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''" '^' .-^j '*#y «- T" Cr -^-/j '^ _r /V €bcjUBJeis jKtittfrrforli (EalUrtion % 2083297 w 2^^^^ .■"t'J^'/j ■,. w ^ i/vT'/'^rli / / :::ml'iH^'''' iTim a*u^ II . i'' \:''^:A iiiM .4 -^M ^T'^^^l''^'' '^K V ■ M IMII mMHMUMlH Tl ■-nrf,T,V.'T^ !*;>»;^>:^ffi<5 =-,'1^- '* The new Grand-Altar, and Sanctuary of Notre-Dame. "'J^VA:^ I \:i .... ! / I ■ ,•*'■- i. -•• t^ T\ ^^ ' rr ' ' "^t *i > ii *;■ , ( T- C 0^'* II ■ ■ "< ^ «..*«■. -'t . ^ .Ul.l :>1 T .-L,aw.»i.«-> " ■ .^"-iiiiJ— ■■■mi.i ,!'^i. Mr \ W^^^^^^-^-f;^*?^,^ ■ '|ifew■'i>■• I' 4^- •? ^.<^ '^J^ *.$»*^ *!c ■♦,- • •-XSJIf •f «. ^ ^ %\%, 1. vO^ 1 ^ HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTICE 'r ■.1", ^ ^m^ ■f*!^- m ■5.^:: ^^; ON THE Prnambntsd with i8 fine ^NQRAVINQS ^ 'Sure uidc for ^frantjere avxb ^T^'miiovft, MONTB\EAL : EUSfeBE SENfiCAL, — PRINTER - EDITOR Nos. 6, 8 and lo, St-Vincent St. i88o. ^^^"^wm y' ^ STRANGERS AND VISITORS, THIS BOOK IS AN Indispensable and Sure Guide. Independant of its being elegaiiLly illustrated, the Public at large, we are confident, will find it instructive and interesting, as giving an exact history and description of NOTRE-DAME, with full details and particulars of what this Religious Monu- ment contains its Sanctuary and Main Altar, probably the only existing one of its kind, its many masterpieces of art, its splendid though yet incomplete decorations, &c., &c. Entered according lo Act of Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty, by Revd. M. V. Rousselot, Priest, S.S., in the office of the Minister of Agriculture. i^S^i£^ . ' f" y THE CHtTBCH OP N0TEE*DA11B. On the 18tli of May 1G42, Mr. De Maisonnnuvo nnd the colonists accompanying him from Franc«», sent by Mr. Olier (1) and his associates, reached the Island of Mount-Royal, as8um».J possession of it and founded " Ville-Marie " (no\. Montreu.). A temporary chapel ,of bark, was immediately built at the Fort, on " Pointe k Calliero," and was used and known as the parish Church, under the name of Notre-Dame, until the following year, during which, upon the same spol, a wooden edi{lc(! was constructed. In 1654, this latter chapel becoming also inadequate to the wants of the congregation, Mr. de Maisonneuve suggested to his fellow citizens the erection of another larger and more commodious church, to be built adjoining the Hospital in St. Paul street, on the spot where stand to day the massive stores of the Sisters of the Hotel-Dieu. The parochial services were held thisre during more than twenty years,in anticipation of the time when a fine and spacious parish Church would be erected. In 1672, the building of this long sought for church was begun, on what is known to day as " Place d'Armes," and was completed in 1678. Extensive as its proportions were, a century later the increasing require- ments of the people demanded that a far more spacious and imposing edifice should replace it. However,it was only in 1823 that the foundations of the present Church were laid. Thanks to the zeal and generosity of the parishioners, and of the Seminary of St. Sulpice, so actively were the works kept up that, on the 7th of June 1829, the Church was opened to the public; and on the fifteenth, a week after- wards, Monseigneur Lartigue, first Bishop of Montreal, officiated pontifically within its walls. The edifice is, in the highest degree, a grand and imposing structure. Its front is perfect in symmetry, its bold and lofty towers attract attention from the extremities of the city, and are visible from the south at a distance of over thirty miles. The portico between the two towers is 60 feet in height. The (1) First Superior of Iha Seminary of St. Sulpice, in Paris. \ HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTICE ON THE three colossal statues piaced over the arcades represent the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph and St. John the Baptist, the patrons of Lower Canada and of the city of Montreal. This vast monument belongs, it will be seen, to a branch of the Gothic, the pointed-arch school of architecture, a school that has handed down to us the Lime-hallowed cathedrals of the old world, a style so perfectly in harmony with christian thought and biblical tradition, and so admirably calculated to elevate the soul «o God. . THE TOWERS. Measured from their foundation to their pinnacle, the towers are 227 feet in height. The platform of the western tower is reached by a stairway containing 279 steps. From this elevated stand-point is to be obtained one of the finest views of Montreal