Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-16
RELICS OF CHRIST
Preserved in Imperial Palace
at Vienna.
SPEAR THAT PIERCED SIDE
Monks Dream Led to Discovery by
Godfrey de Bouillon.
PIECE OF THE HOLY CROSS
Other Mementos Part of Those
Brought From Jerusalem by En-
press Helena in 325.
SPEAR THAT PIERCED SIDE
PIECE OF THE HOLY CROSS
By WILLIAM p. CURTIS.

By WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald. =
In the imperial palace at Vienna. in,
what is known as the treasury. surrounds
ed by millions Of dollars worth of crown
jewels and the regalia Of the holy Roman
empire, is the lance, or spear, which is
said to have been used by Roman SOL
der to pierce the side Of Jesus Christ as
He hung upon the cross
|. The weapon is of iron, with a lancet
shaped blade and hollow socket for the
shaft.
During the reign Of Emperor Ohio the
Great narrow slit was made in the
center of the blade. Two explanations
are given.
One is that piece of the metal was
desired by the archbishop for the cathe-
dral at Prague. The other is that the
emperor desired to make the trophy more
holy my inserting In the slit one Of the
nails that pierced a hand Of Christ: and it
Is there.
In making the incision. however, the
blade was split. The two pieces have
since been bound together by ligament
of gold.
This lance was used as a scepter at the
coronation Of the sovereigns Of the holy
Dream Discovers Lance.
The historic value Of the relic is great.
ly increased by the circumstances of its
| miraculous recovery by Godfrey de Bouil-
lon and other leaders of the first crusade
in June, 1907, when the Christian hosts at
Antioch were spending their darkest
hours, and we're reduced to boiled fig
leaves and OK hides s0ftened in water for
food.
A young monk named Peter Barthole-
NEW had q vision that the lance which
pierced the Savior's side was buried in
days later and carried at the head Of the
knights during the remaining crusade
After tho fall Of Jerusalem 1t was car
ried to France and preserved, by Louis
sword Of Chariemagne. Since 1766 it has
been In the imperial treasury at Vienna.
In the same case. surrounding this In
teresting object, are several, -other pre-
cions relics, OF the crucifxion.. including
piece OF the holy cross, nine inches
long, two inches wide and more than an
inch In thickness. which Is set In a case
OF gold. It is the largest piece in size,
except one preserved in Rome.
There Is also small remnant Of the
tablecIoth used at the last supper, which
is piece OF linen Of irregular shape. and
a piece OF coarsely woven linen. en-
brotdered with oriental designs, which
is said to be a part Of the napkin with
which Christ wiped the feet of His
disciples. This relic is referred to in the
will OF Ohio " In 1918.
There Is piece of oak, q fragment Of
the manger In which Christ was born.
about six inches long. preserved In a
reliquary Of gold heavily set with dia-
monds. rubies and pearls: q bone from
the arm Of st. Anne, mother Of the Holy
Virgin. in q tube OF gold with glass COW.
erings at each end: three links of the
chain with which the apostles Peter, Paul
and John were bound. presented to EN-
peror Charles Nv by Pope Urban Vi;
q piece of the tunic of the apostle St.
John; a tooth of John the Baptist, set in
gold and suspended in crystal vessel.
and large reliquary OF gold in imita-
ton Of the Hebrew tabernacle. Undecided
with precious stones. containing the earth
that was saturated with the blood Of
Stephen. the first martyr. who was
stoned.
This reliquary belonged to the Emperor
Charlemagne. and was always used at
coronations Of the holy Roman empire,
being placed upon the altar, together
with the sword Of Charlemagne and his
book of the gospels. upon which the
emperors have taken the oath for CEN
turtles.