The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1929-10-24

ln6 year I0CO VIII WlIhCoS
strange anomaly in Norway when
the ninth centenary of the death of
the Catholic Saint Olaf will be cele-
brated by the Protestant popula-
ton. st. Olaf was the Catholic
king of the 18th century who abol-
ished paganism and proclaimed the
Catholic religion the official state
religion. Since the revolt of Luth-
er in the 10th century, however,
Norway is predominantly Protes
tant, Catholics numbering but $500
in total of 2,780,000.
The official program calls for
long and splendid celebration both
civil and religious. Beginning JAIN
uary 1, 1880 the name of Trond-
hjem, ancient capital of Norway
and once the see of the Catholic
, archbishop, will be changed to Mi
daros, as it was called in the days
of st. Olaf A special set of stamps
/ bearing the likeness of the Saint
will be issued for the year. Civil
observances which begin at the end
of February, include assemblies
and expositions. The religious fes-
rivals will start on May 10 with the
opening of the Observation-Disclosures
Exposition containing objects con-
! temporaneous with Saint Olaf and
relics of the middle ages.
| The most important event will be
| the week of st. Olaf to be held
at Trondhjem, July 28-August 8.
On July % the ancient Catholic
Cathedral now restored and in the
hands of Protestants will be CON
secrated' by Protestant bishops. For
the day following, the actual ami
versary of the Saints death, is
scheduled the climax CT the cere-
monies. In the present of the gov
eminent officials and Protestant
pastors from Norway, Sweden, Den.
/ mark, and America, the Catholic
hymns relating to Saint Olaf will
be sung, followed by a special chant
! composed for the occasion. In con-
| clusion there is scheduled a Sol
emn Mass in Latin, with kyrie
Gloria, and Credo. Other cities con-
nected with the Saints life, prin-
cipally Stiklestad, the scene of his
martyrdom, will also celebrate.
It is of note that while the care
monies are essentially Catholic in
tone, and commemorative of events
entirely Catholic, the word Catho-
lie does not appear in the an.
nouncements. Though the calebra.
ton views Saint Olaf more particu'
larry in the light of a national he.
70 and champion of Norwegian in.
dependence, yet priests of Norway
look upon the recalling of Cathc'
lie traditions as a possible thought
as yet insignificant approach to tine
Church.
The Catholic population intends
to observe the centenary following
the appeal of the Catholic Commit
tee that the Mother Church worth
lily honor her noble son." Pilgrims
are expected from foreign coun
tries, principally from Normandy
whose inhabitants are descendants
of the Norwegian vikings and from
Rouen, France, where st. Olaf was
baptised. During the week of st
Olaf" Solemn Mass will be celebrat.
ed each day, and on July 20 9
great pilgrimage will make its way
to Stikestad, where Catholics have
been gathering for the past twelve
years to honor the saint. Mass will
be celebrated in the partially com
pleted Church being erected to re-
place the ancient building now in
the hands of the Protestants.
Olaf Haraldson Saint, martyr
and King of Norway (1115-30)
born 995, was a son of King Har.
aid Grenske, of Norway. Accord
ing to Snorre, he was baptised in
998 in Norway, but more probably
about 1910 in Rouen, France, by
Archbishop Robert. In his early
youth he went as viking to Eng.