and its environs, a view unobstructed on every side, and allowing the spectator to enjoy, without en'ort, the enchanting spectacle offered to his gaze. To the North, is the great artery of the St. Lawrence suburbs, stretching to the extremity of Mile-End and thence to the banks of " Riviere des Prairies " (Back River). Towards the East the Lowei- - Town extends its wharves lined with vessels as far as the Village of Hochelaga, whence the eye may follow the majestic course of the St. Lawrence, watering our richest and most fertile lands in its journey towards the sea, till lost to sight on the horizon beyond the spires of Varennes. On the South, the landscape extends over the islands of St. Helen and St. Paul, comprises the parishes of Longueuil and Laprairie, includes the delightful country around Belceil and St. Hilaire, and stretches even as far as the Green Mountains of Vermont. Westward, along the Lachine Canal, lies the plain of St. Ga- briel, silent witness of the many early struggles against the Iroquois Indians ; and the town of the Tanneries, destined at some future day to be the connecting link between our metro- polis and Lachine. In closing the circle, the eye rests upon the most attractive feature in Montreal's position, the sloping side of Mount-Royal, studded with splendid villas, and crowned by the beauties of the new mountain Park. CHURCH Of NOTRE-DAME OF MONTREAL. D THE " BOURDON " OF NOTRE-DAME AND ITS TEN OTHER CHURCH-BELLS. A moment's rest in the descent from the summit of the tower to examme what is known as " le gros bourdon." This enormous bell weighes 24,780 pounds, is 6 feet high, and at its mouth measures eight feet and seven inches in diameter. Its sound is magnificent in its fulness and grandeur ; it relates its own history, in the following inscription, found graven on its exterior : ANNO DOMINI 1847. FUNDATiE MARIANOPOLIS 202. PII P. P. IX, PONTIFCATUS L REGNI VICTORL^ BRITTANIARUM 10. EX^IISSIMO MERCATORUM, AGRICOLARUM ARTIFI- CUMQUE MARIANOPOLITENSIUM DONO. That is : I was cast in the year of the Christian era 1847, the 202nd since the foundation of Montreal, the first of Pius the ninth's pontificate, and the tenth of the reign of Victoria, Queen of England; lam the gift of the merchants, the farmers and the mechanics of " Vilie-Marie." It is ornamented with the images of the Blessed Virgin and St. John the Baptist, and with the emblems of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry. Under these may be read : CAROLUS ET GEGRGIUS MEARS LONDINI FECERUNT. I was cast in London by Charles and George Mears. In the Eastern tower are hung ten smaller boils, beautifully toned in such perfect harmony 1 hat the most varied musical airs Qan be executed while they peal. The 1st weighing 6011 pounds, strikes do The 2nd u 3633 re The 3rd Li 2730 mi The 4th C( 2114 fa The 5th U 1631 sol The Gth U 1463 la The 7th a 1200 »i The 8th Ci 1093 do octave The 9th Cl 924 re The 10th u 897 mi ,.-i^m 6 HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTICE ON THE This forms the following scale : " , ^ # 1 J ^ .. . P 1 J a 4 m do re mi fa sol la SI (Jo re mi When, on j^rand festival days, the great " Bourdon " joins its solemn tones to the chimes of its ten Sisters, the soul-stirring eflect is so striking, that we may safely say no other such concert can be heard on the continent of America. Each of these ten bells bears the name of its donor (1). THE INTERIOR OF NOTRE-DAME. Leaving its towers, let ns cross the threshold of this grand temple of the Almighty, taking in, as one can do, at a single glance, the entire precincts within its walls. Its vast nave,its side aisles, its spacious two storied galleries seen in the twil'ght as it were, of mysterious gloom, involuntarily im press the mind with the vastness of the sacrededifice,with thoughts of the Infinite and Omnipotent. The paintings, the gildings, the sculptures, the stained glass windows, the chef-d' osuvres (master pieces) of artistic ornamentation, though A\\\ unfinished, all seem to waft our thoughts towards an unknown world, dazzle us with their innumerable beauties and render us for the moment unable to determine upon which of them first to direct our attention. The nave of the church including the Sanctuary, is 220 feet in length, nearly eighty feet in height, sixty-nine feet in width, without including the side aisles which measure 25J feet each ; the walls are five feet thick. When the project of erecting this splendid edifice originated, (1) These donors aro : The Seminary of Montreal. M.M. Albert Furniss and Ed. Dowling. Mr. and Mrs. John Donegani. Mr. and Mrs. Olivier Berlhelet, The Hon. Jules Quesnel. M and Mrs. Hubert Pare. Rev. L. S. Parent, parish priest of Repenligny. Mr. Jean Bnneau Mr. and Mrs. T. Bouthilier. Mr. Auguslin Perraull. ' CHURCH OF NOTRE-DAME OF MONTREAL. 