The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-07-08

That wellauthenucated relics of the
true cross of Nazareth are treasured in
New York is not generally known. Ii
is, however. a fact The cathedral au-
thorities have long possessed one of
the largest pieces of the true cross in
this country. 1t is a mere splinter, not
much larger than cabric needle.
In speaking of the matter Rev. DR..
Lavelle. pastor of the cathedral, said:
when Mark Twain, in his limo
cents Abroad made the assertion that
he had found enough relics of the true
cross to build a ship. he made a most
ridiculous blunder and betrayed an al.
most objectionable ignorance"
The reliquary which holds these sa.
cred relics is usually from IL to is
inches high. The precious specimen is
rarely more than a mere thread of
wood. 1t is placed in large ostensor-
ium. in order that the multitude may.
on occasions when the relic is dis.
played, be able to distinguish its posi-.
ton upon the altar.
The relic which the cathedral cher
ishes was brought to this country by
Cardinal McCloskey. Before this one
OF the other priests had. as his private
possession. a small relic OF the cross.
Archbishop Hughes also possessed one
OF these tiny treasures. The relic at
the cathedral is incased in costly
jewel studded reliQuary. standing
about IA inches high. II shows an.
cient Roman repousse work in gold
and silver. II is brilliant with dia-
monds and sapphires.
In the center OF this ostensorium is
a small medallion, covered with bev'
eled crystal and showing beneath an
ivory cross Ct exquisite workmanship.
Set in the center of this is the relic
Of the cross OF Nazareth.
Cardinal Gibbons has a piece of the
true cross in his pectoral cross. Upon
being requested TO give his opinion as
to the authenticity of these relies OF
the passion, he replied:
AS far as We can Judge we have
every reason to believe in the genu-
ineness of the relics which are pre-
served in Rome, particles of which
have been distributed in almost every
part of the Christian world. Arch
bishop Ryan. who has gone more deep
ly into the study of this subject than
any other prelate in this country, has
said:
Every Christian. of no matter
what creed, can appreciate the venera-
ton in which we hold the relies OF the
Savior. Even as the patriot preserves
souvenirs Of heroes. so have the Chris
tians in all countries held in rever'
ence relics of the Nazarene.
THE true cross has been an object
of especial generation ever since It's
discovery, in the year 1926, by Empress
Helena. Many pieces Of 1t have been
distributed among the faithful, but
these have not been larger than a
small strand of hair. Thus a small
piece OF the wood affords thousands
of relics.
There is a congregation OF canons
appointed to investigate sacred relics
and authenticate them. II is one OF the
most difficult things in the world to
obtain such authorization. The seal
of the church is never given to doubt
full relies. There are, however, a
great many duly authenticated rel
ics.'"
Archbishop Ryan has a small por-
ton of the true cross. The Francis
cans in New York have a relic of the
cross in a small silver case, which is
kept in the part of the monastery re-
served to the monks.
The abbey OF Gethsemane, in Ken
lucky, treasures as its most valued
possession a relic of the cross. Two
splinters are laid in cruciform on an
ivory disk. This is covered with a
crystal and placed in the head OF a
crosier. This pastoral STAFF was the
life work of a Trappist monk at the
abbey.