RELICS OF THE PASSION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 45, 8 November 1900, Page 20

RELICS OF THE PASSION.

Here ia some information concerning the churches which possess the principal relics of the Passion (says an exchange). The Wood of the Cross. The largest portions are in the basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem at Rome, and in the Cathedral of Paris.

The Title of the Cross. The tablet on which is the well-known inscription. I. N. R I. (Jesus Nazarenus, Rex Judaeorum — Jesus of Nazareth. King of the Jews), ia preserved in the basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem at Rome.

The Crown of Thorns. It forms part of the treasure of Oar Lady of Paris, but is devoid of thorns, which have been granted to a great many churches*. This relic, with the fragments of the onus, is borne in triumph by 12 canons or cures of Paris in the solemn procession which is held at 8 o'clock on Good Friday night in Notre Dame. The Church of St. Sernin, in Toulouse, has a fragment of the crown, which was given it by St. Louis, through his brother Alphonso, Count of Toulouse.

The Nails. One, history relates, was thrown by St. Helena into the Adriatic to calm a storm ; the second is in the famous iron crown of the ancient Lombard kings (used by Napoleon I. in hia coronations) ; the third is in the Church of Notre Dame in Paris. The Sponge. It is at Rome in the basilica of St. John Lateran, The Lance. The point is at Paris and the rest at Rome. The Robe. It was given to the Church of Treves by St. Helena. It is known as the Holy Coat.

The Tunic. Charlemagne gave it to the monastery of Argenteuil, near Paris, where his sister was a nun. The Church of Argenteuil has the relic to this day.

The different pieces of the Winding-sheet. The largest is at Turin. The Church of Cadonin. Department of Dordogne, France, has the cloth in which the head was wrapped.

Home has the linen with which Veronica wiped Christ's face.

The upper p-trt of the pillar of the scourging is at Rome in the Church of St Praxedes since 122."}. The other part is at Jerusalem iv the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.