7 the architect was instructed to furnish the plan of a church capable of accommodating 10,000 persons, who shonld not only enjoy the privilege of being able to follow the holy ceremonies at the altar, but to hear the word of God, and to hear it easily from the pulpit. To these two inestimable advantages, the ar- chitecture of Notre-Dame lends itself most happily, and we are safe, we believe, in staling, that this church alone possesses this double advantage. On extraordinary occasions, by utilising all the pews and aisles in the galleries and body of the church, it is capable of con- taining 12,000 and even 15,000 persons. Fourteen side windows, forty feet high, light up the galleries, and admit soft rays upon the grand aisle. We enter now upon more minute details, and in order to do so with some species of system, attention may be directed towards the western side aisle. WESTERN SIDE AISLE, TO THE RIGHT. THE BAPTISMAL CHAPEL Our first steps into this side-aisle bring us to a chapel adjoin- ing the wall of the tower, and containing the baptismal font. The painting over the altar represents the baptism of Our Lord by St. John the Baptist, in the waters of the Jordan, and is a copy of the great mosaic work of C. Maratta, to be found in the Baptismal chapel of St. Peter, at Rome ; Our Saviour is sur- rounded by Angels, St. John with averted face is pouring water upon his head, scarce daring to gaze upon the features of One, in whose presence all others must appear so unworthy (1). (1). This baptism by St. John was but symbolical of the baptism insti- tuted by Our Lord Jesus-Christ, the Sacrament so indispensable towards salvation : " Eunles ergo, docete omnes genles, baplizanles eos in nomine Palris elFilii " et Spirilus Sancli. " Kisi quis renalus fueril ex aqua el Spirilu Sanclc, non potest inlroire in regnuin Dei. " Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptising Ihem in the name of the " Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." Math. XXVIII, 19. " Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghoft, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. St. John, III. 3." 8 HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTICE ON THE % The font itself is of white marble, supported by the figures of four angels, and the cover or lid is of gilded copper. OUR LADY OF CONSTANT SUCCOUR. " Notre-Dame de Perp6tuel Secours." This is a copy of a justly celebrated and miraculous painting, in the Byzantine style, brought from the East to Rome many centuries ago. The Virgin Mary holds the Infant Jesus in her arms, two Archangels appear offering the dreaded instruments of his future Passion to the Divine Child, who instinctively shrinks at their first sight. % CHURCH OF NOTRE- DAME OF MONTREAL. 9 Between the altars are placed the confessionals, where sinners acknowledge their offences to the ministers of Christ, and receive from them remission or absolution : On the evening of the resurrection, Jesus entered the closed guest-chamber (Cenacle) where his disciples were assembled, stood in their midst and said : " Pax vobis. Sicut misit me Pater, ct Ego mitto vos. H^c cum " dixisset, insufflavit et dixit eis : Accipite SpirUum Sanctum, " quorum remiseritis peccatu, remittuntur eis ; et quorum rctinue- " ritis, retenta sunt. " Peace be unto you, as my Father has sent me, even so I send " you. Having said this He breathed on them and saith unto " them : Receive ye the Holy Ghost ; whosesoever sins ye remit, " they are remitted, and kv hose soever sins ye retain, they are re- tained." St. John, XX, 21, 22, 23. These were words uttered and intended for all time, since alas ! there must ever be sinners in this world, and sins to be atoned for and forgiven. But how could the priest remit offences of which he has no knowledge, and how could that knowledge be obtained, unless the penitent sinner has confided it to his spiritual adviser ? Hence the necessity of con- fession, recognized and practised since the earliest days of the Catholic Church. I i: CHAPEL OF ST. AMABLE. The second altar we come to is that of St. Amable, priest and pastor of Riom, in Auvergne, France, in the fifth century. The picture, an old painting from the pencil of a native artist evidently self instructed in his art, represents the Saint control- ling by Almighty