The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-05-27
LETTER FROM OUR SPECIAL COR
RESPONDENT.
An Interesting Description of Cath
oIic Pageant-The Story of the
Cross in TabIeaux-Benedic-
tion Of the Precious
Blood.
Bruges, May 18th, 1911.

Bruges, May 18th, 1911.
Last Monday the old city arose from
prayer and robed herself in her rich
est apparel. And if she is beautiful
in her veil of silence and meditation.
how lovely is she not when she hangs
out her great Flemish tapestries, and
decks her maidens in those robes
which tell us where Memling and Van
Eycke and Rubens found their glow
ing colors. She is like her own Be-
guines, a survival of the past as fresh
and vital as if the centuries had not
passed over her, half forgotten in this
quiet nook of Europe, with only the
lowly but pure fame which comes to
good women-for Bruges is remem-
bered for her sons.
You arrived last night, possibly
from the shores of England with the
band of English pilgrims who come
bringing the relics of their martyrs to
honor the King of Martyrs, or with
the stream of tourists who flock in
from France, and, Holland and Italy,
many of whom come from across the
Atlantic. And as you drew near to
the city you saw through the evening
twilight a glimmer of soft lights like
a girdle cast about her, and you heard
for the first time the sweet sgund of
her bells. The carlton is the voice
of Bruges, and it is a voice of in
finite sweetness fraught with the bur-
den of a thousand memories, mem
ories grave and gay and tragic, all
softened by time, and remembered in
that spirit which breathes TIE Deum
for the whole of life
And on Sunday you were awakened
early by feeling of exhileration and
hustle in the air, and you went out
to early Mass, possibly with the pill
grimage, or by yourself. If the latter,
Notre Dame or the Cathedral would
call you. They are both great
churches full of that richness and
beauty which distinguishes Belgium
in her service of God. In Notre Dame
you would have offered your prayers
before Michael Angeles magnificent
marble Madonna, and in both fanes
you would have found the Guild stand
ards out, and the great groups of the
Life of Our Blessed Lord ready for
the procession of the morrow, the
angels and statues coming down from
their places to join in the general re.
joicing.
In the Chapel of the Precious Blood
Over the dear old cobbled ways
many feet are hurrying, for the quaint
houses are already preparing their
decorations for the Kings progress
and there is much to see. Crossing
the market-place beneath the shadow
of the beautiful belfry, we enter the
Place de Bourg, medieval gem
which will be the setting for the final
scene of the Pilgrimage of the Pre-
cious Blood. In the corner on the
right lies the Chapel du SAINT Sang
nesting against the protecting walls
of the Hotel de Vile, where Flemish
Kings keep watch above the treasure
brought to the old city long ago by
Count of Flanders from the Holy
Land. Within the chapel marvellous
lights are cast by the painted glass
on the massive altar of solid silver
over which tapers the shrine. of the
Holy Blood. On the further side O.
the chapel is a dais, with small
platform before it, against which art
two flights of low steps. On this dai!
sits an aged priest, and upon a Grim
son velvet cushion before him, h,
holds the priceless relic of our Blessed
Lord-the most holy of all relics, TO,
it is not only something which ha!
been His, it is a part of Him. Be
fore the platform kneel numerous wor
shippers absorbed in prayer, while
constant stream of pilgrims passes III
and down the steps, kneeling as the,
kiss the long crystal phial crownet
with silver and diamonds within
which can plainly be discerned th
dark substance of the Precious Blood
Every Friday morning, and on thi
Sunday before the pilgrimage, this &C
of veneration is permitted and Cath
olic visitors to Bruges should certain
ly avail themselves of such a wonder
full privilege.
On the Quai de Rosaire.
There are many beauty spots i
this Venice of the north from whenc
to see the wonderful procession to th
fullest advantage, but none is bette
than the old Quai de Rosaire. Her
you will see the long line of colo
and beauty coming towards you bt
tween tall old buildings and tree
nfn6 ! q Ts-.1.A
edge the banks of one of BRUCE
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