The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-16
SPANISH PROTOTYPE OF THE Pas
SION PLAY OF OBERAMMER-
GAU.
APoTHE0sIs. OF THE VIRGIN.
A SACRED OPERA ANNUALLY PER.
FORMED IN SPAIN FOR
CENTURIES.
VERY IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES.
Angels, SeraDilim and Cherubim,
Play Musical Instruments in
Mimic Heaven.

Oul Lazy OF the ASSumpt1on,th the mir
aculous Virgin, whose statue was
brought into the city on the waves of
the sea, and which is now enthroned in
the choir Of the cathedral, is the zeal
queen of Elche. The legend tells US
that on Dec. 20, 1870, a Spanish coast
guard named Francisco Canto found
one morning, while walking along the
shore, box which had been cast I'D
by the tide the night before. Upon be-
ing opened, the box was found to con-
tain miraculous figure of the Virgin
The statue was carried into the city,
Where it became the object of many
pllgrlmages, and it's fame spread far
and wide by reason Of the marvellous
cures attributed to its intercession. 1t
was transferred from chapel to chapel,
and finally permanently installed, Dec
Z, 1886, in the sumptuous cathedral of
Elche.
In the box with the precious image
SO runs the legend, roll of paper was
found which, upon being opened was
| discovered to be the libretto of an opera
requiring two days for its production,
and which as been religiously presented
for centuries, in commemoration of the
| dedication Of the miraculous image, on
| Aug. Is, the Feast of the Assumption.
| So that every year in this far away
Spanish city is celebrated a drama,
which resembles the Passion play of
Oberammergau, but which antedates
| its German prototype by centuries.
CHURCH BECOMES A THEATER
For weeks preceding Aug. 49, pre-
parations are made for the celebration
As a souvenir of the feast. it is custo-
mary to give all those who receive the
sacraments a fan. Those presented
this year to the faithful were
Of azure blue lace, mounted on
gilded sticks. On one side was
painted pretty landscape, on the other
was written these words:-"Ayuntam
ento constitutional de la ciudad de
Elche, 1897
The clergy transform the church, a
seventeenth century structure, into a
theater. At the end of the choir, sur
mounting the main altar, is the niche
containing the miraculous statue. Here
the Queen of Heaven stands, sometimes
hidden behind the veil. upon which he
picture is painted, oftentimes standing
out, brilliant figure brought into
more prominence by the dark golden
background, and surrounded by chubby
cupid-like angels
From Aug. 10 the church loses is sa-
cred character. The affairs are stripped
OF their ornaments. Under the cupola
in front of the main altar a wide stage,
of boards covered with azure dfapal1es
is erected. \ sloping platform toward
he ST " lie 10 y
actors reach the stage. On the left
hand side of the primitive stage is q
higher platform, furnished with bench
es covered with red CLOTH upon which
are to be seated the 6ignitaries of the
diocese. Finally an immense canvas is
stretched from supporting pillars i'm
| mediately under the cupOla. This can
| vas is painted to represent the sky,
| studded with angels, seraphim and
| cherubim, playing on different musical
| instruments. This is meant to be the
| heaven into which the Virgin is to be
| transported A motey coll elton of
| benches chairs, camp stools and even
| boxes is crowded into the unoccupied
space of the vast nave. The tkeater is
| now ready.
THE SACRED PLAY BEGINS.
At O'Clock en- the afternoon of Aug.
| Is the church is thrown open to the
public, who surge in laughing and jest
| ing, and fill it to OVERLOOKING. The en-
trance OF the archbishop, followed by
the neighboting clergy, is a signal for
the play to- begin From the vestry
comes a procession, which slowly
mounts the platform and gains the
stage. Mary, the virgin, with down.
cast eyes and clasped hands, being fol-
lowed by the two other Marys and four
angels. The Virgin is represented by a
| young girl CT nine or ten, whose dell
cate, pure features are filled with
ecstasy. a golden aureole surrounds
her head. and long pale blue silken
garment enfolds her.
The choir. which is hidden, takes up
the refrain Of the old manuscript said
to have been found with the image, and
the words of the hymns resound
! through the arches. On the left wall
| is hung a cage, which is meant fer
the Garden of Gethsemane, before
which Mary kneels, While the voices
rims out the words OF her lamentation
! While Mary prays the vault above her
opens and blue globe, decorated with
golden symbols, Gescends Slowly. The
crowd applaudS this apparitiOn wildly:
| it is the mysterious ''Mangrana" The
fruit slowly opens, the quarters curl
up, forming a studded vault. in the
! middle of which stands an angel, who
scatters a golden shower Of coin among
the populace
THE DEATH OF MARY.
Then Mary announces that she is
| about to die and the "Mangrana. de-
scending, the angel Presents her with
golden palm leaf. Mary asks as a
last favor of the angel that she may
see the apostles before she expires.
! Mounting a sumptuously furnished bed,
| she lies down to await her final sum-
mons, and the apostles, one by one,
come in TO adore her. The ''Mangrana"
descends once more, lowering over the
bed, and amid the dirges and the
deathlike stiffness of the vast mutt
tude Mary's soul, beautiful doll.
dressed in richest silks and covered
with gems, is taken by the angel, and
the ''Mangrana" returns to heaven