The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-06-17

lnlS PROOF, standing teStlmOnlal TO
the abiding love of Jesus Christ in the
Sacrament of His love, is the miracu-
lous Corporal preserved at Orvieto in
Italy
History of the Relic.
The history of the fact is briefly
this. Shortly after the middle of the
thirteenth century, during the ponti-
ficate of Urban w. who died in 1854
pious priest of Belgium decided, as
was then customary, to make pill
grimage to Rome. The holy man had
long been perplexed with doubts as
to the Real Presence of our Lord in
the Blessed Sacrament. He believed
sincerely, yet suffered necessarily
from the temptation that assailed him.
On his journey he stopped at the
shrine of the youthful virgin martyr,
st. Christina, which is situated on an
island in Lake Bolsena Here he be-
gan to say Mass. ALI went we'll until
he reached that part where the priest
divides the Sacred Host AS he took
the consecrated Host in his hand he
perceived that 1t had the color and
consistency of living flesh. Astounded
at this unWonted prodigy, he was still
more struck at the sight of drops of
blood oozing from the Host, and drop
ping on the altar. He endeavored to
conceal the fact, but the blood trickled
/ down on the altar, the altar steps, and
left bright red stains On the corporal.
The celebrant was so overpowered
that he at once ceased and refrained
from completing the Holy Sacrifice.
Placing the Host and the Corporal in
safety, he fastened to the Pope and
casting himself at the feet of the Pom
tiff, craved forgiveness. The latter
at once ordered the Bishop of Orevieto
to proceed to Bolsena and to carry
both Host and Corporal to Orvieto,
where the Pope was then residing with
his court. This was accordingly done
with great pomp, all proceeding on
foot the whole distance of ten miles.
Outside the gates of the latter city
the Pope, together with the papal
court and the whole population, has
tened forth to meet the venerated
relics. They were borne in triumph
to the city, and there exposed to the
devout veneration of the faithful
The inhabitants seized with a holy
enthusiasm determined to build a
temple that might in some degree
prove a fitting receptacle for this
priceless treasure.
In the meantime Pope Urban com
missioned St. Thomas of Aquin to
compose Mass and Office in honor OF
the Blessed Sacrament, which he ac-
cordingly did. The feast was cele-
brated the following year with extra
ordinary solemnity, and has continued
thus every year throughout the entire
world.
The inhabitants of Orvieto certainly
merited praise for the ardor and zeal
with which they set to work at the
magnificent structure that is even
now considered one of the most beau.
tiful churches in the world Neither
time, expense, nor talent was spared
to make it an everlasting monument
of their love towards the august Sac
, rament of the Altar.
The Cathedral OF Orvieto.
The facade of this Gothic edifice is
one of the most handsome in exist
{ ence. 1t is one perfect field of the
most delicate and costly mosaic work
The lower portion Of the facade is
thickly studded with countless bas re
, liefs, all marble and finely wrought
: depicting numerous scenes from the
!, Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, in
j Guiding the lives of our Lord and the
i Blessed Virgin, together with a vivid
) representation of heaven and hell
t The architectonic proportions repre-
; sent a degree of perfection and sim
j plicity not often found. A close ex
) animation of the Lady Chapel alone il
of itself liberal education in art
. 1t is adorned with frescoes from The
+ brushes of the famous Fra Angelica
/ and the no less celebrated Signorelli
! The stately, majestic, cathedral, ris
. ing in inimitable simplicity, overawei
tho hoholdor