The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-01-03
The Now Altar Of tha,church Of the Assumption.

1lStilcts Ii one OF GnoSe NOBLE monunonte W |
the glory of God and the honor of Mary, which
makes q Catholic proud of his faith.
Placed under the patronage of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, this Church has always shown
itself jealous for her fame but it was only on
the Feast of Christmas, 1874, at the solemn
midnight Mass, that was first revealed to the
public gaze, the glorious work of Art erected
within it's walls to her honor, and which we
shall now attempt to describe.
This magnificent Altar, just erected in St.
Mary's Church and used, for the first time, at
the midnight Mass of Christmas, 1874, is from
the world renowned Institute of Mayrs, in
Munich, Bavaria. 1t is built in the highest
style of Roman architecture, and cost, in Eu-
rope, 81, 500 in gold. The expense of transpor-
this sum to $12, 900, in currency.
The whole altar is of carved wood, highly
colored. and elaborately gilded, but so artis-
! tically finished that the observer imagines he
| is looking at shining metal rare marbles.
For the sake of those W ho wish to visit this
wonder of artistic skill and to appreciate the
beauty of the several parts, the harmony of
the whole work, and to understand the grand
scene commemorated,-viz.: /: The Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary,-we will describe
it in detail, promising that this altar is COM
posed of two distinct parts, the first consisting
of the Mensa, Predella and Tabernacle with the
Exposition niche while the second, which
forms an integral part of the first, consists
| of the Coronation group, with attendant an
gels and archangels.
In the Nensa, which signifies the table of the
altar, are five reliefs representing those proph-
| cts whose inspired accents foretold the glories
and wonders of the Blessed Sacrament.
Commencing on the Gospel side of the altar,
we first see Moses, his brow marked with the
points of light and sustaining in his hands the
| tables of the law.
Then Aaron, with the emblems and insignia of
the great high priest; Melchisedech, with the
bread and wine offered by him in sacrifice
David, the royal singer, with the harp of his
| minstrelsy and lastly Malachy, holding
tablet inscribed with his own prophecy
"From the rising of the sun, to the setting
thereof. there shall be q clean oblation offered
| to the Lord"
At the feet of the prophets, and extending
across the mepsa, is the engraved inscription
'Iu sacerdos in oternum, secandun, ordinem
| Nelchisedcch."
| On the Gospel side of these prophetic figures
are life-like representations of St. John the
Baptist, and his mother, St. Elizabeth. On the
Epistle side find st. Joachim and st. Ann,
the parents of the Blessed Virgin.
| In the Predella, what we would call the
capdle-steps of the altar, are six saints dear to
the German heart. These are, commencing at
the extreme left of the observer, st. Nicholas
holding the gospel, with three golden apples
st. Boniface, the Apostle of Germany, holding
! the gospel transfixed with o sword, in refer
| ence to the manner of his martyrdom; for as
the assassia raised the deadly weapon, the
| heroic saint rplifted the gospel as his shield,
| and received the death stroke through it's holy
pages.
| Next st. Henry, the noble Emperor
| and undaunted warrior, who three times
marched his troops to the defence of the Holy
Father. On the right of the observer at the
Epstle side of the tabernacle, we see st.
Florian, the soldier, whose aid is invoked in
| case of FIRE; st. Cecilia, virgin and martyr,
whose hands hold small organ, and lastly,
the dear st. Elizabeth of Hungary, with loaf
of bread in her hand and roses in Der lap, an
exquisite picture of divine charity and human
| tenderness. These are the six statues filing
the predella.
Just beyond these figures are seen, on either
side, two angels in sitting posture, bearing
on tablets these inscriptions taken from the
Virgin Mother on the threshold of St. Eliza
| beth's humble home:
! The Lord hath done great things to me-"
"Thenceforth all generations shall cali me Blessed"
Beyond these angels sit,- on one side, st.
Gregory tho Great, in full pontifical robes; on
the other, st. Augustine holding heart, en-
| blematio of his burning love and zeal.
The Tabernacle consists of double door.
The outer one is of exquisite design, richly
gilded, while the inner is Of fre-gilt, en-
riched with q relief of the Agnus Del and
adorned with the emblems of the four Evan
gelsts. The Exposition niche consists of three
| parts and is made to revolve.
| The Tabernacle is surmounted by an ex-
quisite figure of the Lamb that was slain for the
sins of the world, and is surrounded by adoring
angels.
The second part of this most beautiful altar