The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-17

IL MI
uspe "A nm into the dome in strains OF In
ID VIZ 40 and triumph-grand, mysterious
f.be Jy ., awfuI because 20 inexpressibly
ID OBJ! slodious. | could think OF nothing
seei anu ns;c of the spheres with which TO
w. Wv Il and to the Divinity 10 whose praise
"P p,ars lroke forth in singing: and whose
q, breathes ever in grand melodious sound
III ~. God Cod of the celestial harmonles | in-
wv III bent the knee. ! then felt to a
nocn.5cI degree the magnetism of worship,
lOue, ,,oa from the kneeliDg crowd around
nanlIIIS 60 few moments no devoutest Cath
SuJ have responded moro INCREASINGLY
be c'' u,s to ali those solemn appeals TO
% IT, as TO nv eyes the beauty and gor.
sp'., If the scene grew most fitting and
~ the incense floating to me from
,,."r I seemed to breathe IN subtle
.a,;ng mbduing spirit-snd to that music
'r p"r7 busbed itself in my breast, my very
-. n'I crew still. and my brain swan In new
uF~ &c oensuous. half spiritual emotion
sr "oment believe understood the ia''n
t' po,nsn Catholic-for a moment seemed
w.. p' Inc eestacy Of the mystic, to burn Win
s'rror &c the devotee, and felt, hall IN won
baIf in fear all the beauty ana poetry
81 mvsterv and power Of the Church qua,
n.lr yose before nv mind vivid wayslde ana
aside scenes--pictures OF humDies' ,uuo" 6
|. when the meek and lowly Ausnpr Vi
NJ faith walked, ministering, ana .eacnus.
nd comforting, among the PeoPie-nunlpiee'
moog the humble, poorest among the Po1r'
most sorrowful among the sorrowfui' preach-
- neace. good will, purity, humility, and Tree
aosSTand then, all this magnificent mockery
,bs divine truths he taught, this armed and
,,o,,nt spiritual despotism, in the place OF
h. Seace and liberty Of his Gospel, faded from
Zoe nv d.senchanted eyes and even my
., crew dull to that pomp Of sound, swelling
az though to charm his ear against the
sbs of the poor and the groanings OF the
XII Cleopatra of religions throned in power,
doriug and gorgeous in all imaginable splen-
A., and Inxures-proud victor of victors-in
|bs infinite variety" of thy resources and
o,bsntments more attractive than glory, re-
,Isss as fate-now terrible in the dusk
pIepdor of thy imperious beauty--now soft
oinO and subtle as moonlight, and music, aud
oet.dreams-insolent aud humble, stormy and
ender Oh! alluring tyranny Oh beautiful
,lsehood On fair and fatal enchantress, On
Drereipn sorceress of the world the end is
OF vet and the day may not be far distant,
hen thou shalt lay the asp to'thine own boz
Om, and die.
ever watched with keen Interest the move
snts of Antonelli, throughout those ceremO-
e, All it is right kingly spirit, in the
ens of pride, arrogance, and absolutism.
There is an air of domination in his bearing
70 almost ntolerable haughtiness in his eye
rhich remind me of Queen Katherine's char
sT Of Wolsey. have never seen so grand
walk as his Ii is proud and firm, yet light,
nd full of stately grace. He treads like a
pOQueror to majestic music, and yet with an
phscribable sOftness, almost stealthiness, of
uement. You could fancy the step as noise
A as that Of Mephistophles
finally, amid light and music, and magniti-
suce absolutely dazzling, the Pope was borne
nth in his chair, followed by the most COR
Ous procession ever beheld. High officers of
BE church and state, in crimson, scarlet, pur-
L. and gold-symbols Of authority celestial
I'D terrestrial, crosses, crozicrs, tiara. sword
be foreign legation, the Gudrdia Mobile in
heir rich uniforms, the picturesque Swiss
,usrd-in all, it seemed to me, as brilliant and
alaut a sight as the world could show. As
hey swept slowly down the nave, the midday
NO poured in upon them from one OF the great
Fndows with most resplendent effect The
ope stayed his blessings for an instant, TO
hsle his eyes with his hand, while the gold
ni ewels on his robes seemed to leap out in
gns aud the arms and helmets of his guards
AGd back the hot challenge of the sun.
o. this morning we had seen the royal pomp,
he most patrician and recherche splendor of
DE Papal relgion--in the afternoon we went
among the people, to behold its plebeisn aspect.
At the church of the Ara Cab we saw what
among the peasants is the great lion of the
sason--a chapel arranged as a manger, with
wax figures of Joseph and Mary, and Of an in
lint Christ lying in a cradle, swaddled in the
Italian style, crowned and decorated with very
demonstrating jewellery. 10 the back
ground among some admirably painted see
merry we're sheep and shepherds-in the fore
ground other shepherds grouped about the
cradle IN lifting postures of alteration. Above
The manger, on q sort of cloudy loft were clus-
tered company of angels and chcrubs, look
ng tengnly animated and celestially curious.
AZ intervals you heard singing which was Ip-
psei to come from this winged choir but
'hch besides being in Latin, which one can
Dat t monkish harshness and nasal twang
shch rather interfered with the solemn illu-
'on B 1T the effect of the scene was, on the
Whole, decidedly striking IL is true the entire
bly, Family and the Shepherds were figures
have driven Toussaud frantic--which even
Iiriey would have disowned with virtuous
Aignation Ii IN true the cherubs and angels
'erc rather too plump and able bodied but
the sheep were chefs d auvres
At this church we also witnessed the Christ
Aa' preaching by children, probably in CON-
Gsnoration of Christs teaching in the Temple
'@ preachers on this occasion were two small
gls who were hoisted upon an mprovised
pulpit and held forth, one after another, in o
hurried, parrot-lke discourse i regret TO say
'aat these reverend little misses seemed to have
very inadequate realization of the solemnity
The occasion, or Of the responsibilities Of
.nef nigh profession spiritual and were evi-
uenuy too much occupied with the curious
uO'a about them, to deliver their discourse
'Hh hitting power and JUNCTION.
rom the Ara Cab we went to the Trintto
Monte Tor vespers where we heard some
0 smg'ng-and so the day closed.
va New FEARS Eve heard the Te Deum
e"'''cHe churci OF the yeSulbe5. j ms
]" wa present and performed some impo-
ceremonies But this time felt them lit
Welt nothing bat the glorious music, which
SUI plssingiy sweet solemn, and grand
'.%s'nately casting down the soul into depths
humiliation and sorrow, and uplifting il to
sublime heights of hope aud Thanksgiving.
was returning from this church, en-.
S SIaa.sFed naked pentent, begging for the
.I %1 or the poor. He wore robe of coarse
Nnl'e linen, glrded with a heavy rope--the
ho.. covered his face, merely having small
'J,e' nr the mouth and eyes he was Of u
~, "id'erly figure; his eyes were dark and
Sung the hand he extended for charity, and
roughly sandaled feet, were white and deli
q" he was probably noble, as none but
nehest-bred sinners, the most patrician
dra T e'sors are permitted thus to take the
n5., W 'heIr penance which, losing oil hui
'''op' can but ut the worst DO regarded rs
o,'e'an bore and may possibly be relieved ut
'musing '' P'f'"'
.v w ~as walks along the Tiber, We occasion