RHEIMS CATHEDRAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 December 1937, Page 4

RHEIMS CATHEDRAL

SHATTERED SHRINE RESTORED

RHEIMS, October 19

Rheims Cathedral, now almost completely restored after the havoc ot the wax* was consecrated to-day with elaborate and picturesque ceremony. The consecration which began at six a.m., and lasted for live hours, was accomplished in accordance wi th the rites of the ancient Roman and Gallic liturgies. Haze hid from view the tops oi the cathedral towers when the Archbishop. Cardinal Suhard, emerged from a door and went to the temporary chapel built in the masons’ workshops. Here had been placed the altar which had been used since the war in that part of the cathedral open for divine service, and on it were historical lelics. These include the Chalice of St. Remy, containing the miraculously obtained oils used for the anointing of the Kings of France, and the “nave” of St. Ursula, a reliquary in.the shape of a ship placed on .the table at the royal banquet which followed that ceremony.

In the chapel the Archbishop was invested with a white stole and cope. Thus robed and attended by a retinue of bishops, priests and acolytes, he went to the grand portal, the most celebrated feature of the building. For some time he knelt before it in prayer. Here benediction was given to the water to be used for the aspersion of the Cathedral. THREE KNOCKS.

Still followed by his retinue, the Cardinal next walked three times round tlie Cathedral, sprinkling the walls with holy water. Each time he passed the main portal he knocked on the door with his crozier and demanded entrance from the guardian deacon posted inside, supporting his petition with prayer.

When the Archbishop knocked for a third time the guardian opened the door. Passing between prostrate subdeacons. on whom he bestowed his blessing, the Cardinal advanced to the high altar. Here he blessed the “Gregorian water” which contained salt as the symbol of penitence and wine as the symbol of munificence. With this liquid he aspersed the high and the secondary altars.

On the pavement before the main altar a St. Andrew’s cross had been outlined with small squares of ashes. With his crozier the Archbishop traced the letters of the Greek alphabet on one arm of the cross formed by 24 squares, and on another arm formed by 23 squares lie traced the letters of the Latin alphabet.

The relics were then borne to the altar in procession by the Papal Nuncio, Mgr. Valeri, the Archbishop of A itch, the Bishops of Chalons and Soissons and the Auxiliary Bishop of Itheims.

Next the high altar was consecrated- 11 is a reconstruction of that al which the Kings of France were consecrated and before which Joan of Arc knelt with her banner. An immense block of black marble, it bears on a grading the cross and the candlesticks used for the consecration of Charles N., the last but. one of the French kings. PUBLIC EXCLUDED. 1 lie high altar was consecrated bv the Cardinal, the altar of St. Mary! Magdelene by the Papal Nuncio, the altar of the Holy Sacrament by the

Archbishop of Audi, and the Altar of St. Joseph by the Bishop of Chalons. During these rites the public was excluded from the cathedral. The vast nave remained empty and silent, while the choir was filled with colour and movement.

But now the doors were opened for the pontifical Mass, and the thousands of people who had been waiting in the Cathedral close entered the building. I The Al ass was celebrated by Mgr. Haintz. Bishop of Troyes, who officiated at the first Mass held in the Cathedral when it was partly reopened for services after the war. It was to some extent robbed of its usual solemnity Iby the absence of the grand organ, which has not yet been rebuilt but which, it is hoped, will be in its place for the international inauguration of the Cathedral next July. The Cathedral choir was reinforced by the best voices of all the parishes of the see and of the choristers’ school 1 of Notre Dame de Paris.