power the ravages of a vast conflagration (I). The altar in this chapel was once the Main Altar of the Church, and is preserved there as a memento of the past. (I) This picture is shortly to be replaced by another obtained from Rome. I J"i 10 HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTICE ON THE ST. Joseph's chapel. The third chapel is that of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin, adoptive father of the Infant Jesus. He appears in the painting bearing in his arms the Divine Child. Marvellous instances of supernatural assistance and protection are related in connection with the faithful who have devoutly prayed before this picture. Four statues adorn this altar : The two principal ones are those of St. Francis of Sales and St. Theresa, celebrated for their devotion to St. Joseph ; the two smaller figures represent St. Louis Gonzaga and St. Stanislas Kostka, patrons of Christian youth, who, like St. Joseph, pre- served their innocence and purity during their entire life time. In the tomb beneath this altar rests^ the body of St. Felix, taken from the catacombs of Rome. chapel of the hlessed virgin. At the extremity of the aisle to the right is found the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The " bas-relief " (basso-relievo) upon the tomb recalls the mystery of the Presentation. The Virgin Mary at the tender age of three years, accompanied by St. Ann and St. Joachim, enters the temple in order to consecrate her life to God, and is received by the High-priest. Tlie superb painting overhanging the altar, represents the Queen of Heaven handing the Rosary to St. Dominick. From her arms the Infant Jesus is placing a crown of thorns upon the head of St. Catherine of Sienna. This is an enlarged copy of a celebrated picture in the Church of St. Sabine at Rome, painted by Andre Vannuchi, better known under the name of Del Sarto. A nearer glance discloses, upon the gilded door of the taber- nacle, an exquisite little painting of the Madonna. This miniature " chef-d'ceuvre " was purcha-^cd at Florence (Italy), in 1 872. The crucifix and candlesticks are beautifully enamelled and were purchased in Paris at a cost of six hundred dollars. Before proceeding further,the visitor should devote a moment's attention to a handsome painting, an excellent copy of a master- piece by Mignard, ornamenting, on the left side of the aisle, one CHURCH OF NOTRE DAME OF MONTREAL. 11 of the exterior panels of the Stanctuary, St. Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus, is seen in prayer in the grollo of Manreza, and there to him appears the Mother of God with her Divine Son, handing him the rules and constitutions of the Jesuit Order. THE PASSAGE BEHIND THE GRAND-ALTAR. At a slight elevation in the passage extending behind the Main-Altar and the tabernacle, we may admire the beautiful statues of the Blessed Virgin and adoring Angels. At their feet are inscribed the words : Adoremus Sanctissimum Sacrainentum. It is thus that the Mother of Our Lord, and with her the Angels impress upon the passers-by, a sense of respect and vene- ration for the consecrated precincts in which they stand, and recall and quicken the feelings of love and adoration due to Our Saviour Jesus-Christ in His Holy Sacrament. An inscription enjoins " silence"; the sacred character of the spot demands it. :o: EASTERN SIDE AISLE, TO THE LEFT. CHAPEL OF THE SACRED-HEART. Leaving the passage to enter the eastern side aisle, the first chapel reached is that of the Sacred-Heart. The painting re- presents Our Lord appearing to the Blessed Margaret-Mary, a nun of the order of the Visitation, at Paray-le-Monial, (France) ; it is an exact and life-like portrait of this holy virgin. Our Saviour shows her His divine Heart so full of love for man, from whom alas ! He receives so frequently but ingratitude and forgetfulness in return. He urges the institution of a special holy-day of reparation in honor of His Sacred Heart (I ). Beneath this altar rests a body also taken from the catacombs of Rome, the remains of the Virgin and Martyr St. Irene. Hers was the palm of martyrdom while still in the prime of youth, hers the happiness of death rather than the sacrifice of her in- nocence and of her faith. (1). This festival has heen established, and is celebrated on the Friday follow- ing the octave of the Holy Sacrament. 