The Irish standard., 1919-05-17

of miles away thought of the Passion
of Our Lord in different way when
they beheld these awful instruments
of torture. The Nail, six inches long,
capped with heavy iron, and shaped
from thickness of half an inch to q
sharp ugly point, was given by Charlie
magne and preserved until 1890 in the
Cathedral of st. Denis. Again the Les
son of the Cross was impressed in the
presence of the memorial" AS they
took Jesus and led Him forth. And
bearing His own Cross He went forth
to that place, which is called Calvary,
but in Hebrew "Golgotha;" where they
crucified Him and with Him two 9TH
ers, one on each side, and Jesus in
the midst
The silent, impressive group escort
ing the relics passed down the center
aisle, encircled the church and re-
turned to the main altar. Men bowed
or knelt. Many men and women ex-
pressed emotion in tears. All felt they
were in the Real Presence on that
Day of Sacrifice when human souls
were redeemed.
Following benediction the privilege
OF kissing the Sacred Relics was
granted the American soldier guests.
Over five-thousand men awaited their
turn to kneel at the altar and press
their lips against the crystal encase-
ments containing the Nail, the Crown
and the Wood as 1t was passed by the
priest of Notre Dame. Men of every
creed, including an admiral, general,
distinguished Frenchmen, women of
high position in social life, knelt meek
and humble of heart alongside of
doughboys to touch the relics associat.
ed with Christ Almighty's death.
After the veneration the Treasury of
Notre Dame was opened and thousanda
of soldiers were permitted to view the
wonderful collection of historic Jewels,
vestments and antiques presented by
Kings, popes and monarchs of the
world. Their eyes were dazzled by the
many jewel easements given at differ.
ent times by nations as repositories
for the Sacred Relics exhibited
throughout the service. They saw the
Missils of the Mass used in the mar
rfage ceremony of Napoleon the Third.
The magnificent easement to carry the
Crown paid for by the ladies of Paris
and designed by Violet LIE Due was
shown to the Americans. The collec.
tion includes the chalice of Pope Plus
VII, contributed to Notre Dame by
Napoleon First; coronation robe and
cushion on which the Crown rested
when Napoleon was crowned in No.
tre Dame Cathedral; Cruciflx of the
Thirteenth Century contributed by the
Duke of Norfolk, at one time owned
by Thomas A'Becket,; the, gold
crosses of Pope Plus TX and a magni-
ficent monstrance presented by Napo-
leon; the chalice used to administer
Holy Communion to Marie Antoinette
and Louis the Sixteenth, the morning
of their execution in 1898; the mon
STRANGE given by Louis the Eighteenth
to Notre Dame church, studded with
diamonds, rubies and emeralds. The
vestments worn by Popes and the
Bishops of Paris, and the great COL
lection Of canoes. bearing the por-
traits Of 23S different Popes to the
time Of Leo the Thirteenth. Every
period of French history is shown In
the drawers and compartments of the
Notre Dame Treasury. Following this
view. the soldiers passed to the rear
of the Cathedral, and marched about
the structure. They had opportunity
to study the beautiful and magnificent
exterior view so often described by
poets, who can best tell of the classic
lines of this ancient and historical edi-
fee.
At the time Of war, of death, Of
cruelty, of suffering, of human sor-
row and human misery, when the
world is buried beneath the sorrows
and terrors of the last four years, 1t
was wonderful thing-in Holy Week
to attend this ceremony, in this world
famous Cathedral, and in prayer and
contemplation gather comfort and
strength for the days to come from the
lessons of our Crucifled Saviour.
The Knights Of Columbus are now
conducting a clubhouse in Dublin for
American soldiers who, enjoying q
furlough, visit Ireland. If they have
relations in Ireland, soldiers are al
lowed fourteen days leave of absence
to visit them, and they usually go to
Dublin first, and a X. of c. clubhouse
is greatly appreciated by them.
The new clubhouse is four-story
brick str1lcture at 70 Fitzwilliam