COLOGNE CELEBRATIONS

OVER 500,000 DEMONSTRATE THEIR FAITH
In one of the greatest demonstrations of faith the ancient Catholic city has ever witnessed, more than half-a-million Germans thronged the bomb-scarred streets of Cologne last Sunday to welcome back its precious relics to Cologne Cathedral on the seventh centenary of its foundation.
brom early morning onward, special trains, steamers, trucks and buses streamed into the old town, crowded with men, women and children. Many had been on the move for days, and those who could not secure vantage points along the two mile route of the procession clambered above the forests of heads to find precarious footholds in the gaunt ruins of buildings.
Banners and bunting fluttered bravely in thoroughfares swept clear of rubble, and banks of flowers blazed startlingly against the heavy grey skies and the empty ragged shells of once-prosperous thoroughfares.
Last Saturday, just before the full week of celebrations began, between 30 and 40 thousand people watched the arrival of the Papal Legate, Cardinal Clement Micara. Riding in an open car, escorted by British Military Police motor-cyclists, Cardinal Micara was driven through wildly cheering crowds to the square facing the church of St. Andreas.
There he was officially received by Cardinal Griffin, who had reached Cologne the day before from Westminster; by the Cardinal Archbishops of Munich, Malines. Vienna and Paris; and by his host, Cardinal Frings, Archbishop of Cologne. The Papal Legate then gave the Papal Blessing inside St. Andreas Church.
MILITARY GOVERNOR Archbishops and Bishops from many countries had been gathering in the city in the second half of last week. The Military Governor of North Rhine-Westphalia, MajorGeneral Bishop, gave an official reception for the attending Prelates and dignitaries who were his guests. Lord Pakenhatn, formerly responsible for the administration of the British Zonc in Germany and now Minister of Civil Aviation, was also present. The British Military Governor in Germany, General Sir Brian Robertson, left pressing work behind in Berlin to visit Cologne at the week-end.
Scenes of unparalleled devotion and pageantry marked the stately progress of the relics, brought out at last from their war-time place of safety, to the partially-restored Cathedral on Sunday morning. The procession started from the church of St. Maria 1.ys, and as each of the shrines came in sight thousands of people fell down on their knees.
The first eight shrines, glittering with diamonds and rubies, contained the relics of saints, the ninth was the world-famous shrine of the Three Kings, twelfth-century masterpiece of the goldsmith's art. Knights of Malta and Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, bearing rapiers and garbed in medieval dress, acted as escorts.
At the head of the procession walked the standard-bearers of German Catholic youth. They were followed by long lines of monks and by priests resplendent in vesments of red, embroidered with gold.
PAPAL BLESSING After Cardinal Micara had sung Pontifical High Mass, he gave the Papal blessing to the multitudes from the south door of the Cathedral. Altogether some 8.000 people had packed the huge nave for the solemn ceremony.
On Sunday afternoon, in the huge bowl of Cologne Stadium, a public rally drew yet another great body of people. They heard Cardinal Griffin remind them that " the links which have hound the Catholics of England with those of Germany, and especially with the diocese of Cologne, go back over the centuries.
"Cologne to-day," said the Cardinal, " one of the most Catholic cities to the world, is proud that she has never lost the Catholic faith. She is proud to be, after Rome, the greatest repository of relics of the saints in the world, even claiming the bodies of the three Magi ...
" It is surely nothing less than a miracle that this great Cathedral should have remained standing amongst the ruins and wreckage and devastation of the last war . . . We pray God that Cologne will continue to he a beacon of the faith to North Rhineland, Germany and beyond. For we know that our Catholic faith is the power that will save Europe. We know that if only the principles of Christian justice and charity are pursued by all men, peace and security will come to this war-torn world."
CARDINAL FRINGS
Referring to the Church as " the vital principle of human society," Cardinal Frings, Archbishop of Cologne, warned that this did not mean that bishops or priests should take over the direction of public, political and social life. On the contrary, it meant that Christ's teaching should not he restricted to Sunday and to places of worship: and that, in keeping with the Pope's repeated wishes. it should penetrate and give shape to man's entire life. This was the only road to a Christian society. It was Cardinal Griffin's first visit to the city since the war. though he had previously been to Munich and Munster. and he told a reporter that he was " appalled by the frightful devastation." Speaking of the future. he said: " We should greatly rejoice if Germany could govern herself in accordance with true democratic principles and social justice. We English Catholics wish Germany a rapid and speedy recovery in all Itlirect ions."
The Cardinal, who on Monday of this week was hailed by a large gathering after celebrating Mass in the Cathedral. also took the opportunity of meeting British Catholic troops stationed in the area