The Irish standard., 1899-10-14
Unquestionably the Strangest
Monastery in the Country.
ANCIENT CATAcoMBs REPRODUCED
The Grotto of Bethlehem and
Holy Sepulcher Pictured.

From the dark catacombs of ancient
Rome bareheadcd and besandaled
Franciscan friar, in cowl and tunic OF
somber brown, is to-day journeying
toward this country, bearing with him
what doubtless is the most ancient
corpse ever brought from the old world
to the new, says correspondent in the
Philadelphia Times. Behind green
hill looking down upon this city from
the northeast the brethren OF this SOL
cmn pilgrim await him with anxious
expectation. The bones comprising his
precious freight are all that is left to-
day OF the martyr St. Bcnignus, who
SIZED his blood in the cause OF Chris
tianity no less than sixteen centuries
ago
1t was this week, just after the dedi-
cation OF their new monastery on this
lonesome spot, that l spent with these
friars the most wcirdly fascinating
hours OF my memory. Truly, they have
just laid here the last stone OF what in
many respects may be termed the most
remarkable edifce OF this continent.
1t is the only institution OF its kind in
the world
Surrounded everywhere by graveyard
gloom and dungeon darkness, penc-
tratcd to The very bone by dripping
dampncss, lighted on my way only by
the melancholy alimmer OF Il wax can
die and ushcrcd by a lriar with hooded
head-a friar who must have stepped
down from some mediacval picturc-l
enjoyed the unusual privilege OF wan
dcring for a while through the ghost
realm OF subterrancan cavcrns.
Turning to the right, l was led to a
small cavern followed in the rock, and
reached by a descending step. Here
was all exact fac-simile of the little
niche hcwn in stone as feeding place
for cattle and l1allowcd as the very man
ger wherein the infant Christ was laid
in swaddling clothes directly after His
birth at the point marked by the silver
star. Above were arranged nineteen
hanging lamps, ready TO be lighted. Be-
low, upon parcel OF hay, rcposcd a
figure OF the infant Christ made in
Bethlehem by the Franciscan friars and
blessed there in the original place OF the
mangcr. l was told that the head OF
this infant figure contained splinter OF
the wood from the original cradle Of
Christ Facing the mangcr, l was
shown a spot representing the threshold
over which entered the three wise men,
and an altar marking the place where
they kdelt.
Our way now led toward the oppo-
site side OF the church, beneath whose
central portion we were to pass to cx-
plorc another gallery beneath the south
crn foundation. But few steps had been
taken before the dampncss grew to a
wintry chill, and l was told that we
we're about to enter the catacombs
where would rcposc the bodies OF those
friars who die in the monastery. But
another function had these burial caves
Reproducing the details OF the cata-
combs OF St. Sebastian in Rome, they
we're to serve as striking object lessons
OF history for inmates Of the monastery.
Down in the catacombs of ST. Scbas-
tian, close to the Appian Way, once
rested the bodies OF St. Peter and St.
Paul.
Travcrsing these dismal avenues OF
death, my guide, the friar, still with
lighted candle in hand, brought me to
the Martyrs Crypt" circular, tomb
like chamber, reproducing every detail
Of one OF the many chapcls to be found
scattered among those ancient laby-
rinthinc hiding places of the early
Christian martyrs. We we're now di-
rccty under the central eye OF the
church. Beneath an altar in this lone
some chamber will be deposited the re-
mains of the saint row on their way
from the catacombs. Here they will
daily receive the vcncration OF the faith
full friars. who, while saying mass at
the shrine, will view the solemn relics
through the transparent lid of glass
catafalquc. Striking mural decorations
above represented Christ, St. Stephen
ard St. Bcnignus himself.
Taking another dark passageway, the
iriar now led me to a large inclosure,
which he designated as the "Chapel OF
the Poor Souls" Here before funeral