The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-07-15

OF the pilgrims came by way of trains
and autos, good many walked the
distance on foot. Headed by small
band composed of brass instruments,
piccolos and flutes, they left their re-
spective villages playing that mourn
full, yet joyous little bit of music
handed down from time immemorial.
Though the words of the melody are
never uttered, still every pilgrim
knows them to be as follows:
Adam hattie sieben S0hne
Sieben S0hne hattie Adam
Sleben Tochter muss er haben
UNI all zu bestaden"
This melody is repeated time and
time again. The monotonous ring OF
this quaint piece of lyric with such
meaningless words, soon catches the
human heart. After ten minutes of it,
a feeling creeps over, one as never ex-
perienced before. Is it sorrow? Is
it joy? You don't know but YOU love
the melody, and you may be sure that
after you have attended the dancing
procession you will be repeating the
melody to yourself for weeks and
weeks to come.
The Bishops Sermon.
On Pentecost Monday, most of the
pilgrims had arrived. Whilst some
OF them took to the hotels, others pre-
ferred to pass the night in silent pray.
er in the open fields. Tuesday morn
ing at 8 o'clock, the dancing process
sion was opened with an eloquent SER
| mon delivered by Bishop Nommesch
of Luxembourg. Tradition has it that
the preacher of the day must deliver
his address standing on a wash tub
placed in the center of the bridge
over the river Sure. 1t was indeed
curious sight Whilst many of the
visitors smiled and good many of
the English lifted their monocles, the
home people knew in their hearts that
their good Bishop was but following
to the letter the sacred traditions that
were theirs since the ninth century.
The bridge spanning the river Sure
is about 40 feet long. Hence. rela-
lively few people had the honor OF
standing on the bridge itself. AS in
apostolic, times, the vast multitudes
assembled on the two banks of the
river and silently listened for whole
hour to the instructions and admoni-
tons as given by the Bishop.
How They Dance.
Heading the pilgrims came the Swiss
Guard of Honor Next in order came
| the. bearer of a large cross accom-
l,panied by eight men carrying the ma
tional emblem. Then came brass
band followed by some 400 young
school boys of Echternach. These
were picked" boys, i. e., the best the
| village had to offer. All of them look
ed the picture of health. Soon the
band began to play and the boys as
quickly responded with vigorous
| jumping dance. They said nothing,
but one could see plainly that they
were filed with joy, filled with the en-
/ thusiasm of their youth. At last their
chance had come to dance their way
| to the shrine of their great saint.
| Three steps forward and two steps
backward, they danced to the tune of
that monotonous yet gripping piece of
ancient music. Row after row they
passed in perfect order.
1 Then came, ten to row, several
thousand men, each having in his
hand pamphlet containing the litany
of st. Willibrord. Instead of dancing,
they simply marched, marched as the
| Crusaders of old. Never shall forget
the sight of these men as they pass
ed by me singing in diverse tones the
i Continued on page 80