Year: 1875

Paradise Loat, bearing on his breast that page
OF Scripture on which are written Alpha and
omega-l am the first and the last )" Michael,
with his glorious armor, on the shield of
which is recorded, "Quis sieas Dexs-Wbo ia like
to God ~; Gabriel, with . scroll ON which are
emblazoned. the words of salvation. q Arn
Maria, gratia plena p; and fourthly, Raphael.
with his staff of guidance and look of holv
counsel.


Between the two parts of which this altar
consists, and joining, as it were, human hopes
with heavenly visions, stand the two great
Apostles of the Church-st. Paul, gazing
earthward, as though still lost in wonder at
that exceeding mercy which called him to q
knowledge of the truth-the grand and glo.
rious Convert who turned not back frou the
ways of God; ST. Peter, looking heavenward,
as though drawing from the very throne of
grace the strength needed for the accomplish.
ment of his mission. These two figures fill the
heart with awe, and bring the mysteries of
Faith very near our human comprehension.


These are the details. The one grand scene
commemorated by all these exquisite parts in
that of the Assumption and Coronation of the
Blessed Virgin. The Father and the Son hold
the crown above the yelled head of the sinless
mother, while the Spirit Dove spreads his
wings in benediction over her. All about the
altar, and within the recess where the throne
of the Blessed Trinity is placed, may be seen
myriads of angel faces, gazing out in WON'T
love and awe, upon the lovely vision a p r
whom angel lips had called Blessed amo5x a.
women. @ss


The Virgins face is not youthful, but is fan
of calm and sweetness he attitudes of the
adorable persons of the Trinity are benign and
graceful; and, with those grand Archangel
faces and grave apostolic forms below, the
whole scene is at once sublime and beautiful,
and constitutes picture unlike anything wed
have seen heretofore. ~


The first impression as we stand before the
altar, and behold it thronged with figures Of
saints and angels, is that it has been permit
ted to man to see those glories revealed only
to the eyes of angels; and we stand amazed
at the "cloud of witnesses" which surround the
Ever Adorable Sacrament of the Altar. And
as we read the meaning of the whole, we see
how the figures of tho first compartment re-
late to this mystery of Faith" and cluster
round the Tabernacle where it lies hidden from
our view aud and that those of the second
refer directly to that act of Omnipotent love
and power, the Coronation of the Virgin
while the centre of attraction for all hearts is
the Blessed Virgin, "who in highest heaven,
yet not out of sight of Earth, in beatitude past
utterance, in blessed fruition of all that faith
creates and love DESIRES amid angel hymns
and starry glories" stands revealed as the
Queen of mercy, the PatroHess of sinners, the
Immaculate Mother of all mankind.


This is but an imperfect description of o
most beautiful work, which must be seen in
order to be appreciated-and to those Chris
tians who have longed to visit the grand c.
thedrals of Europe in order to contemplate the
homage paid to Religion by Art, we will only
say that the Chnrch of the Assumption con-
tains masterpiece which must gladden. all
who gaze upon it, not only because of it's rare
artistic excellence but because of its beauti-
full tribute to Her who in all ages has been
"The Lady" of chivalrous souls. and the pity
ing Advocate of those who implored her
help.


The Redemptorist Fathers may we'll be proud
OF this glorious monument of Faith and the
people of this parish may well congratulate
their pastors whose enlightened zeal and art
tistic judgment procured for their Church and
their city a work of Art, so beautiful in design
and sublime in conception, that it may one
day become a shrine of pilgrimage not only to
the clients of Mary but to all lovers of the
Beautiful throughout the land.