The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-01-31
trench around it and the water now
flows forth in great abundance.
Arabian PRAYER Beads.

trench around it and the water now
flows forth in great abundance.
Arabian Prayer Beads.
When visited the spot l had an OPP
portunity to. ride on camel or don
key. As it is only twenty minutes
ride, or three-quarters of an hours
walk, | preferred to walk. The aid
was balmy, much like an April day at
home. From the Church of the Holy
Family, which is situated on hill
towering over the Virgins Tree, the
clock struck twelve, followed by the
Angelus. Many people of the road
bowed their heads in prayer. Our
Arab guide had his rosary in his hand
the beads were dropping quickly
through his fingers as he murmured
on each bead allah, Allah"
AS he could speak very good English
asked him if I might examine his
prayer beads. He very graciously
handed them to- me. They were made
of amber, strung on a silken cord,
very much like our rosary, but where
the crucifix is attached they have a
silken tassel; on these beads they re-
cite a verse from the Koran Cor Kur-
han)-"O High, o Great God, Thy per-
lection l extol." Again they repeat.
"The perfection of God I extol;" on
the smaller beads thirty-three times,
"The perfection of God-the Great
with His praise forever"-is said on
one large bead praise be to Cod
thirty-three times-"Extolled be His
dignity, there is no Deity but He
thirty-three times God is most great
and greatness and praise be to God
in abundance'-once. The beads are
ninety-nine and have a mark of one
bead between each thirty three. They
are called Sub bah" They are made
of different materials, some are OF
precious jewels-the ones commonly
used on the streets are made of coral,
aloes, mother of pearl, fruit stones or
small seeds. l saw many men with
prayer beads in their hands on the
public streets and cars, but do not
OCO1uo Qhy OCou0 LII IAS
hands of women.
I did not mean to go into this de-
scription here, but I am sure many
will be as interested as l was to know
the Egyptian form of prayers on a
strand of beads, so much like our cher
ished Rosary.
The Church of Our Lady.
By this time our guide had finished
and we had reached the high fence
surrounding the church and grotto of
Our Lady. We rang a bell at the gate
and in answer an old Arab unlocked
the great iron gate and with our guide
we entered the garden to visit the
church and grotto which adjoins the
sacred tree. The church having been
built by the Jesuits recently, is very
beautiful Inside it has six large panel
paintings representing scenes from
our Lords childhood. The church was
heavy with incense and perfume OF
fresh flowers everywhere. Through the
window branch of apple blossoms
was peeping, scattering fragrant pet
ais at our Mothers feet.
A statue of Our Lady is on the wall
outside the window in little grotto
of ferns, creeping vines and wild roses
Here they grow only those plants
whose beauty and perfume in the
language of the Church and Holy Writ
are emblematic of Mary's perfection
Here too, the celebrated balm trees
of old may once more flourish.
The Balm Tree.
The Fathers of the Church speak
of the mystic significance in the balm
trees being cultivated at Matarieh
The interpreters of the Scriptures put
into the mouth of the Virgin Mary 90
gave a sweet smell like cinnamon anC
aromatical balm" - Ecclesiasticus
xxiv,-2O-21. In the balm they figure
realization of this oracle. The balm
of Matarieh was for long time the
only kind used for the Sacred Chrisn
in administering Baptism and Con
firmation.
Through the Sultan's garden flows /:
stream like tiny thread of silver
whose banks are carpeted with thicl
green moss. All about is a wild lux
uriance of flowers and foliage-tal
poplars, lines and olive trees ar
everywhere, great beds of pink gera
NUNS and narcissus, tulips, white L
laos and bright red peoples, stud tn
green foliage, and the voices of will
song birds in bursts of song chant on
Lady's praise the whole year long.
One could remain many hours i
this old garden hallowed by holy foo
prints and sacred memories of tn
tender Joseph, our Blessed Mothe
and her Infant Child.