12 HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTICE ON THE To the right of this altar, upon one of the exterior panels of the sanctuary, is to be seen an extremely old painting, the pre- sentation of the Infant Jesns in the temple of Jerusalem. :o: Upon the wall, towards the left, is the first of the fourteen paintings representing the Way of the Cross. Placed in their order around the Chnrch, they recall the principal incidents that marked Our Lord's agonizing footsteps from the judgment seat of Pilate to mount Calvary. These pictures, really good paintings, were obtained in Paris. ST. Ann's chapel. To St. Ann, mother of theVirgin Mary, is dedicated the next altar- Carnevali, a distinguished Roman painter has rendered life like the images of St. Ann, of St. Joachim, her spouse, of Mary, their blessed child. There existed, in years gone by, the pious custom, among wealthy Catholic families, of erecting and maintaining at their own expense the various chapels in a parish church. To ^lerpetuate or rather to revive this worthy practice in Notre- Dame, Abbe A. Vrlois, in the name of his family, made a gift of this chapel to ihe Church. The attractive little statues that adorn it, represent St. Simon, St. Stephen, St. Emily and St. Philomene, patron saints of the donors. chapel of the souls of PURGATORY. It is, therefore^a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead^ that they may he loosed from sins, says the book of Macchabees, 2 Macch. XII, 46. Notre-Dame has therefore its chapel devoted to the Souls of Purgatory, and every morning during the month of November, and on frequent other occasions during the year, the Holy Sa- crifice of Mass is celebrated there, to obtain from the Almighty the pardon and release of these suffering souls. Few are those who on leaving this life, are worthy to enter the realms of eternal bliss. Their souls require the purification of Purgatory before enjoying the happiness of the sight of God ; CHURCH OF NOTRE DAME OF MONTHEAL. 13 but this poriod of transition can bo lessened, by offering up, witU that object, the Holy Sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus-Christ, by prayer, by indulgences (1), and other meritorious olferings, such as fasting and giving alms to the destitute. Mrs. Alfred LaRocquo (Miss Leocadie Boucher) generously erected this chapel, with the intention that both herself and her family should seek and obtain through it, the precious mercies of divine iudnlgence. The painting is one by Minocheri, a Roman artist, and depicts a priest offering up the Holy Sacrifice, and thereby de- livering from Purgatorj numbers of souls who are wafted to heaven on the wings of surrounding Angels. The " bas-relief " (basso-relievo) on the front of the altar repre- sents the Virgin Mary supporting in her arms the head of her Divine Son, during the few moments that precede the sealing of the sepulchre. Her loving gaze is blinded by tears, her heart is broken, but still she is perfectly resigned to the will of the Almighty. What a model to admire ! what an example to follow for those who bewail the death of a cherished child, the loss of a oeloved relative ! (1). Wo are frequently asked, what is an indulgence? In family life, a child uisobeys his father : a penance is imposed, and is being carried out ; a \/ell behaved brother prays for his forgiveness and the father grants it in consideration of the good conduct and earnest request of the applicant ; this father grants an indulgence. A subject, in a kingdom, is guilty of a capital felony, and is on the way to the scalfold : some illustrious fellow citizen whose deeds have won the gra- titude and alfeotion of his sovereign, entreats a pardon which is granted, and the culprit is set at liberty. This ruler has granted an indulgence. Indulgences therefore, generally speaking, consist in the reversion upon the guilty of the merits of the just ; and this is a fundamental element, the very essence of Christianity. Hence the theological definition of iho doctrine of indulgences, namely: it is a remission of that tomporal imnibhm^'nt of sin which remains to be undergone after the forgiveness of tiio olfence itself, a remission independant of the Sa- crament of Penance, and obtained thrcugh the merits of Christ and of his Saints. Since its earliest ages, the Catholic Church has given evidence of its power to grant indulgences. St. Paul gives us a striking proof of this in dealing with ••he incestuous Corinthian. II Corinl, II, 6-10. 