The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-01-20
THE OLD WORLD
A Visit to Europe and tho Holy
Father Pictured.
Impressions of the Most Rev.
Archbishop Christie.

, A hurried visit to Europe, leaves on
the mind a blurred impression of the
| thousand scenes of historic interest
and artistic grandeur. Still, among
the sights of the Old World, some are
so striking and impressive as to stand
out clearly in the mass of fading men,
cries, says Archbishop Christie of Port
| land, Oregon. Among the imposing
religious edifices in Paris the great
basilica of Montmartre holds a prom
/ inent place. 1t is situated in the
northern section Of the French capital
of ST. Denis and his companions over
! sixteen hundred years ago. The place
! is replete with historic associations.
| The basilica, which is dedicated to the
| Sacred Heart, is of fortress-lille mas
! siveness. Here l had the privilege of
saying Mass on All Saints day. Near
by is little chapel on the spot where
st. Genevieve, the patroness of the
city, built a church in honor of ST.
Denis in the sixth century. A bronze
tablet on the wall of this chapel relates
| st. Bernard acted as deacon when
Pope Engenius consecrated the edifice;
it recounts, too, visit of st. Thomas
Il Beckett, the Archbishop of Canter-
| bury, and of other memorable person.
ages. The government buildings in
| Paris and the Cathedral Of Notre
Dame are sights which one will not
forget after gazing on them even once
But to describe them would be a long
F.; task.
| There is a great contrast between
Paris and Lourdes in the Pyrennes,
| where the simple faith of the people
has been crowned by the apparition of
the Mother of God. A third of a mil
lion pilgrims repair to Lourdes annuI-
ally to honor the Blessed Virgin. Few,
however, were there on All Saints Day
when said Mass in the grotto beneath
the magnificent church on the right
bank Of the River Gave.
| From Lourdes to Rome. One can
| not describe the sentiments, which
arise in ones mind at the first sight
Of the Eternal City. the center Of Cath
Ole unity. On the afternoon of my
arrival in Rome paid my visit to the
grand basilica of st. Paul and the next
morning said Mass in the crypt of this
magnificent edifice. The interior Of
this church is particularly gorgeous,
with its fine cloisters and it's medallion
portraits of the Roman Pontiffs I'm
der the High Altar lie the relics of st.
Paul and above it is a mighty arch
which has stood for fourteen hundred
years. ..
The beauty of st. Paurs is only sur.
passed by the grandeur of st. Peters,
To get a proper appreciation of the
real architectural greatness of St.
Peters one must view it from the
Vatican gardens on the west, a view
rarely obtained by the tourist. The
enormous size of the interior of ST.
Peters does not dawn upon one at
first. 1t is only after repeated visits
to grasp the proportions of the gigan-
tic structure. When one looks up to
the stupendous dome with its golden
mosaics, one becomes lost in admira-
ton at the magnificent work of art.
Before saying Mass at the tomb Of
st. Peter, had already met Cardinal
Gotti, the project of the Propaganda
Cardinal Gotti impressed me by his
wonderful kindness and fatherly dig
nifty. He manifested great interest in
the work of the Oregon Archdiocese
and of the entire province. I remem-
bered striking similarity between