The Irish standard., 1919-05-17
BY Robert w. Egan,

OF the K. OF G.
BY Robert w. Egan,
(Knights of Columbus Secretary
(When the Executive Officers of the
knights of Columbus were informed
by Canon A. Delaage. the Rector. that
Notre Dame Cathedral would be given
over any afternoon during Holy Week
to the Knights of Columbus and their
guests for a special service another
opportunity was seized to do service
for soldiers. A plan was Immediately
made to invite members Of the A. E. F.
An energetic Committee of Arrange.
ments was assigned to the task of ne
gotiating with the church authorities,
Monsignor James N. Connolly, Vicar
General of the Catholic Chaplain Bish-
op, United States Army and Navy
Overseas jurisdiction, and to commu-
nicate the facts to the soldiers every
where in Germany and France. The
result of this work is best told in the
appended story. The event will linger
in the memories of all who partici-
pated in the scene as one of the no.
table achievements by the knights of
Columbus during their stay in Europe)
Notre Dame Cathedral venerable in
gray old age was the scene of new
Ecclesiastical achievement today when
seven.thousand American soldiers were
stirred in heart and soul by what they
saw, felt and heard while paying hon.
age to the memorials of our Saviour.
Thousands of mothers back in America
will thank God that their soldier sons
were extended the grace to kneel and
kiss piece of the true Cross of
Christ; to kiss the actual Nail which
penetrated the flesh of their Saviour
and to kiss the Crown of the Crown
of Thorns.
Thousands of miles from home on
Tuesday of Holy Week men in khaki
heard of the invitation by the Knights
of Columbus to appear at Notre Dame
and assist in the service of veneration
of Sacred Relics. It was expected
many would come to perform an act
of piety; that others would appear out
Of curiosity, but no one anticipated
that scene would be enacted which
will live with the hallowed memories
of this mammoth and magnificent Tenn
pie of God.
They came from every part of the
A. E. F. in France and Germany. They
included Catholic and non-Catholic
chaplains, military men of every rank,
leaders in society. One of the first
distinguished guests to greet a Knights
of Columbus usher at the door of the
Cathedral was Admiral Benson, U. S.
N. Prominent Catholics of France
knelt with our doughboys who have
helped to preserve perpetual peace for
posterity.
Long before three o'clock when the
service of veneration began, Notre
Dame was crowded to the doors. Many
had their first glimpse Of this re-.
nowned sanctuary, where saints have
died and sinners have been converted;
whose walls, arches and stately carved
columns have witnessed the most mar
velous and historic scenes of centuries
They were within the sacred precincts
of temple of worship teeming with
the important epochs of efght-hundred
years. They were facing an altar be-
fore which kings have been baptized.
Monarchs newly crowned, have walked
in all their majesty, amidst the pomp
and splendor of Church and State cere-
mony where American soldiers prayed
today. Within this sacred sanctuary
have been heard the lamentations of
a nation in despair and the "Te
Deum" of a multitude when France
was victorious. Genius has found in.
spiration for song and story, poem and
praise in this stately pile of stone
the perfection and triumph of Gothic
art in architecture. The people of
France, nearly all wearing mourning,
stood in aisles as ribbon of black
surrounding the khaki of the American
soldiers. The colors of our country
infurled between flags of the Allies
were above the altar where a shaft
of vari-colored light was sent by the
sun through rose-stained glass as Ma
tures offering to glorious scene.
With such inspirational environment
an immense audience was prepared
to worship God. Gradually the shad.
ows in the church disappeared, as row
after row Of white electric bulbs pene-
trated the gloom. The illumination
unfolded new beauty and made visible
the graceful demeanor from remote
parts between the high arches, pill
lars, towers, and inches of this great