The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-07

formed our readers that last Sunday his Lord ship,
Bishop Hughes dedicated thus church in Brook
yn. Ii was grand and solemn occasion, aad the
house was crowded with the arstocracy OF the
Catholic Church. The Bishop delivered one of his
characteristic diseourses, and probably, when it
goes into print, it will be considered of his
best; but our object, this article, is to commu-
nlcate to the public some information which the
Bishop either did not possess, or did not think
proper TO make known. We take it, that when a
church is dedicated to patron SAINT there is some
special reason for it; and the inquiry has often
been made, who is Saint Carlo Boromeo We
shall briefly answer that question.
The ilustrious man, whose name this church.
bears was born in Lombardy, in 1880, OF a noble
and opulent family. He early became distinguish
ed for the piety and benevoence of his character.
and entered the church. HIS great dedication to
his profession, and his luminous example Of sacri.
fee in the cause Of religion and humanity, gained
Tor HIM the warmest aft ction Of the great capital of
Milan, and he was early promoted tobe the Bishop
and ultimately the Archbishop Of that diocess.
He presided in the provincial council of Milan, In
which canons were enacted protesting against
some of the worst abuses Of the Roman church.
He sold vast estate, and distributed the proceeds
of it among the poor Of Milan in the time of the
great plague, and, by many acts of sacriice and
munl6cencs, gained for himself the reputation of
exalted piety and distinguished benevolence. He
died at the early age of iorty-sIx, his life having
been shortened by the austerilies and denials
which he practised in the service Of mankind
Contemporary writers of all shades Of religious
opinion accorded to HIM the greatest moral purity
Of character; and this would not likely have been
the case, at that period had he not been entitled to
the most exalted ecomiums; for, it will be remem-
bered that his life began soon after the explosion
of what has always been called the Lutheran Re-
formation, when the passions Of mankind were
deeIly stirred, and justice was unlikely to be &C.
corded to any religious character who had become
distinguished on either side during that heated
and Tremendous controversy.
| On the death Of Carlo Borromeo, his body was
embamed, and tomb was prepared for his recep.
ton under the pavement Of the Cathedral Of Milan,
which is regarded as the most gorgeous religious
edifce in Itsly-far surprising Saint Peters In
beauty Of architecture, in elaborate finish, and In
exquisite detail This tomb is still visible, and
stands in the midst OF sepulchral chamber. The
walls are covered with alto relieves, chased in
silver gilt, representing the principal events IN the
life of the SAINT. One of the most beautiful scenes
delineated in this work, is the attempt which was
IHdCt ny manu- W tdnC uio uiS' ht Meb
period the practice OF assassination was common
in Italy, and some member of the Order Of Humi-
liati, into which he had attempted to introduce
salutary reforms, attempted his life. priest,
by the name of FaIina, engaged to execute the
will Of the conspirators; and the blackness Of his
crime becomes still greater from his having been
hired TO Go it. This assassin, having gained
access to the private chapel, fired an aquebesqus
while he was kneellng before the altar. The bull.
let struck HIM on the back, and dropped harmless
on the ground Undlsurbed by this atroclou,
event, the holy man continued his pray ers while
CONSERVATION filed every bosom present. The as
sassin made his escape, but he was finally taken
and executed, although Saint Carlo attempted 10
save his life The last Of these emblematic scenes
engraven in silver, is his reception into Paradise
This tomb is the most gorgeous shrine Of gold, ST.
yer, and precious stones, which exists in Europe.
The body of the Saint is deposi'ed q GOTTA of
rock chrystal, which the gift of Philip the ".
Of SPAN. The front Is lowered by q wlndlass, and
displays the body IN pontifcal robes, In an inner
shrine The body is still well preserved, and the
features bear strong resemblance to the portraits
Of the Saint, executed DUNG his life. This shrine
has been visited by kings, priests and ponhffs,
and it contains relics and offerings of immense
value. IL is estimated that the intrinsic worth
Of the tomb in metals aud precious stones, Is not
less than fifteen millions OF dollars. Wnen Napo-
leon entered Milan, The couqueror Of Lomb irdy, it
was intimaied that he had an intention OF appro-
IratIng these treasures TO pay the expenses OF the
campaign: but go great was the veneration OF the
Mllanose for their illustrious Saint, that the nch
men Of the capital assembled, and voluntarily made
Offering of several millions to the Golfers of the
Young conqueror, on condition that the shrine OF
Borromeo should remain undisturbed. He was
beloved during his lifetime by the poor, The help
less, and the destitute, whom he had relieved, and
he has been respected by posterity, and venerated
as one OF the most exalted and nobl. characters re-
corded in history.
OF all the saints IN the calendar, and Heaven
knows they are mum. enough, there is certainly
10 one 10 whom a new temple could be more APP
propriaiey dedicated The memory of such e
man should be preserved, and it is an honor &c.
those who have had The management of the affairs
OF this new church, that they paid so worthy tn.
butte TO the memory Of one OF the greatest and the
beet Of men. The humble dwelling, called after
his name, is but poor illustration Of the msgnf
cence Of the tomb where his ashes repose; bat in
our times, when men have learned TO look through
foIms TO substance, IL matters little whether the
oilerng made TO genius or virtue be simple or mag
nifcent. II was, at all events, AN act which won
the respect Of those who knew the history Of the
great ciiztn of Milan and II matter OF special
wonder that man who Enows so well az Bishop
Hughes how 10 take advantage Of every circun-
stance which can give effect to diplomacy or to
speaking, should have overlooked in hrs discourse
so important a subject as the one about which we
writing. Perhaps, in the refinement Of his po-
Icy, that distinguished rrelaie thought he could
make usc Of that extraordinary occasioa 10 better
advantage, by preaching more about the sugrema-
cy Of the church Of Rome, than Illustrating lts pre-
emiAonce and srlcndof, by so brilliant an example
Of pety and Of talent az he might have found In the
hi..nrr IL San Cnrln Iinrfnrneo Of AIllnn w. he.