably suppose to have been
tue size of the Cross on which our Re
deemer died" This declaration won great
repute for Calvin. Protestants and unbe-
levers have repeated it until people got
sick of it, but they never took the trouble
of trying to find out if it was true. 1t was
a good peg on which to hang dcnunciations
abont the superstitions Of the Catholic
Church, and was always euro of winning a
cheer. To NEE the statement Their. would
nave oeen peed OF measuring every relic of
the true Cross to be found in the universe.
and thus calculating the total III. aaul. ment
OF them all. 1t was bold tas;; TO ,hinli
OF lt-but not alone has it been th. ueat of
it has been done. NJ. Oh. Rohauit de
fleury has gathered together all the testi-
monies of history and tradition which were
aVaiia"le: so as to make a complete cata-
IoSue of every relic of the Cross which is.
or has been venerated in the Church.
He has himself seen and copied n great
number of those now in existence, and he |
has got accurate information about most of
the others. He has completed this great
achievement by similar labor of love as |
10 the nails, the rI"wn of thorns, and other
instruments OF tie Passion, and has COM /
bined the entire history of all in n gorgeous |
volume, entitls d, Memoir on the itst1u.
ments of the Passion of Onr Lord Jesus
Christ and has dedicated it to Plus TX.
lie makes ciear That The total bulk of the
relics OF the Cross of which, after the most |
"l!ig' 1T search, he las been able to obtain |
lntormutina, is about four millions of cuhe |
tD'l'emetres. Tnke thee times rh,.r-
my, even quacrupsr It So ~ to taxi. 10 a !
tor ielIrA of which he die, nor |
hear-and We do nor arrive ut ~. rrrrh !
part q the measnrrmcnC to he allowed 70 |
tue true Gross /; for, according to th. must !
made calculations, VI. R,,,.u.t
states that that measurement ut was rot !, -
than one hundred and seventy EIGHT mil
hons OF cahe miUanetres. Assnr.dly IL Ia
now our tnrn 10 'aCgi' at CALVIN r:,d HIS
We -ba'l not, of course,
stop them from repeaung their thrrntinarr
okes and Ia rts; bur i1 may do them no
larm to let .hem SEQ how riaiculous ia this
weapon th', have 90 long been wieldinv