The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-10-07
CHAPELS IN A SALT MINE
S IN G U / A r LITTLE CHURCHES
FAR DOWN IN THE DEPTHS
OF THE EARTH.


the fact that chapel is under the
ground. Numberless, indeed, are the
instances of such, beginning from the
very earliest-those of the first Chris
tians in the Catacombs. But when the
chapels are from twenty to twenty
five minutes walk from the light of
the sun, down into the earth, and are
the deepest located in all the world !;
and yet, Notwithstanding, have many
and stated occasions for worship, at
tended by throngs from near and far
then these chapels are among the
most singular in the world, says a
writer in The Ave Maria. Apart from
being famous, too, they are situated
in one of the most wonderful mines
existing anywhere.
In the war-toWn Province of Galicia,
twenty-three miles southeast of era
COW, which has been the center of
fierce hostilities in the present
devastating war, lies the town of VIE
licka. Here are the largest and most
interesting salt mines, or mine, in all
LAC SIODC. NInC0 10 G1IC
proper word; for the property, which
is owned by the Austrian Government,
comprises eight main pits, some of
which, incredible as it may seem, are
upward of 900 feet deep, in addition
to as many as 60 shafts of two and
three-quarters miles in aggregate
depth.
It is a wonderfully underground,
with scenes of extraordinary beauty
and weirdness, including sixteen mys-
terious lakes. But most wonderful of
all are the scenes of quietude and
prayer. Access is gained either by
means of the hydraulic lifts or, as
many prefer, by the long, slanting
stairways cut in the solid rock salt,
conducting one to the various levels
of the mine, of which there are seven.
Only those nearest the surface, how
ever, are open to visitors.
On the first level, some 260 feet be-
low are situated the chapels. Here,
off one of the main passages, is the
Chapel of Saint Anthony, where
many, many thousands have wor-
shipped since it was opened in 1898.
The vestibule to the chapel consists
of symmetrical archway, decorated
with scdlptured figures at the sides.
The interior of the chapel accom-
modates some hundreds of worship
pers, and is beautified by an altar cut
out of solid salt, with panels showing
the Passion of Our Lord. On the
altar steps are the figures of two
kneeling monks. Along the sides of
the chapel are shrines, and the
statues of saints most beautifully
wrought out of the solid salt. Many
times in the year the priests of the
neighborhood officiate in this chapel,
not only in memory of Saint Anthony
himself, but also of the devout miner
who unaided and persevering, carved
the chapel
Hard by, the light of the guides
torch illumes a magnificent shrine to
the Blessed Virgin, within an ornate
archway Again, as one moves along,
one notes figures of saints in the at
titude of prayer and alteration; and
a few of the smaller chambers bear
the names of some of the best known
martyrs.
Among the other chapels, one Of
the most noted is that called the
Queens Chapel, with its magnificent
altar, containing, on its sides, views
of Bethlehem. Tradition has it that
one man spent many months in silent
effort to carve out of the dazzling
white salt this fine piece of sculpture,
now shown to every visitor as one of
the most interesting sights of the
mine. AS one turns from it, the beau
tiful candelabra catch the eye, and
make one marvel that SO delicate and
gossamer conception, with SO many
pendant chains of white, has so long
resisted the wear and tear of use and
time.
Here in these underground houses
of God the devout among the miners
come to pray. Here, too, during the
hostilities which sweep tornado-like
across the country and town over
head, many of the civilian inhabitants
have found safety and rest for the
body, and succor for the soul in
prayer.
TO LoURDEs PROM