The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-01-22
pious RELICS.

PIOUS RELICS.
The Most vsneratsd Treasures Of the Roman
Catholic Church.
Travel)
During the course of Il long centuries,
-four great relics, said to be the Oldest
and most sacred in the world, have been
jealously guarded within the walls of the
ancient Cathedral of Aix-la-Chapelle.
Once only in every seven years they are
taken from their magnifcently jeweled
casket and exposed to public view. Seven
years ago, in 1895, 1SO,OOO pilgrims jour
1neyed to Aix-la-C hapelle for the purpose
of seeing them, and in the month OF July
of the present year tens of thousands OF
devout believers poured into city, for again
the sacred objects were on view. In this
grimage must surely in itself be consid-
cred a marvellous relic of antiquity, espe-
cially as all the rites and ceremonies CON
nected with it have been practised with
barely any alteration since the far-back
date of July 10, 800, when the relics were
shown for the first time by the great
Charlcmagne to thousands of pilgrims
from Germany, France, Spain and Italy.
At first they were shown every year, but
later an arrangement was made that they
should be shown only once i'll every seven
years. These remarkable objects, which
for so many centuries have called forth
the generation of multitudes OF the hui
man race, consist of four garments-the
robe said to have been worn by the Vir-
gin Mary when Christ was born; the
| swaddling clothes of Jesus; the winding
sheet in which the body Of John the Bap-
fist was laid after he was beheaded, and
the linen cloth which grit Christ,s loins
when He hung on the Cross. The au-
thenticity of these relics rests largely on
| vrriffau focfi according tn which
Charemagne received them as gifts from
Harum oil Raschid (who figures so largely
in the arabian Nights and from the Pa
triarchs of Jerusalem. 1t is considered
quite natural that the Emperor should
have brought such precious relics to his
favOrite city Of iX-la-Chapelle. and
placed them for safe-keeping in the beau
tiful cathedral which he himself had built
there. A little book in circulation this
year among the pilgrims gives the follow
ing explanation of the wonderful preser-
vation of the Virgins robe. MARY" it
states, "wOre this holy garment when
Christ was born, and preserved it after
glorious hour in her life. At her death
she presented it to two young women, in
innate friends, through whom it was
Eventually brought to Constantinople,
where it remained till it was presented to
CharlemagEe by the Patriarch.
| lHe great IcStlFdl ldStS LOT II udyS,
from the 10th to the 9th of July of last
Summer the ancient city, especially in the
vicinity of the Cathedral, resembled one
huge fair. Flags were flying gaiIy from
all the houses, booths were erected in
rows along the streets for the sale of ro-
saries, pictures of the sacred relics, me-
mentoes of every description of the great
pilgrimage, even the very biscuits being
stamped with an imprint of the Holy
Robe, while the ubiquitous picture post
jcard reminded one fOrcibly, if inclined to
forget the fact, that it was in the 10th
century, not in the Middle Ages, the fes-
tival was taking place.
At 10 o'clock every morning the relics
were shown to the people from the high
tower of the Cathedral, and it was there
fore necessary to secure ones position
long before this hour in one of the streets
or squares commanding q view of the
tower. The citizens of Aix-la Chapelle
are not wanting in enterprise; great num-
bers of rough wooden benches were erect
ed on every available spot, on the streets
and even on the roofs of the houses, for
the accommodation of the pilgrims, who
were besieged as soon as they appeared
on the scene by excited householders and
shopkeepers with offers of seats from
which to view the relics. The prices asked
were certinly not exorbitant, ranging gen
orally from threepence to sixpence, ac-
sum would have been difficult to get, for
the great majority of the pilgrims were
of the peasant class Many aged women
were there, picturesque figures in their
quaint costumes, but bearing the signs of
poverty and of hard, unremitting toll for
daily bread on their brown, weather.
beaten faces. What sacrifice, what saw
ing and scrimping, possibly for years, the
long journey to Aix-la- Chapelle must have
! entailed on many of them. Every morn
ing at 9 o'clock the sick, in great num-
bers, were admitted to the Cathedral, and
touched with the sacred relics: and no
} doubt many pathetic stories could be told
of self-sacrifce and heroism on the part
Of relatives and friends, who strain every
nerve to bring these helpless sufferers to
Aix-la Chapelle during the time of the
great pilgrimage.
When 10 o'clock strikes a solemn still
ness has settled down on the busy scene;
the pilgrims are all sitting or standing
. in their places, every eye directed to the
gallery Of the high tower on which the
Bishop, in full canonicals. accompanied by
all the clergy, with full brass band and
choir, now appears. A solemn psalm is
first sung, then the "ProkIamator" an.
nounces, in the German language, with
loud, peculiar information, the nature of
the sacred object about to be exhibited
The following is a translation of the proc.
lamation: you will be shown the holy
garment which the Blessed Virgin wore
when the Saviour was born. Pray to the
Lord that we may gaze upon this sacred
relic to the furtherance of His honor and
glory, and receive from Him His grace
and His blessing. Amen"
Imediately these words are spoken, and
amidst the intense stiffness, great square
of crimson plush is thrown over the railing
of the tower, and against it the sacred
!, robe is held by the Bishop, assisted by
two of the clergy. In moment the air
resounds with the devout and fervent
prayers of the pilgrims. who, with clasped
: hands, and many with streaming eyes,
, gaze up at the sacred relic in wondering
alteration. The garment is in the shape
of plain night dress. 1t is of gigantic
J proportions, and is of fine yellow cotton
embroidered round the neck and right
sleeve. Part of the left sleeve appears
, to have been cut out. After a minute il
)! is withdrawn and taken to another side OF
the tower, to be exhibited there in the
i, same way. Each relic is shown from II
/ different points of the tower. The next
relic shown-the swaddling clothes of Je.
, sus-is described by the "Proklamator'
, in the following words: "You will be
shown the swaddlng clothes in which Je.
sus Christ, when He was born, was wrap.
ped by His mother. Pray to Almighty
God that we may look on this sacred
relic to His praise and His glory, and to
our eternal blessing"