14 IIISTOniCAL AND DESCniPTIVE NOTICE ON THE On le.iviiig tins chapel, the visitor's attoiitioii may bo dircrtod to Iho large crucifix near it. It is efFective in design and ex- quisite in workmanship ; the lips, mouth and entire face of the dying Saviour seem full of life-like and agonizing expression. This crucifix is a mem(?nto of a most successful Mission held during Lent of 1878, by the Redemptorist Fathers. Precious in- dulgences are attached to it, and upon it are inscribed the words " Sauvez votre Ame " Save thy soul ! The last chapel is that of St. Roch. This Saint was born towards the close of the thirteenth century at Montpellier, (France). He was justly celebrated for his holy life, and chiefly for the miracles that holiness allowed him to perform. He went to Rome, and banished a fatal plague from Italy by means of the Sign of the Gross, its merits and its power alone (1). THE PRINCIPAL NAVE. We have spoken of the first impressions created on entering Notre-Dame, by the grandeur of its ornamentation borrowed from the most magnificent cathedrals of Europe, and by the vast proportions of this nave, the most spacious and extensive we have heard of. Who but must admire the groups of graceful columns rising as it were from the ground, to support the starry dome over our heads ? The stained glass windows (sky lights) shed a soft and subdued radiance over the body of the Church. The center one, of unquestionable beauty and great value,was obtained from the stu- dio and workshops of Mr. Champigneul, at Bar-le-Duc, in France. (1) Veneration for this sainl has extended everywhere throughout the Church in Italy. The faithful, confident in the power of his intercession as a lover of God, and a minister of the King of Kings, appeal to him in time of plague, in order to obtain, through his powerful intercosssion, the merciful protection of the Omnipotent. History is before us to show that this confidence has ever been rewarded. This practice of seeking the intercession of Sainls is a most legitimate one. Catholics do not adore them, but honor them as the beioveil of God, and invoke their mediation before the divine throne. This pious custom can be retraced to the earliest ages of the Church, since, in the catacombs of Rome, is to be lound, adjoining the images of Mary and the tombs of the martyrs, the ins- cription " ora pro nobis," pray for us. CHURCH OF NOTIlE-DAiMB OF MONTHEAL. 15 Twelve Angela surround the Virgin Mary, who l)ears in her arms the Infant Jesus. They are singing her praises, and hold scrolls or streamers on which are inscribed the most familiar invocation^ in the litany of Loretto. The admirable frescos, ornamenting the walls over the second gallery, on both sides of the church, justly demand attention. They consist of twelve paintings, illustrating as many passages in the life of the Virgin Mary. Beginning on the l(!ft side : The 1st represents Mary, shortly after h(;r birth, resting upon the knees of St. Ann, and exciting the admiration of her parents. In the 2nd, she appears as a little child receiving her first les- sons from St. Ann. The 3rd, represents Her presentation in the Temple. The 4th, Her marriage with St. Joseph. Tilt; 5lh, The Archangel Gabriel announcing the mystery of the Incarnation. The Gth, The Virgin Mary's visit to St. Elizabeth. The 7th, The nativity of Jesus. The 8th, The flight into Egypt. The l)th, A scene of domestic life in Nazareth. The lOth, Our Lady of Compassion. The 1 1 th. The Assumption. The 1 2th, Her sovereignty in heaven. Several holy virgins, St. Agnes, St. Cecilia, etc., bearing upon their heads crowns of glory and, in their hands, the palm of martyrdom, proclaim her as their Queen. The Sanctuary is raised about five steps above the level of the floor of the church, and is divided off by a rail, that serves the purpose of a communion table for those who receive the Holy Sacrament. With souls purified at the tribunal of penance, rich and poor, young and old, flock there to receive the true bread of life, the Flesh and Blood of Jesus-Christ Our Saviour. "What closer, happier, more glorious union could one imagine between man and the Almighty? (1). (1). Ego sum pants viite. Caro enim mea vere est dbus, et sanguis metis vere est poivs. Qui manducat meam carnem et Mbit meum sanguinem, in me manet, et Ego in illo, tlcc. 1 am (he bread of lif.' For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink in ieed. He thai ealeth my flesh and drinkeih my blood, dwellelh ia me and I in him. St. John, ch. YI, 48, 56, 57. 