The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-05-22
CONTINUED from page ID
| UNIQUE M0NsTRANCE

gold, and the spiral pattern contrasts
with the interlaced designs of the
other panels. Thirteen settings re-
main of the eighteen, which were
originally placed at intervals along
the edges of the shaft and arms. Two
of the four which surrounded the cen
trail boss remain.
The shaft is held in the mouth of
a grotesque animal, surrounding a
boss, which carries down the inter
lacements and settings of the shaft,
and terminates in four small grotesque
heads-the whole forming a socket in
which was inserted the pole for carry
ing the cross.
The interlaced ornaments in the
panels on the front of the cross are
designed in pairs, the panel on one
side of the central line being re-
versed copy of that on the other side
blot work. The design of each pair
stance repeated.
On the back of the cross, along the
projecting rim, and corresponding
with the settings on the front, are
fiat discs of enamel with simple geo
metrical designs. The shaft and arms
are not divided into panels as on the
front, but are covered by single bronze
plates (three of which remain) which
were connected at the centre by orna-
ments now missing. The interlaced
ornament of gilt bronze at the back
is larger and more vigorous in treat
ment than on the front, as is often
the case in the work of the period.
To transform the cross into Mon
STRANGE it was necessary to insert
plain fiat glass in the centre instead
of the crystal boss. A base was also
added, around which is the following
inscription, done in Irish capital let
tiers, taken from the Chalice of Ar
dagh:
CRATE PRO lis QUI ME FEcER-
UNIT PRO lis QUoQUE QUI NE
FlERl FEcERUNT. M D C D XIV.
(Pray for all those who made me and
also for those who caused me to be
made. 1914.)
1t is held that this beautiful Chalice
of Ardagh was made, if not by the
same artist, at least in the same
school as the Cross of Cong, and given
to Clonmacnoise by the one who gave
the Cross to the Cathedral of Tuam.
When the Irish monasteries eX-
changed their primitive rules for those
of the great Orders of the Church,
the monks at Roscommon became
Augustinian Canons. King Ruiri U
Conchobair, the last monarch of Ire
land, who founded and endowed the
Abbey, in A. d. 1850, carried the Cross
there. 1t was concealed at the time
of the Reformation and found at the
beginning of the last century by Fa-
of Cong, in an oaken chest in cot
tage in the village. Professor Mac
Cullagh, F. r. S., F. T. G. D., pur-
chased it and presented it to the
Royal Irish Academy in 1889.
OF the artist, nothing is known
except his name, and of his work,
this treasure, a masterpiece of design
and workmanship and the finest speci-
men of it's kind in Western Europe.
The amazing accuracy of detail, the
exquisite delicacy, the noble dignity,
tell of a loving soul that knew not
labor in his intense desire to fashion a
shrine worthy of the sacred relic.
And now after 791 years, James c..
Wallace reproduces the Bachal Buidhe
for the first time in all its ancient
splendor. Like MaoEIosa MacEgan of
old he, too, fingers over his task with
devoted patience. Months of weari-
some labor are UNDECIDED if he but
bring back Maol-Iosa's shrine, not for
the priceless Wood" but for Him
Who died thereon, the Redeemer of
the world
This is the magnificent Monstrance
from which the Incarnate God blesses
all who assemble for Benediction of
the Blessed Sacrament in the beauti-
full chapel of the Monastery of the
Visitation in this city.