The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-15
A MARTY RS SHRINE.

AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY AT THE PAssIoNIsr
MONASTERY IN WEST HoBoKEN-TRAHsLArIoN
soY THE REMAINS OF ST. BENEDICT.
Rarely very rarely indeed, in the modern history OF
tho Catholic Church has such a spectacle beon wit
messed that which attracted O. 900 persons to
the Passionst church ut West Hoboken yesterday. II
was sight that can be forgotten. BY coming
into possession Of the relics Of the youthful martyr
ST Benedict the Passionst Fathers have derived
most precious legacy from tho Church Of the
Catacombs Very lttlo Is known OF the his
tory of St. Benedict or even tho
In which he suffered death, but Il is clear that he
among tho carly martyrs OF tho Church. HIS body
was inferred n the Cemetery Of St. Priscilla, at Rome
who're remained till the year 1871, whom tho remains
were translated the city Of Spoleto in Italy where
theY deposited In church dedicated to St. Bene
dict, abbot and confessor. This church, with many
other fine ediaces, was torn down to give place a
new thoroughfare. When the church furniture was
beng removed tho relics OF ST. Benedict given by
Baron Dccius Ancajani, proprietor OF the land
on which the church stood, to the Very
Rev. Father Gasparini, who placed them in the
Church OF St Auzora, where they wsrc held in great
generation till few months ago, when pious Amcri-
lady, Mrs. Peters, OF Cincinnati obtained them for
tho Passionist Fathers at West Hoboken- Accompany
ing the remAins lifesizc figure representing
the And this Is s.s 81 4ss
"a MAsTERPrRcR
Yesterday the day fixed for tho ceremony Of
translatng tho remains to the shrine prepared for
them in ono OF the side affairs OF the church. They
ore enclosed IN glass casket about three feet in
length and in wonderful state OF preservation.
Two teeth still adhere TO the skull and iron
which was worn by tho saint and was found In his
mi Qstg he reli Ia MI mall
box containing what is believed DO CONCEALED blood
The box is secured by scarlet ribbon drawn longh-
wise and the casket and at the point OF inter-
section is tho seal Of Bishop Corrigan without whose
express permission the vessel must not be opened 1t
Is worth recording that from the year 167 when tho
relics translated 10 Spoleto and sealed by the
venerable prelate Of that city, tho seal was not
broken till two weeks ago. when permission
given by Bishop Corrgan TO transfer the remains
to the vessel in which they now lic This solemn act
ef the Bishops Is desgned to prevent the possibility OF
other bones than those OF the being introduced
either by mistake or design. The figure that OF
youthful patrcian, whose silky brown hair and beard
and delicate limbs attest the family rank Tho body WIS
clad in prpc tune richly embroidered On the breast
monogram containing the letters and p, which
were found on bis tomb. These are supposed 10
represent combination of Latin and Greek signying
I'm the peace Of Christi or, wc have u In
years. "Feil asleep IN Christi These Greek and Latin
Combinations are 10 be found everywhere throughout
the Catacomha ON the right side OF the neck is deep
cash severing the carotid artery, showing tho
Of the saints DEATH The right arm was quietly
stretched by the side the left lay across the breast
holding the palm OF victory. The outer garment
embroidered cloak OF rich crimson velvet On tho
head was wreath of laurel and to the feet were Mt
tached sandals Tho 1gure lay on couch trimmed
rirx HAD RESTING OK TWO prLLows
At nncen minutes past four Father Timothy an
nounced that tho procession was about to move, but
the crush in the asles great that II with
great difficulty the people could DO cleared from: the
n
nounccment OF the important event when the process
SION emerged from the door OF the monastery and
ing the square outside, entered the church.
First camc priest bearing cross and sup
ported by two acoytcs with candles Then fol-
lowed boys, with surplices, two and two aud
bearing candies Next came the lay brothers and no
violates of the Passi0nst Order each carrying lighted
aa'as viii. b,so vsis ami ,,s grs ALFRED m ys
and bearing candles and bouquets. Father Joseph.
