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Handout #115 |
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The enthusiasm of the inhabitants of Le Mans for their cathedral |
| After the rebuilding of the
choir of the cathedral, all the inhabitants began the task of cleaning and
decorating the building with a view to a solemn transfer of the relics of
St Julian (April 1254 A.D.).
The day after the solemn Feast of Easter, there was a great crowd from the whole city of Le Mans, of both sexes and in the church of the blessed Confessor. In order to clear the church, they removed the debris, vying to see who could clean the best. Among the other women working were matrons contrary to feminine ways, took no heed of their fine dresses and carried outside the church in their multi-colored dresses, their cloaks of scarlet, or other bright colors. Many of who carried out the dirt from the church in their elegant clothes were happy to soil these garments with the dust. Others, with babes at their breasts, filled their laps with sand and in this way carried it outside the church. It was fitting that the praise of children should play its part in the divine work.. Their more robust older brothers carried great pieces of wood and blocks of stone outside the church . . . There was such fervour among the population, such faith, such ardent devotion, that all those who saw it were full of admiration and, on seeing such dedication, could not hold back their tears of joy. The inhabitants were also concerned that the light shut up in their hearts should be manifested to outsiders. They decided and ordained that members of each guild should carry candles the size of which would be proportionate to the resources of the individual, and that they should be lit on the solemn feast day. It must be added that the owners of vineyards and the vintners,, on seeing the candles of others, because they had not done the like themselves, came to an agreement and said: 'The others have made a temporary light; let us make windows which will light the church in the future. So they made a whole window which contained five medallions in which they had themselves painted in the exercise of their craft ... |
