Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-05-18
THE CRUCIFIXION RELICS.
Where the Cross, Lance, Nails
and Sponge Are.

origin OF the Society OF the Holy Face.
The relies of the crucifx on are OBJ
jects dear to every Christian, but few
know Of their history and present To-
cation. 10 the pious Helena. the
mother of Constantine. the world owes
much for the discovery OF the cross.
She visited Palestine in the year 500,
and. razing to The ground the temple
that had been erected TO Venus over
the the tomb Of the Savior. began q
search for the precious relic. After
much excavatOry proceedings the work
men came upon the sepulchre. near by
which were discovered three crosses.
The inscription. II. N. r. L." was de-
taehed and lying convenient. Which
was the cross Of the Savior was ascer-
tanned by the working of a miracle,
and was soon after enshrined In sill
yer case. with the exception OF two
pieces. one OF which was sent to Rome
and the other TO Constantinople
Jerusalem was captured by the Per-
slams in Ola and the cross was conveyed
10 Persia. Heraclius vanquished the
Persians in 62S and one of the condi-
lions of the peace sued for by the Per-
slams WAS the return OF the cross
When the Arabs took Jerusalem they
edndeavored to obtain possession of
the portion of the cross recovered by
Heraclius, but the Christians divided il
into small pieces, which they sent to
various places Thus it was that so
/ al, IA, Al
True Cross, the largest portions being
in the Basiica of The Holy Cross OF
Jerusalem at Rome and in the Cathe-
oral of Paris.
The tablet on which is the we'll
known inscription l. n. X. l. (Jesus OF
Nazareth. X ne of the jews. is pre-
served in the Basilca OF the Holy Cross
Of Jerusalem. ut Rome, VIII CHI WAS es-
/ pecially built to enshrine the relies for
wardcd to Rome by Helena. As 10
whether there were three or four nails
to the cross found 10y Helena, there is
much doubt History says that one
was thrown b. Helena into the sea TO
calm a storm. In the Church OF the
| HOLY Cross is a portion Of nail which
is said 10 have been presented by St.
/ Helena. 1t is believed that the missing
part was cut off and placed in the crown
Of Constantine. which is now known rs
the celebrated Iron Crown Of the Kings
OF Italy. This is male Of gold. linod
on the inside with n very tn n plate of
iron. forged from the missing portion
Of the sacred nail. The third nail is in
the Church OF Notre Dame. in Paris.
and ut Monza. near Milan. is another
nail whose authenticity Benedict XIV.
is said 10 have established
The body OF the lance that pierced
the side of Chr st is at Rome and the
point is at Paris. The sponge is at
Rome in the Basilica of St John OF
Lateran. The principal part OF the
crown Of thOrns is preserved in the
Church of Notre Dame. in Paris, but it
is devoid OF thorns. pieces OF which
churches. The relic, with fragment
of the cross, is borne in triumph by
Twelve caDons or cures Of Paris in the
solemn procession which is held at 8
D clock. Good Friday night in Notre
Dame. The upper part OF the pillar OF
the scourging 10 In Rome, in the
Church OF St. Praxedes. since 1928
The other part is in Jerusalem, in the
Church OF the Holy Sepulchre.
The City OF Turin rejoices in the pos
session OF the shroud. OF winding sheet.
N which Joseph OF Armathea envel-
Dped the body of our Saviour. Ac-
cording to tradition. it WAS brought
.hther from Jerusalem, anil at feast
instituted by Pope julius Ill. in 1906,
is celebrated in its honor on the 18th
Of May. This precious relic is pre-
served in chapel called the Holy
Stroud" There IS even a confratern-
Ity bearing the same title. Lisbon and
other places also claim to be In
possession OF the Holy Shroud. 1t is
probable they have only fragments OF
lt. or cloth that merely touched it.
However, as il was customary for the
Jews TO envelop the dead in several
wind ing sheets it may be that these
relics are genuine.
The Catholic Church treasures in
Rome the towel of Veronica, bearing
The imprint of the face of Jesus. The
story runs that the Emperor Tiberius
was affl cted with leprosy. and bearing
from Pontus Plate of the many won
ders wrought by Jesus in Judea, sent
ambassadors to him to obtain cure;
4 Dui W0tn tutf ulllNtN
Jesus had been cruciiied. Having
made inquiries into the circumstances
Of HIS life and death, thew learned.
amongst other things that He had left
the impression of his face TO holy
woman afterward known as Veronica,
and that many persons had been cured
OF various mnlsdies by its means. Yer
onica was visited by the ambassadors.
She acknowledged that she possessed
the sacred relic and offered to accom-
pany them TO Rome, affirm ne that at
sight of it the emperor would be cured.
Her offer was accepted. and the event
Justified her prophecy; for Tiberius did
actually obtain his cure after beholding
the impression OF the divine counten-
ance.
The Society Of the Holy Face has
branches in many cities. One of its
historians saws: Veronica placed the
towel which bore the imprint of the
sacred countenance Of Our Lord in the
hands of st. Clement, st. Peters coad-
tutor, and afterward his third successor;