The Irish standard., 1890-05-31
Al SPANISH 60 NGRESS.
Catholics to Meet at saragossa.
s.@ ia Spain.


Catholics to Meet at 6aragossa,
Ia Spain.
Ths City Famous for the Shrine Of Nues-
Era sonora del Pilsr Descrip tipn 1t
enc OF tho CATH drals In that Ancient
| Place. & zH.s 5 3s
The second Spanish Catholic Congress
Is to be held at Saragossa, the capital
Of Aragon, city well known to all
Catholics in the Peninsula for the
famous shrine Of Nuestra Sonora del
Pillar. 1t was in tho days Of Cesar
Augustus that this city arose. The
Roman Emperor became its first patron
and bensfactor, giving 1t his name.
Sarag ossa was one Of the early cities in
Spain to renouncs paganism, by the
fervent preaching of St. James (Sant'
Iago), afterwards the Spanish patron
! saint. Here several Of it's citizens were
numbered among the martyrs, and here,
too, was born the first Christian poet,
Aulus Prudentius.
There are two fine Cathedrals in Sara
gossa, served by the same staff Of
clergy, each church bsing made tho
headquarters for six months in turn.
The finest, from an architectural point
of view, is that of FL SEQ, q Gothic
difoe, modernised and uninteresting
outside, but grand and gorgeous within;
it is very broad In proportion to length,
having two aisles on each side of the
nave. There is rich retablo behind tho
high altar, fine choir, good oak carv-
some curious old Moorish portals. The
other Cathedral is that of Nuestra
Sonora del Pillar, to which pilgrims
flock from all parts of Spain. The
clustering domes outside, rooted with
green, yellow and white glazed tiles,
which glitter in the bright sunshine,
have an oriental aspect. The church is
lofty and spacious; it's length is 500
feet. The high altar, made of alabaster,
is of the richest Gothic workmanship,
and has grand effect. But the chief at
traction to strangers is the Chapel of
Ell Pillar, raised in the center of the
Cathedral It is surrounded by silver
screen, and lamps of silver burn around
it. Within the chapel, which love and
and art have adorned and beautiied,
are the celebrated Pillar and Image of
Our Lady, tho most ancient in Spain.
According to tradition, the Apostle
st. James, after preaching in several
pairs OF the Peninsula, came to Sara
gossa and converted many to the faith.
AS he walked one evening on the banks
of the Ebro, which flows through the
city, with seven of his disciples, there
appeared to him in vision our Lady
surrounded by angels. He was told to
return to Jerusalem where he would
be called upon 80 offer up his life to
God, but before his return he was to
build temple wherein should be placed
tho image of tho Mater Del on pillar.
The seven disciples were not permitted
to see the vision; the legend tells that
they heard the singing of the attendant
angels. A small chapel was then raised
under the direction of the Apostle, and
dedicated to the honor of Mary, where
in was pnt a jaswer pillar six feet high,
and on it the image of cedar wood,
which is still in excellent preservation.
Our Blessed Lady is crowned, and holds
in her left arm the Bambine Santo, in
whose left had is g. dove, During the
Roman Empire prosecutions and the
Moorish invasions much damage was
done TO this little chapel. Charles II.
raised around" it the present cathedral
Of which the first stone was laid in
1850, A. D., and in 1855 Ferdinand vi.
built the present chapel Only kings,
cardinrls, and specially appointed
priests were allowed to enter in sidethe
silver screen which surrounds the
chapel, and but little of the pillar
san DO seen from the outside.
Many are the pilgrims who have come
TO this shrine to ask for the interoession
of the Mother of God; here the Kings Of
Aragon for 400 years all came in success
sion and knelt in prayer; when the
kingdom of Aragon was united to that
Of CASTLE in the time Of Ferdinand and
Isabella the Catholic, those two Sover-
eigns became pilgrims to Ell Pillar, as
did also their unfortunate daughter,
Juana; the great Emperor Carlos V.
bowed down In prayer at this spot, as
did Philip II, the builder Of the Escur-
ial, Philip III, called the 'Pious," and
Philip w., the gay, Carlos H., last of
the Austrian line, and his natural
brother, Don John of Austria, the
brave soldier, both came to ask aid
from Nuestra Sonora del Pillar, and no
less eager to do the same was Philip v,
FIRST of the Bour bon line. This monarch
constituted himself champion Of the
sacred shrine and put to silence certain
restless sceptios who ventured to speak
disparagingly concerning it; Ferdinand
W., as we have seen, raised more
splendid sanctuary to our Lady's honor,
and Ferdinand VIII, after his release
from the French, returned thanks here;
Isabella II. and her mother, Queen
Christina, both journeyed to Sarrgossa
to implore the interoesson of Mary,
and the present Queen Regent has like
wise oft-times prayed ct the shrine.
It is suggestive sight to SEQ tho eigni
carries, clergy and choir after Martins
form in procession and slowly wsnd to
the silver, gates of tho shrine to sing