The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-01-03
SWISS PLACES OF WORSHIP

grims, the rooms in the basement
being placed at their free disposal.
Between 1S01-1S06 on the initiative
of Napoleon Bonaparte, came the
revolutionizing period of the construc.
ton of the Simplon road. The great
Corsican had also conceived the
project of erecting large hospice on
the summit of the Pass, which should
serve as barracks, if necessary The
realization of this plan was, however
frustrated by his sudden fall. In 1926
the ST. Augustine monks of the Great
st. Bernard purchased the building in
it's very unfinished condition and, as.
sisted by liberal donations, were en-.
abled to complete it. Four monks
were henceforth stationed at the
HoSpice, in order to shelter and assist
poor and weary wayfarers. However,
there being hotels near, very few
travellers avail. themselves Of their
gratuitous hospitality. ... g.,
The Simplon Pass served as an in.
ternational high road of commerce for
quite a century, until the eventful
year 1906, when the tunnel was com.
pleted Since then the great bulk OF
the traffic is handled by the new way
and the silence on the once so busy
Pass is interrupted only by the ma.
tives and a number of tourists who
drive over this road of scenic wonders
In the Rhone Valley.
There are few worldly events in
those beautiful mountain valleys. The
interest of the inhabitants is conse.
quently centered on religion, and the
various Catholic holidays are there.
fore always observed in a very fervent
spirit The Corpus Christi celebra-
ton in the Lotschen Valley has be,
come famous. and the Pilgrimage pro,
cession of the pious inhabitants of
Zermatt to the tiny chapel Maria
yum Schnee," on the Schwarzsee
above the village, is another touching
sight. Weather permitting, Mass is
said>i in that lofty attitude Of 1898 feet
on Sundays during summer. The feast
of Our Dear Lady of the Snow is
celebrated here yearly on August 5
and natives as we'll as visitors flock
in great numbers to this romantic spot
to attend the service.
Sion.
The capital of the Canton of Valais
Sion, with the .castle-crowned hills in
the background, is one of the most
interesting ancient cities in the cOun
try. On the lower hill to the right
on the site of a Roman. fort, stands
the castle of Valeria, surrounded by
towers and other buildings, among
which is the beautifully renovated
Church of Notre Dame of VALERIE, dat
ing from the '9th-13th century, with
interesting paintings, carved choir
stalls and church treasures. In the
town itself is the handsome 18th cen
fury Gothic Cathedral, with a tower
of the 9th century, belonging to 9
former structure, and the Church Of
ST. Theodule, named in honor of the
first Bishop of Sion, who is said tc
have lived there from 381-391 A. D.
There is a curious legend current
in the >Valais to the effect that the
Pass called Col Theodule was also
named after this first Bishop of Sion
and that he had to cross the same I'm
der remarkable circumstances.
The Pope of that time, in the fourth
century, it is related, had presented
very fine bell to the sanity prelate
OF, the Valley Of the Rhone, recently
converted to christianity But what
a task, in those days of primitive
| means of transportation, to transfer
such a bulk of metal from Rome tt
the Alps! The Bishop was at a loss
as to how he could ever have his
precious gift brought within hearing
distance of his flock, but when he hat
| practically given up all hope of solv
| ing the problem, startling offer came
Satan, ever on the lookout for soul
appeared to him and volunteered tt
transport the bell on his back from
Rome to Sion in one night; on one
! condition, namely, that if he arrived
| within the walls of the Valaisan CAPT
tai before cock-crow, the soul of st
, Theodule should be his forever.
St. Theodule entered upon the bar
gain and Satan set out with the heavy
bell and the Bishop clinging to it. The
Valais was entered by way of the
Pass now known as the Col Theodule
and long before dawn the devil wa'
already preparing to jump over th'
city walls, when the saint cried on
from the bell: ,"Crow, cock, crow, o.
may you never crow again." ant
Immediately piercing concert rem
the air-all the cocks of Sion awok'
at the voice of the worthy prelate
and it is from that moment that the.
began to crow so early in the morn
ing.
(To be continued.)