16 IIISTOniCAr. AND DEHCIMI'TIVK NOTIOK ON THK Resting upon one of tho right liand colnmns, at tiio entry of the Sanctuary, is an attractive nionuniont of gilded metal. Upon it, is placed a rare master-piece of art, a heautifnl litth^ statue of the Immacul.'i'e Virgin, carved from the purest white marWe, Willi a pedestal of the same material (1). (1). A history is aUaclied to this charming Madonna. In t87'2, the t^ure of Nolre-Dame, while on a visit lo Rome, was admitled to the prt'sence of tiie Holy Ponliir. Anxious to obtain for liis Church, a pious image of the Blessed Virgin, Ihat might at tho same time be a mempnto of l^iiis the IX, and en- couraged by ihe latter's inelluble kindness and cordiality, Ihepastor of Nolre- Damo solicited, in the name of his parishioners, the gift of this " chef-d'oeuvre " of art, there standing in the private library of the Pope. The request was granted, and His Holiness cheerfully added the pedestal lo his donation of the statuette. Tho gift however was not confined to this : Around the neck of the statue, hung a little golden cross generally worn upon the Holy Pontilf's person, but confided hy liim to the Blessed Madonna, in the hope of obtaining from the Queen of Heaven, the strength necessary to bear the burden of his trials. With e.xtreme and cliaractorislio kindness, the Pope allowed it to remain there ; and today, this cross, with its small riband, that rested so often upon the Holy PontifTs breast, forms part of llie treasures of Notre-Dame. Thg above is an t'xacl facsimile of the relic. i i CHinCH OK NOTIIE-DAME OF MONTHK/VL. t7 Opposite the statuette above referred to, is to be seen, placed beneath a species of canopy, and resting upon a handsome pedestal, the statue of St. Peter. It is a bronze copy of the one in Rome, the feet of which are piously kissed by those among the faithful who desire to ac(|uire the indulgences attached to this devotional act, and in Notre-Dame fifty days of indulgence may be gained by those who, with heartfelt love and veneration for the Vicar of Christ on earth, thus kiss the image of St. Peter. Christ had promised to Simon-Peter : to. That lie should be the foundation of His Clinrch :([) Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build imj Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Math. XVI, 18. 2o. To make him all powerful in that Church : And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatsoever (1) Which must be ONE.... for He has declared there should be but one Fold, but one Shepherd, that is: one only true Church, with one Supreme Head Peter and his Successors.. — St. John. X, 16. 18 HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTICE ON THE thou shall bind on earlh^ shall bs bound in Ileovcn, and whatsoever thou '(halt loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven. Math. XVI, 19. 3o. He had commanded him to strengthen his brethren in their faith : / have prayed for Ihee that thy faith fail thee not. When therefore thou shall have been converted (from the sin of denial) strengthen thy brethren in thtlr faith, meaning the Apostles and all the faithful. 4o. Finally, after his resurrection, before his ascension into heaven, Christ demanded thrice of Peter, if he loved him, and receiving an affirmative reply from the Apostle, told him twice : '-''feed my lambs,'' and then added, '■''feed my sheep," meaning thereby : I give thee power to teach and to govern my faithful followp.i and their pastors, that is, my entire Church. Thus have these words been interpreted by the Fathers and theologians of the earnest ages of the Christian era. Let it not be said, says Bossuet, let it not be believed that the mission and ministry of St. Peter were to end with him the foundation of an ETERNAL CHURCH v^ust be in itself eternal, Peter shall live in his successors, and his word be heard forever (Bossuet, Sermon on Unity.) This therefere is the reason why Catholics honor St-Peter, and are ever so faithful to his Successor, the Holy Pontif. THE GRAND MAIN-ALTAR. (1) We now stand facing the main-altar, the general appearance of which is so truly imposing. To thoroughly master its details, one must seize the idea that inspired its erection. It was in- tended to represent tne sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus-Christ as foreshadowed in the signs and prophecies of the old testament. The following is a brief synopsis : ( I) Let us say here, once for all.that the six groups of Statues, the Choirs of An- frels and the several Bas-Reliefs of this altar, as also the Bas-reiiefs oHhe altar of the Blessed Virgin, and of the Chapel dedicated to the Souls of purgatory, areallmagniflcent masterpieces (chefs-d'oeuvres d'art) of sculpture " in wood." They are the work of Bourich6, the famous Sculptor, of Angers, in France. CHURCH OF nothe-dame of montheal. 