The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-01-31
A GER MAN SHRINE

Where is Kevelear? How many of
it is one of the hallowed spots of
Mother Earth. There multitudes of
souls are strengthened and consoled,
there the Mother of God is honored
and appealed to, and there Our Lady
responds to thousands of hearts.
The little miraculous picture of the
place has long history. 1t is a small
wood cut of Our Blessed Lady Con-
solatrix Affictorum. The chapel,
which was built in 1915, contains only
one simple altar, and consequently
Mass is often said there at 2 a. M, in
order to give the many priests a
chance to officiate. 1t is noteworthy
that pilgrims do not go to the shrine
for the cure Of bodily ailments, but for
spiritual blessings. Their faith and
their devotion are marvellous. From
daybreak till nightfall one hears the
Ave Maria sung or said. In pouring
rain or sunshine, the pilgrims, led by
their parish priests, arrive by thou
sands, coming from long distances on
music playing, and the people always
accompanying them in song. The
churches are crowded. The communi-
cants are so numerous on feast days
during the summer that seven priests
begin at o'clock in the morning and
continue for several hours giving Holy
Communion. The Communion rail is
about 10 feet long and is most beau
tifully carved with representations of
the Last Supper and other subjects of
the Life of Our Lord. The miners
from the Rhine come i'm their working
attire, the fishermen and fisherwomen
| in their distinctive dress, and ming
ling among them are seen the Kais-
er's uniforms. Besides the great pro-
cession, which is formed on the ar
rival of the pilgrims, there are other
smaller ones, in which the partici-
pants are in gala dress and national
costume, and which are as effective
as they are touching. If the pilgrims
reach Kevelear in the morning they
enter the church at once, so as to as
sist at the Mass and listen to the ser
mon. Those who come in the after
noon have benediction and a sermon,
and when the weather permits the SER
mons are preached in the open air.
But where is Kevelear? It is in the
northwest part of Germany, near the
Dutch frontier. 1t is neat and clean
little town, and has population of
5000, and traces its history back to
the thirteenth century. 1t has good
streets and four large churches. The
new parish church is very spacious,
and is proud of its beautiful stained
glass windows. The Marien Kirche, a
pure Gothic structure, was built in
1853, and holds vast number of peo-
pie 1t rejoices in excellent stained
glass windows, and parts of the wall
and pillars are covered with exquisite
frescoes, equal to the best seen in It
ally. The church of the poor Clares is
also open to the public. Finally, there
is the Crosse Kapelle," which was
erected in 1916 1t holds 1000 people
In this "Kapelle" the pilgrims meet to
get the benediction before leaving fol-
their homes, and one notices look OF
sadness on the faces of those good
folk as they bid good-by to the Con
solatrix Afflictorum. In this "Kapelle'
is placed the large wax candle which
each pilgrimage brings annually. II
bears the date of their coming anG
also the shield of their guild. In this
"Kapelle," Frederick William l oil
Prussia, once offered candle and
promised his protection to Our Lady's
chapel; a promise which he faithfully
kept. He brought many rosaries also
saying that they were for his Catholic
soldiers. At Potsdam, just outside the
town, are the twelve Stations of the
Cross, handsomely carved in gray
stone, fixed in beautiful little Gothic
chapels, and all along the way are
lines of trees, with rose gardens or
every side, for flowers are much cul
tivated in this little town. Near the
eleventh Station is an immense oak
under which a pulpit has been erected
Here sermon is preached for those
who are making the Stations. There
are torch-light professions also, which
are very impressive; as the pilgrims
march along they sing the Ave Maria
that re-echoes all over the town. Sure
" God must send many blessings on
the little town where so many prayers
ascend to Heaven.