OF the masters OF ceremonies then entered leading
tho way for tho couch on which rcclined the wax
figure borne by tour PassIonsts. Twelve pretty
little girls aitrcd Ia white followed, their
heads literally covered with evergreens and bearing
their Tiny hands largo green wrealhs They told tho
angels that 10 earth 10 escort the pure spirit OF
thc martyr as winged It's way from the realm OF per-
secuton to the throne Of God Behind these children
came TOUR priests bearing the glass caskct that con-
tanned tho bones OF the martyr aud followed by Bishop
Corrigan and his dcacons, Fathers Dryer and Fuse
bus The statue and casket placed raised
platform In the sanctuary. Tho psalms prescribed
the ritual were read, after which pontinca vespcrs
was preached by Bishop Corrigan who took his text
from the tenth rchaptcr Of ST. Matthew Every ono
that shall confess before men, will also confess
him before my Father who Ia In heaven but he that
shall deny me before men, Will also deny him before
my Father who Is in heaven. lie that nndeth his life
shall lose H. bat he that loseh his Lille Tor my sake
shall find it, The occasion which brought US together
to-day " indeed rare and touching one-the traDs
laton Of the relics Of one who laid down his life for the
faith centuries ago II is only known that he suffered
martyrdom, but under what circumstances ana by
what name he known the world Is not known.
Tho remains were discovered in the tomb Of ST. Prs
ella.
Priscilla was the mother OF Pudcas who gave the site
on which ST. Peters ia Rome stands IL is there
fore, reasonable 10 presume that Benedict was OF
tbc nrst martyrs Wc know he was martyr because
the signs Of martyrdom found Ia his tomb. We
read III the acts OF ST. 2natius, who tho second
Of 81 Peter and who was himself ma rcd,
that tho Christians took up his remains from tho
yond price. We also road that si''' the he re.
mains OF 81 Poiycarp were taken and preserved
something more precious than gold. They felt
that they could never suffer enough Tor Christ who
had suffered 80 much Tor them. We venerate the
tyrs because they were the friends OF Christ rho
Church from the beginning careful TO honor the
claim 70 the tile. The Church nom tue beginning was
very careful 10 take particular Of the cemeteries In
Rome aud 70 place them under ecclesiastical control
They wcro regulated by fixed laws
EanLgMs MAnryRDoN
were not permitted 10 be placed a tomb TIL tho
Church was satisfied that II n Of real martyr
dom Hence, though We know little Of the life OF
ST. benedict and under what circumstances lie died,
We arc certain that he dcd for the faith. Looking
suffered Tor 300 years experiments made on the
young and the old the gttcring ailurcmcnts OF tho
world presented 10 them aud again the rcnuement OF
cruelty all directed TO crush the infant Church. But
instead OF that Church being ahnhilatcd ind i:s
doctrines preached at nrst ny twelve fish,
ermen spreading abroad over tho whole
earth. When We tho great struggles
this Church had TO endure and ITS glorious triumphs
We ars forced 10 cry OUT, This Is indeed the Of
God" Those who deny the divinity OF the Church
can bring forward no reason why tho martyrs suffered
so many tortures Tho Church forbade the honors OF
martyrdom TO the bodies OF those who were led by
fanatcsm, as IN the case OF those Christians who pro-
posed 20 break tho idols oil tho pagans just think OF
H. Eleven millions suffered martyrdom within
800 years. Two millions suffered In Rome alone
When 81 Agnes, Of patrician birth, doomed TO
sufer death at the OF thirteen, her tiny, delicate
hands were too small Tor any manacles yet she
encouraged her executioner when be revolving
from his bloody work. When the decree, prescribing
the penalty Of death TO ST. Cyprian read TO him,
he replied '.Dco eratias' thanks DO TO God. ST.
BonIacc did not shrink when his prosecutors fang him
Into caidron Of boiling OIL This Is, indeed the
strongest proof OF tho divinity Of tho Church Thor
nor finn fo.dov IN n