The Irish standard., 1902-09-13
In the Middle Ages, Trondhjem was

b
s In the Middle Ages, Trondhjem was
y one of the largest and richest towns
In Norway. 1t was founded by st.
Olaf, who was afterward buried in the
cathedral. The fame of his sanctity
attracted hosts of pilgrims. Fourteen
other churches and tive monasteries
were built. A magnificent cathedral,
the finest in all Scandinavia, was
erected over his tomb. An unending
stream of pilgrims from Sweden and
Denmark flowed to Trondhjem, and
Trondhjem expanded to receive them.
An impetus was given to commerce,
wealth flowed into the Golfers of the
merchants and humble dwellings gave
place to more pretentious edifices. But
the most imposing monument of all
was the cathedral. 1t was built Of
Norwegian marble and revealed in
every delicate detail of its Gothic feat
ures the eXuberant imaginations of its
Designer.
The Reformation, the rich reliquary
that contained the bones of st. Olaf,
was stolen, the church itself taken
from the Catholics and allowed to fall
into ruin. Several fires helped the
work of destruction, and this monu-
ment of the faith and of the taste of
early Norway had almost persisted had
not the patriotism and the artistic
sense of modern Norway restored the
magnificent pile to something like it's
pristine grandeur.
But there is a Cath9lic Church in
Trondhjem today where a handful Of
the faithful worship. 1t is situated in
vent and hospital. 1t has more than
passing interest for the Catholics of
Brooklyn, for it was built by Brook
Ign priest, Father Dumshut, who now
looks after the spiritual interest Of the
scattered Scandinavian Catholics Of
Long Island.
Within the Arctic circle, on the west
coilst of Norway, there are two Cath
Ollie churches, one at Tromso and an
other at Hammerfest. Tromso is beau
tifully situated on an island that
abounds in birch and wild oh Try tres.
1t is the headquarters of the walrus
hunters and whale fisheries of the
northern regions, and is the starting
place of most of the expeditions i'll
search of the Pole. The Baldwin-Zieg-
len expedition sailed fl, m from o last
July The Catholic Church is situated
in the market place, and the little con-
gregaton gathers there every Sunday
from the village and the neighboring
islands to assist at the Holy Sacrifice
and listen to the words OF GOl. They
are simple peoplc-poor, but docllc--
the little ones to whom God has prom
ised the Kingdom. There is a Lapp
settlement at Tromsllal Oh IromsO
Sound, that attracts tourists in the
summer time. Few of the Lapps are
Catholics, and those who are lead such
a wandering life that Il priest would
little faith they have. The Lapps arc
the aborigincs of Norway. They be-
long to the MOngolian race, having the
long cheek bones and slanting eyes
that are characteristic of the Chinese.
They are low-sized, dirty, but very ac-
tive, with great powers of endurance,
and are marvelo,lsly cunning. They
wander from Norway to Sweden with
large herds of reindeer, and in sum-
mer do a thriving trade in very print
tive curios that are eagerly bought up
by the American tourists. There are
100000 Of them in Norway. but most Of
them are fishermen who reside in vii
lagos and mingle freely with their Nor
wegian neighbors. They are nominal
ly Christians, but they still preserve
many Of their pagan customs and
rites, and are but little influenced by
the civilization around them.
The nearest parish to Tromso is near
ly two hundred miles further north,
at Hammerfest. 1t is the most north
ern parish in the world, and tile pastor
of the little congregation that W rsllips
In the small church on the lElrbcrs
edge has the prOuu distinction Of hay
ing the North Pole within the bound
aries of his parish. He hasn't much
else to boast Of. The entire population
Of Hammerfest is only alb ut 2,2CO, and
of these only a handful is Catholic
The Association for the Propagation
Of the Faith helps him to pay the OK
penses Of church and rectOry, yet he is
happy, is doing much goou, and is
loved by his Protestant neghbors.
Near the church is a hospital, conduct
ed by the Sisters, where the poor OF
the village, irrespective Of creed, are
received. Russian traders IL III the
White Sea, who have fallen i'll on their
Journey, are often brought here for
treatment.
While the progress of the Church in
Ehe land of the Midnight Sun is slow,
h almost inapDreciable. IL is real. The