The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-10-07

They loved 1t and as a proof Of their
affection they strove to make it fit
symbol of the Jerusalem that, is above.
The Holy Eucharist was its Divine
Tenant. its soul quickening and ennob-
ling it. The fact that within it's walls
the holy sacrifice of the Mass was
celebrated and that there the Real
Presence found an abiding place gave
meaning and purpose and dignity to
everything.
1t was their thorough appreciation
of the residence of Jesus among them
that prompted them to lavish their
treasures on His dwelling place in
order that he might have as good, as
beautiful, as becoming, as splendid
home in every community as they
were able to provide. They desired
to prove themselves worthy hosts of
their heavenly Guest. The magnifi-
cence of their sacred edifices, the pro-
fusion of their decorations, the rich
ness of their vestments, sacred yes
sells, and furnishings, the splendor of
their ceremonial resulted from their
the earthly home of Him to whom ST.
Peter said: ''Thou art the Christ, the
Son of the living Cod
To their minds the religious temple
however grand, the altar however pre-
cious, the sanctuary however embel-
lished, the furniture however costly
formed but a setting for the pearl
of infinite price, their heavenly Guest
present with them under the sacra-
mental species.
The Altar of Sacrifice.
Within the hallowed precincts of
those peerless edif1ces, those palaces
of the King of Kings, it was the altar
for the sacrifice of the Mass which
was made the center of attraction
Why was it thus if not because they
believed with St. Thomas Aquinas of
the thirteenth century that "the sacri-
flee which is offered daily in the church
is not other than the sacrifice which
Christ Himself offered" The church
grew out of the altar and the altar
found it's raison d'etre in the Holy
Eucharist.
ct is the altar to honor which
each church is dedicated" wrote
Archbishop Winchelsea of Canterbury
in his CONSTITUTION" 1t is not
surprising that the altar in the palace
of their Eucharistic King was made as
attractive as the costliest metals, the
most precious stones, and the most
skilled workmanship could make it.
Was it not the throne of their hidden
God before whom they bowed the
head and bent the knee in alteration?
Did they not kneel before it and pray
in the lines of St. Thomas Aquinas:
adore TIE devote latens Deitas quae
sub his figuris we're latitas.
Hidden God devoutly I adore Thee
Truly present underneath these wells"
The marvel would be if it were
otherwise. The marvel would be ii
art and nature and science and wealth
and genius did not lavish their stores
on it in order to make it in some way
worthy to receive the Lamb of God,
the Infinite victim! All the beauties
of the Christian temple converged to-
ward "the throne of the Lamb" all its
symbolism pointed to Him.
mo wonder that the religious ar
fist of the Middle Ages devoted him
self to the decoration of that altar
with holy enthusiasm. He felt that
he was working within few steps
from the tabernacle in which abides
the Divine Redeemer, who counts the
drops of sweat as they fall from his
brow and records in the book of life
every stroke of his chisel."
The Fine Arts in the Service of the
Eucharist.
1t was at the central fire of love
divine on the Christian altar that the
fine arts were regenerated and trans
formed into new and a higher life.
The unparalleled outburst of artistic
genius which characterized those Gen.
turtles was a glorious tribute to the
influence of the doctrine of the Holy
Eucharist.
to mans baser instincts, but hence
forth as religions landmarks their
high and holy mission will be to
instruct, elevate, purify, sanctify. And
grandly did they fulfill it, Around the
masterpiece of divine love reposing
in the tabernacle they grouped their
ideal creations, the greatest works of
man. 1t was all for Jesus.
For Him architecture flung in air
its grandest designs; for Him poetry
sang it's most soul-inspiring hymns;
for Him painting made the walls of
His sanctuary throb with the most
sacred themes; for Him music rolled
out it's most solemn melodies; for
Him sculpture carved it's most ex-
quisite forms; for Him eloQuence took
it's highest flights. Yes-all the arts
and crafts and best things in nature
conspired to glorify the majesty of
their EuchariStic King