Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-05-19
AsHTABULA OHIO, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1876

FR1DA L, MA L
Chapter and Council, opened the
shrine, from which, piece by piece,
covered with silk cloths, the relics
were taken and the Dean read the
subscriptions and showed their seal.
After this the yice-provost put the
relics again into a precious case that
was then borne across the chamber
of relics by the Vicdrii reqii, accom-
panied by the clergy and the Coun
ell, bearing wax candles, and preced-
ed by band of musicians, while all
the bells rang and freedom was
proclaimed by sound of trumpets.
This done, the benediction was Civ
en- from the altar of the chapel, while
guns were discharged, drums beat
en- and trnmpets sounded flourish,
after which ceremony the holy rel
les were deposited on the altar,
where they remained and were
guarded by day and by night by 2
canons, clergy and chaplains Of
the Cathedral. At 10 O'Clock in the
morning the great bell was rung for
half an hour, wlereupon the show
began. Every article was proclaim
ed before it was shown with an ele-
waited voice from the gallery, and
laid down during the exposition un-
der the eyes of the pious pilgrims on
a black velvet cloth by a canon,
while two other canons held the ends
of the cloth with white stats in or
der TO prevent its being moved by
the wind, and to make the view pos
sible to every one".
1t is needless to say that when |
saw these holy relics they omitted all
this ceremony; the only ceremony
then was that OF my slipping into
the hands of the priest about dol
lars worth of silver, and "thereupon
the show began" And now breathe
lightly while you read what l was
shown. now copy from the book
sold me by the priest, entitled
THE HOLY RELICS:
a. The superior relics, known un-
der the popular name of the great
relics : In a great Shrine of the XIIIth
century, adorned with twelve hun
,lred Drecious stones.
l. The yeIlow-white garment of
the mother of our Lord.
2. The swathing-clothes of our Sa-
vior.
8. The cloth in which was laid the
body of st. John the Baptist after
his decapitation.
4. The cloth which our Saviour
wore around his loins in the dread
ful hour of his death for our saliva
ton.
These superior relics were general
" shown every seventh year only, or
exceptionally to crowned heads on
their special demand.
B. The inferior relics are:
5. The woven linen girdle of the
holy Virgin.
6. The girdle of Jesus made Of
leather, in precious vessel.
n. Part of the rope with which ouI
Savior was tied in his passion.
8. A fragment of the sponge that
served to refresh our dying Lord.
9. A particle of the holy cross.
10. Some hair of the Apostle St
Bartholomew.
IL. Two teeth of the Apostle St.
Thomas.
Is. Part of an arm of old St. 81
mon.
IA. A point of nail with which
our Lord was nailed to the cross.
Is. A tooth of St. Catharine.
A part of the linen cloth which
was spread over the holy face of oul
Lord in the grave.
Some hair of St. John, the Bap
tist.
A rib of the first martyr St. Ste
phen.
A statue of st. Peter the Apostle
showing in his hand ring from th'
chain with which this man of God
who suffered SO many trials and per
secutions, was chained in prison.
A vessel containing pieces of tn
bones of the twelve Apostles.
The arm bone of St. Sebastian.
A bone and some blood of St. Ste
phen. the first martyr.
| A fragment of the crib in whicl
our Lord was laid at his birth.
| A piece of the linen cloth whicl
covered the face of our Lord whel
he was beaten and asked, "Now d.
prophesy u.s." &c.
| In a vial some blood of John tn
Baptist.
| The linen cloth with which our Ss
viour girded himself and dried hi
disciples feet at the Lords Supper
One of the cloths wherein Josepl
of Armethea and Nicodemus lai
down into the grave the holy corps
of our Lord when taken from tn
cross.
/ could multiply the relics c
saints and popes, &c, to quadrupl
the number above given, but l pr
sumo / have given enough to Civ
you an idea of how the church dea
with its pious votaries over here.
asked the gowned priest if he W;
certain these were exactly what
represented them, and he turned b
pious face toward heaven in appa
ent horror that / should doubt
, that the records of the church a
frmed it, and that ought to
enough.
A German gentleman connects
with the consulate accompanied n
to see these wonderful things. 1
was very devout catholic, and
asked him if he believed these reli
were really what they pretend'
! they were, and be answered that
: ; was all humbuggery; that the ds,,
when the priest could make hone
: Catholics believe such stuff we
past. / asked him how he cou
: still adhere to a Church which pu
lished to the world under the no
sanction of religion, what he kne
and what the-priest knew to be tall