The Irish standard., 1897-09-04
RELIC IN ST. PA1RIcKs CA.">aAL
SEALED IN AN AIR
TIGHT CRYSTAL CASKIsT.
ORIGINAL INSTRUMENT OF TORTURE
FOUND DY ST. HELENA. MOTHER OF
EMPEROR CONSTANTlNE.

Although the fact is known to but
few, there is in New York today a piece
OF the true cross upon which Christ
was crucified.
1t seems almost beyond belief that
this piece of wood should have sur
Vived down through tho ages OF nearly
nineteen hundred years, but it is IL
positive fact. authenticated by the high
est known authorities. 1t has been
handed down from generation to gener.
;ttlcn, each succeeding custodian re-
ceiving II document bearing the seals
or emperors and popes testifying to Its
authenticity. There is absolutely no
question of doubt us to it's genunencss.
Its record has been clearly traced from
the time OF the crucifiXion down to the
present day and is now without Il break.
Tho relic is most carefully sealed In
an air-tight crystal casket, which is In
turn set in the center of a heavily Jew
clcd cross. Were this caskct for y
moment opened tho piece of wood which
has been so carefully preserved for so
many centuries would at once crumblc
away, leaving only a tradition of its
existence. 1t is at present in tho treas
ury vaults of tho Cathedral, where 1t
is most iealously guarded
1t is not possible to determine ac-
curatcly what nature of wood The relic
is, as 1t is so blackcncd with age that
all traces of the grain and fibre are
obl1terated. It is impcrvious oven to
closest microscopic examinations.
Tho finding of the portion of the
cross from which tho relic was cut
occurred under the most extraordinary
circumstances. After the crucitixion
tho cross disappeared, and for three
centuries its whereabouts was unknown,
In tho meantime, the Emperor Con-
stantnc had come into power and hy
tho strength of his Victories had en-
blazOned his empire with many struc-
lures OF mammoth size. lie crcctcu
magnificent temples and churches, into
which he brought the richest treasures
of tho land. TO further add to their
splendor, ho conceived the idea of en-
richinE them with The real instrument
Of tho crucifixion. To this end he
charged his mother, ST. Helena, with
the commission of finding and procuring
them, without regard to cost. She was
at this time 20 years old, but she be-
gan preparations for the search without
h6sitanry. She bccan" convinced that
her only possible chance of Success VA:
To Journey to Jerusalem and, by idcn-
7I1ying the spots connected with the
life of Christ, gradually trace up the
circumstances of the crucifiXiOn ami
ihnS ultimately arrive at Il locality
where excavations should be COM
menccd.
There is no doubt in the minds OF
historians that the events sllrroundlna,
the crncifXlon were at that time still
fresh in the traditions of tho people of
Jerusalem who had already begun to
realize the Importance Of the mighty
historical event that had taken place.
They were of great help to st. Helena,
who at once set about identifying the
holy places. Step by step she traced
Christ's pilgrimagcs, following along il
Ills footsteps until she arrived at the
place of execution, whore all further
trace was lost. Helena made many
unsuccessful attempts to discover the
burial place, and in despair sought Til,
lem, WHO tEcn for the first time be-
gan in earnest the search for the sacred
tomb.
All traditions existing among The
people OF Jerusalem wcr" grcadily gath
crd up, and by dInt Of persistent ,I,ics-
tionng certain spot was marked on,
whore the Savior was supposed iC
| have been buried. IT. proved u myth
, but tho evidence that had been obtained
proved c0nclrisivcly that they were in
the right locality, and by continued
excavations the holy tomb was at last
discovered. But It did not contain the
cross or any relic Of the execution.
The search was renewed and all The
ground surrounding the tomb was care
/ fully explored, but without result Ncal
| the tomb stood the Temple of Venus
I erected many years after Christs death
! by tho Emperor I'aIrnn. From cv.
! dnnco obtained by Helena, it was con.
| sidercd possible that this temple mark.
! ed the site whore the cross was buried
| Tho cdiiicc was demolished and unhel
| the ruins ihrch crosses were uncarthcd
| Tho tiuc cross had at last been found
| After years Of patient search, years o.
| toll and uncertainty, it lay there, once
| more restored to the world the mos
| precious Of all relics. The title boar
which was found close by, served II
identify it.
This tablet was a thin board thre,