19 TWO FIGURES REPRESENTING THE BLOODY SACRIFICE OF CHRIST. lO. THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC. Isaac lies bound upon the wood which he carried up the mountain, and whereon he is to be sacrificed. He willingly con- sents to his immolation by his father Abraham. A ram, caught in a thicket by th'^ horns, is offered up as a burnt offering in his stead. Eighteen centuries later, Christ ascended the same Mountain, bearing also the wood upon which he was to be sacrificed. He is stretched upon the Cross, his head crowned with thorns. He allows his hands and feet to be nailed, and immolates Himself to the justice of his Father. L-.f.kliiJwfctttiUiJS ,.' iu.:-M3ilii!i-s ,>:i&iiiwSi*'Sas^>!t.'iil- 'MSr:- 20. A PRIEST OF THE SONS OF AARON OFFERS UP THE SACRIFICE {named the perpetual one) of a spotless lamb. According to Mosaic law, in the morning and evening of each day, a spotless lamb was offered up to God. Exodus XXIX, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42. Tradition and the Jewish historian Josephus, teach us that the evening oblation was at 3 P. M. Who but must perceive that that offering was strikingly figurative of the future Sacri- fice of Christ ? The Divine Saviour, the true spotless Victim, allowed himself to be slain without a murmur. His sacrifice commenced in the morning, and lasted until three o'clock in the afternoon. rt \ BLOODY SACRIFICE OF JBSUS-CHRIST. Jesus-Christ, the Son of God, Eternal Word, Second Person op THE Holy Trinity, become Man, dies aVictim for us upon the Gross. He satisfies d:vine justice, expiates our sins, obtains for us their pardon, and the graces necessary to reach heaven. ft. -, 4« i ' *, i Ir if. <*'. 22 HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTICE ON THE This is the only, the true sacrifice by means of which the human race has been redeemed, and of which all others, from that of Abel to that of Christ, were but figurative. The Blessed Virgin is there standing at the foot of the Gross, a sword of agony piercing her very soul, while she offers her- self up as a victim with her Divine Son. St-John, overcome by sorrow, has turned his face away, unable longer to look upon his Saviour, and Mary Magdalen is weeping over the sins she has so generously expiated. CHURCH OF NOTllE-DAME OF MONTREAL. 23 A FIGURE OF THE SACRIFICE OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST. Melchisedech, High Priest and King of Salem, offers UP HIS Sacrifice of Bread and Wine. The prophecies had not only foretold that the Saviour of the world would offer himself up as the Redeemer of our sins, by shedding his blood and by dying for us, but had announced moreover, io. : that He would ever remain Priest after the order of Melchisedech, in oth'- words, that He would institute another sacrifice, which woula be offered up, as was Melchisedech's, under the appearances of bread and wine : Tu es sacerdos in seternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech^ Ps. 109. 2o. : , that an end should be to all the sacrifices under ancient law, and that At&i i.v'^ .IL i I A.\^ >.L^ Ubl ^iMA 24 „,STO«.C.t *N0 DESCB,^.VB .OT.CE 0. THE '' Munus non suscipiam ^^^^^^ ^^^ gcntibus,Ji t, FIGURE OF THE HOI-, covenant, he caused to Aftev Moses had bv.U victorious Lamb ofOod, their adoration, and the uuiltni prayers of the Saints. In the niches, on each side of the altar, an; statues of tho aposth?s St. Peter and St. Paul, and of the four Kvaugelists, wlio spread llirougliont the world the fruits and blessings of tho divine sacrifice. Two "bas-reliefs' at the e.xtremities of the altar, represent two touching incidents connected with the sacrifl(!e of the Holy Eucharist : lo. Tho Virgin Mary, after Our Lord's ascension, receiving Holy Goinmu lion from tho hands of the apostle St. John. 2o. St. Charles Borromeo, archbishop of Milan, administering the Viaticum to the plague-stricken people of that city. CHinCH OF NOTFIK HAVtE OF MONTIlKAl.. 31 ThiiH, Ih to tit' finiiid ill ihis Alt;ir, whuliwc Itflfivo to !»• tlic only one of its kind, lln' rt'ligioii^ history of lin' world. Man, after tho fall, uiiahlc to cll't'ct his own rcd.-mittion, iv ceives tln> jiromisc that a Ri;i)i:i;Mi;it will sav»» him; A (led ht'conics incarnate, iind, assnniinp; lininan nature, sacrifices himself for the salvation of hmiiaiiily ; Wviu'i' the orifiin of the saci-illce revealed, at the liej^'iiinin^ of the world to Ahel, and Iransmilled to ihe Partriarchs,lhe I'rojthi'ls and the [leoplo of Isi-aid. For ages, nnmherless victims are daily innnolated and oHered n[> to the Deity ; At last, Onr Lord .lesns Christ, the true living holocaust,