The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-07-03
Correspondence of the INDEPENDENT.l
Ceremonies Of the True Cross Nail.
MILAN, ITALY, May u, 1879.

nail of the cross upon which the Savior
was crucitied. 1t is kept in a crypt in
the dome, and once year is taken
down and carried in procession.
On the Sd inst. at ll:30 A. NJ, a
Il priest was drawn up in IA box by
rope and pullies, got the nail from it's
crypt and was lowered to the floor
with it, amid imposing ceremonies. 1t
was placed in the center of a golden
cross and carried under canopy by
the Archbishop of Milan, in procession,
through the aisleS of the cathedral, ac-
companied by hundred priests bear
ing very rich gold and gold plated
crosses from to 6 feet in length
The cross on which the sacred nail was
carried was feet long, of sold gold,
onlanented with diamonds and precious
stones. The nail was inclosed in ii
glass case, perhaps 8 inches long 10y 4
wide, VIII C.. WIS fitted into the cross
Just below the arms. This case is
movable, and only inserted in the cross
lor purposes OF exhibition. The pro
cesson moved for some 20 minutes
accompanied 10y the music OF the great
organ and the singing Of Il choir of
boys, and deposited the relic behind
the principal altar.
In former years the procession
moved through the principal streets of
the city, but that habit has been
abandoned for some cause unknown
to me. The spectators On this occasion
numbered some 1000, most of whom
bowed as the canopy passed. Incense
was burned Immediately i'll front dur
ing the passage.
On the 9th the nail was again car
ried in procession with the same sol
emn ceremonies as before. In restor
ing the hail to its crypt a priest took
the cross containing it, stepped into
box about 6 by feet, feet high, to
which was attached IA rope by which
it was drawn up by means of IL pulley,
slowly rising some 200 feet. As it
ascended through the dim light it re
sembled dense vapor or cloud, from
the mass of which the faces of angels
look down upon the congregation.
This cloud effect is promoted by the
similarity of the cololng OF the box
with the ceiling, which forms the back
ground. The box, as it slowly ascends,
resembles dense cloud floating up
against the leaden sky. The painting
of the box is faultless, and admirably
suited to the office it performs. The
angelic figures stand more boldly and
plainly out than the iieecy cloud box,
SO that the beholder sees Gf he has
lively imagination,) only silver lined
cloud floating away in the dim distance
freighted with multitude of angels,
with Christ on the cross as the cen
tral figure. The top being reached
the glass case was deposited, the box
slowly lowered and the ceremonies
ended.
The story of the recovery Of the or
iginal cross is too we'll known to need
repetition in detail. In the year 1926
ST. Elena, mother of emperor Constan-
stantine, succeeded by miracle in
finding and identifying it by its heal
ing powers. Pieces of it are preserved
in various christian churches. This
nail came into the possession of the
church in Milan after various trans
fers. One OF the faithful told me that
it was once lost and out of the posses
sion of the church, but was recovered
under the following circumstances: