Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-12-19
oaAvs CRUSADERS LIFE.
Powers Attributed to the Holy Lance
Make II . most Interesting Relic.

Make II . most Interesting Relic.
VIENNA, Nov. 14.-(William E.
ord jim the imperial palace OF Aus
tria. In what II known ~ the treas
ury. with the insignia Of the Holy Ro-
man Empire. is one OF the most In
teresting and sacred relics In exist
ence. 1t is the lance OF spear which
Ii said to have been used by a Ro-
man soldier to pierce the side OF
Christ as He hung upon the cross.
This alone would make II an object
OF veneration to all believers. and of
curiosity TO skeptics, but the historic
value is greatly increased by the cir
cumstance of it's recovery by Godfrey
de Bouillon end ether leaders OF the
first crusade for the recovery of the
holy sepulcher.
In June. 1897. when the Christian
hosts before Atioch were spending
their darkest hours. and were so
threatened with famine that they
were living on boiled fig leaves and
OK hides softened in water; when
the richest mobiles were reduced al
most to the point of starvation, and
were hemmed In by the Turks so that
they could not hope to obtain food
or other supplies, young priest
called Peter Bartholomew appeared
before Godfrey. Raymond and other
leaders, and told them that St An
drew had revealed to him In vision
that the lance which pierced the
Saviors side was buried in that neigh
borhood At arst the strange tale
found few believers, but several
to another priest called Stephen and
promised to rescue the crusaders If it
were recovered. For FIVE days. night
and day without ceasing, faithful vol
nnteers dug in the earth and as each
withdrew from weariness fresh work
ers took his place until at last the Lord
moved by their devotion, disclosed
the holly relic and filled the hungry
army with joy and exultation.
The Turks were determined to
starve them out. The Christians Of
fered to stake the issue on the valor
OF six knights who would meet an
equal number of Turks upon the field
and fight to a finish. the army repre-
scented by the defeated knights to sur
render, but this and other offers were
rejected with disdain. and, placing
faith in the efficacy of the relic
which had been secured in such a
miraculous manner. the crusaders de-
termined to risk an attack, and
Drtn bAp
Following him were Count Raymond,
Hugh the Great. Godfrey do Bouillon.
Robert of Normandy, Trancred and
others OF equal fame. accompanied by
many bishops and priests carrying
crucifxes and praying for the inter
cession of the holy mother, st. An
drew aud other saints,
The Turks dropped their arms and
fed on all sides to the mountains.
Many deeds of valor were wrought,
and although the Christians were at
times hard pressed. thanks to the
Lords lance" writes Aldemar, none
of us were wounded, no, not so much
as by an arrow. |, who speak these
things, saw them for myself, since
was bearing the Lords lance. And
there came out of the mountains innu
merable armies on white horses and
betring white banners. And our
men. seeing this host. knew not whom
they We're till they recognized 1t as
the promised aid of Christ"
1t was the day Of greatest glory
for the Christian host. for the half
famished band OF fanatics routed an
immense. well-organized army and
captured sufficient stores to main
tain them for many months.
But. as is often the case. 1t was not
long until the warriors began to re:
cover their conceit. and claimed the
victory to have been the result of
1t to the host of angels which came
down from heaven to reinforce them.
They even scoffed at the efficacy of
the holy lance. and soon divided into
two factions. those who believed and
those who denounced Peter Barthol-
emew as an imposter.
Make me the biggest fire that you
can" he retortai, 'and ! will pass
through IL with the Lords lance in
my hand. If it be the true Lords
lance | shall emerge from the flames
unharmed; IL 1t be false shall be
burned up"
And on Good Friday. April 8, 1898
iO, 900 crusaders gathered to witness
the test. Two parallel piles of deat
olive branches. four feet high, eigh
feet wide and fourteen feet long wer'
blazing. with pathway only one foo
wide between them. Count Ray
mond spoke to the multitude;
IF the blessed st. Andrew showe'
him the Lords lance as he slept, ma,
he pass through the fire unharmed
II the thing be lie. let him be burr
ed up together with the lance whic
he holds in his hand"
And the people all shoute
"Amenl"
The fire burned SO fercely that n