The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-08-19
aArn,ng Star and Catholic Messenger.
nsw ORLEANS. SUNDAY, AUGUST 10 is7.
THE HISTORY OF THE CHAINS OF ST.
PETER.

When St Peter WAS cast into prison at
Jerusalem by order of Herod, he was
abound with two cbains." The angel of
the Lord delivered the prisoner. His
chains, W hich remained in the prisoD, were
treasured up by the gDards, who had been
converted by the apostle. The Greek Apoi-
oRists of the earliest times relate how these
relics were honoIed in Jerusalem and
throughout the east. In 436 the Empress
Eudoxia, wife of Tneodosius the Younger,
who came to JeI usalem, received them from
Juvenal, bishop of that city. She retained
one of them, which she placed in magDif-
icent basilica constructed expressly to re-
ceive it; che sent the other to Rome, TO
her daughter Eudoxa, wife of the Emperor
yalentiniau I'LL, who founded, perheps on
the site of former sanctuar this Roman
hasilica.
In Rome, St Petcr wss cast into the Ma
mertine prison, where, previous to hls mar,
tyrdom, he remained in captivity with st,
Paul for nine months. The faithful of Rome
centrived to purchase the sacred relic his
chain, which they carefully cCpcealed dur
ing the times of persecution, until 1t was
discovered again during the pontiticate OF
st Alexander L., about the year no 10
the Acts of ST. Alexander it is related that
this pontif, having converted Hermes,
Prefect of Rome, with his family and
greet mber of distinG uished personages,
was arrested by the order of the Emperor
Trajan. In his prison he converted St.
Balbina, restoring her also TO health by.
healing her Of q painful scrofnlous affection
In her gratitude che repeatedly klssed the
chains by which lie WAS bound. But the
saint said to her: Cease, my daughter; to
kiss these chains; go, rather, and seek the
chains of St. Peter, which are those thou
shouldst cover with thy kisses After
many difficulties and long searching, she
was successful in the M ission imposed upon
her; aud she confided them to the care of
Theodore, a noble and pous Roman lady,
the sister of the Prefect Hermes.
Theodore, according to pioue tradition,
constructed the oratory on the Esquiliue,
dedicated to the prince of the apostles, in
which the chains were deposited, and
where they were exposed to the veneration
of the faithful. 1t is probably on the site
of this oratory that the Empress Eudoxia
founded her basilica. When Pope St. Leo,
who reigned from 440 to 46l, received from
the latter the chain with which st. Peter
was bound in Jerusalem, he placed 1t be-
side that which bound the apostle in Rome,
and it 10 said that they both became mirac-
ulously joined together. These Eave re-
mained in this basilca since the fifth cen
tury, and have received the homage OF the
faithful until the present day. Four links
of the chain of st. Paul were Joined to them
at later period.
Until Sunday, 20;h May, these chains
have been kept in the sacristy ia taber-
nacle of bronze, the work of Pollsj mold.
Some years ago they were enclosed in a
splendid reliquary. the gift of our Holy
Father Plus TX. Three keys lock the tab
ernacle, one of which is kept by the Pope,
another by the Cardinal Protector of the
Church, and tho third by the abbot of St
Pietro ad rincula. The three are required
to open the tabernacle. The united chains
are about 1--WE feet in length, with rings to
enclose the neck and one hand. The links
are of antique form, aud are larger than
those of ST. Paul's chains.-N. y. Tablet.