The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-04-11
y Rev. jaime. Murphy, Phi. D., In Dub.

SAONNX/GAHIGH
BY Rev. James Murphy, Phi. D., In Dub
lin Freeman.
He will find many of these inscrip.
lions long and eloquent, telling the
the meaning of Christ's suf-
ferings and death. Should he take the
mountain paths and climb up into the
Alpine heights where the Edelweiss
grows he will find the Crucifix higher
still, planted on some towering peak,
bidding him to have courage, and
teaching him life's lessons-"Per as.
pera ad astas" ('"Through hard things
to the stars"), which in the lesson of
the Cross means-"T Through the Cross
to the Crown"
An Inspiring Sight.
Not only are the sides of the noun
tain paths lined with crucifixes, but
many a mountain path may in truth
be called a way of the Cross, for Sta
tions Of the Cross are erected along
its side. Day after day you will see
little groups of Tirolese and German
and Austrian travellers making these
Stations. When there is feast day
in one of the mountain chapels you
will very often find whole families
making the Stations of the Cross on
their way to Mass; and the mountains
will be- vocal with the deep murmur of
their prayers as they recite the Rosary
passing from Station to Station. Of
tentimes they will spend three hours
in the ascent, in memory of Our Lords
three hours agony, as preparation
for the hearing of Mass in the noun
tain chapel. Could any better prep.
aration be suggested to at the mind of
the Christian for the realization Of the
meaning of the Sacrifice Of the Mass?
1t is a most inspiring sight, that of
these Tirolese Christians making the
Stations of the Cross on their way to
Mass. It is yet in the early morning,
when the sandalled Dawn, like a
Greek god, takes
The hurdles of the hills,
And the brooding earth rubs sleepy
eyes
At the song some lone bird thrills"
You will hear the murmur Of prayer
making harmony with the song of the
mountain stream, and the sun mount
ing the lower hills is reflected from
the snow-capped peaks above you; it
is as a great cathedral made by the
Creators hands for His own glory and
praise. These mighty hills are surely
a fitting place for prayer, for what sur
roundings could better declare the
beauty and power Of the Almighty?
After all, you will say, it is small won
der that the hills have such a sacra'
mental effect on the souls Of the peo'
pie who dwell among them.
The Pilgrim Travellers.
These pilgrim travellers will often
times have made the ascent without
having eaten a morsel, for they may
have been preparing to receive Holy
Communion at the Feast-Mass. But
when Mass is over they may come to
the parish house and be refreshed, for
these mountain parish priests gener.
ally keep hospitable inns, where the
weary traveller is welcome to bed and
board. They are shepherds of the
body as we'll as of the soul. Here is
an inscription which I read over the
door of pastors house in a little
mountain parish about twenty miles
from Innsbruck:
Hier der Writ
Elm Seelenhirt
Auf ener ewigen Wohl
Bedacht sein wird.
(Here the innkeeper is shepherd
of souls, and will be solicitous for your
eternal welfare.)
To me it is all very touching, for IT
recalls the early days Of Christianity,
when the Christians held their love
feasts after the reception of Holy
Communion. Whoever sees these
Tirolese Christians around the table
in the parish house, happy and con
tented, and making in with one an
other as II they were all members Of
the one family, win be inclined to say
with the pagans Of old; "see These
Christians, how they love one an
other"
have spoken Of the inscriptions
one llnds on 90 many of the crucihxes
along The roadsides and pathways
They form large part Of the peasant
literature Of the Tyrol. It is impos
sibie 10 translate thesf texts into Eng
lish, for The strength; '6stecisaly, thu
religious strength; II the 9ermsnNlan
4. ia 4, ,.A~J+NRwA1aSh.r fva ala