The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-03-21
D U Ms SC 0 7 U S
ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERY OF EVIL
DENcE IN FURTHERANcE OF
HIS CAUSE OF REATlFIcArIoN.

BY the merest accident two impor-
tant pieces of evidence in furtherance
of the Cause of Beatification of the
Venerable Duns Scotus have recently
been discovered in one of the more
ancient churches of Venice by Rev.
Francis Paolini, o. F. NJ, Postulator
of the Causes for the Qualification
and Canonization of Servants of God
belonging to the Order of Friars Mi
nor. These are two oil paintings, one
of which, at least, goes to show that
as far back as the opening of the sew
enteenth century, "the Doctor of the
Immaculate Conception" was regarded
in the popular mind as saint. In the
first of these paintings six figures ap-
pear, namely, those of the Blessed
Virgin holding the Divine Child stand
ing upon her lap, St. Francis of Assist,
Duns Scotus; st. Patrick, Apostle of
Ireland, and Erin. st. Francis is rep
resented as presenting to the Immacu-
late Mother the sturdy champion of
her cherished prerogative, Duns Sco-
tus, who, it is worthy to notice, wears
the aureola around his head. And, as
If to manifest her esteem for the de-
fender of the dogma of the Immacu-
late Conception, the Blessed Virgin
presses her disengaged hand to her
bosom and inclines her head to the
words Of st. Francis. While this is
taking place on the right side, another
scene is being enacted on the left
with the Apostle Patrick-who wears
cope and mitre and carries his crozier
as a passive spectator. Erin, rep
resented as powerful young woman
wearing helmet and cuirass, much
as Britannia is portrayed, is standing
before the Divine Child The Infant
is holding out to Erin three objects
the crown surmounted by a tiny cross,
sceptre and sword; and she ac-
cepts the gift. One critic deems it
likely that this first picture was de-
signed at the request of some of the
Franciscans living in the Austrian EN-
pire in the seventeenth century, for
at that period there was not a uni
versity in Europe in which a son of
the Poor Man of Assist was not de-
Tending the dogma of the Immaculate
Conception. The subject treated in
the second picture, "The Penitential
Procession" is of greater Importance
as far as the Cause of Beatifcation
of the Venerable Duns Scotus is con-
cerned, for here we have evidence of
popular cult paid to him publicly in
the city of Cologne in the year 1919.
AS we know, all through the Middle
Ages throughout Europe, and down to
our own day in some parts of the Con-
tinent, public procession of the in
habitants was held in a city suffering
from any great calamity. The relics
Of saint greatly venerated by the
people were usually borne through
the streets, and, while every sign of
penance appeared, microscopy
prayers were offered to Heaven
through the merits of their protector,
for the cessation of the visitation.
This seems to have happened in Co
logne In 1919. Upon the shoulders of
Franciscans the bones of Duns SEQ
tus, enclosed in large reliquary, are
borne in procession. Priests, laymen
and women carrying torches follow
closely, and guards armed with hal
| berts bring up the rear. All around
are the populace betraying every
symptom of woe, praying to Heaven
and pointing, as if for help, to the
reliquary. Some carry large wooden
crosses on their shoulders as an indi-
cation of deep penitential feelings,
after the custom of the day; others
have rent their garments; all make
up touching, busy scene which Heck,
the Flemish painter, who assisted at
| this procession in 1919, beautifully
represents. The discovery has caused
something of a glad surprise in Cath
Ole, and particularly Franciscan, cir
cles, since, considering the slender
knowledge we have of "the Doctor of
the Immaculate Conception" the find
Is of special value for presentation to
the Sacred Congregation of Rites.