The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-05
WASHINGTON, ID. e..
For the National IRA.
lcoPYRIGHr SECURED ACCORDING TO LAw'l
GREENWOOD LEAVES FROM OVER THE SEA

GREENWOOD LEAVES FROM OVER THE SEA.
No. IS.
ROME, March 81, 1853.
My DEAR J. B.: Yesterday began Holy
Work with, sss=imposisg bat tedious eeremc-
mes Of Palm Sunday, at ST. Peters. OF these
all endeavor to give you some little idea.
AZ nine o'clock in the morning we were IN
o,,. ,laces-seats erected for the occasion near
tbo b;ch altar, dressed in the costume pre-
scr;bcd by church etiquette-black through
ON, with black wells on our heads. AT about
ton the Pope entered, and the rites, ordinary
and extraordinary, the masses and professions,
cDntipued until one
The entrance of the Pope into this his
,,rsndest baslica, was as usual, beautiful
srnJ brilliant sight. He came, splendidly vest
~ wearing his mitre, and borne in his chair
q state. under n gorgeous canopy, between
%o AohHi-two enormous fans of white pea
S cock feathers. He WAS preceded and followed
Iv rrdnals, bishops archbishops, monsignori,
a}sots the apostolic pbotonotaries generals of
The religious orders, officers of the state, OF the
army. Of his household, and the Guardid No
hk -,
His Holiness first paused awhile at tho shrine
Of the Virgin, to offer up prayer by himself;
then at the high altar, to adore the Sacra-
mont with his cardinals. He afterwards took
his seat on the throne, and received the hon.
age Of the cardinals, who kneeling, kissed his
'rght hand covered with the red cope This
i,s ceremony which is always gone through
with IN the most formal, mechanical, business
Ike manner possible. Some palms, not in
natural branches, but cut and wreatbed in va
rious strange fantastic forms lay on the altar.
Tho POpe's chief sacristan took one of these,
deacon another, sub. deacon n third, and
knelt at the foot of the throne. His Holiness
read prayers over them, sprinkled them with
holy water. and incensed them three times.
One of these is held beside the throne, by the
prince assistant, during the service, and the
other is borne by the Pope, when in procession.
After this multitudes of palms were brought
up for the Papal benedction. First came the
cardinals each, as he received his palm from
the Pope, kissing it, the right hand, and knee
Of bis Holiness; then the bishops, who only
kissed the palm and his right knee then the
abbots, who were only entitled to kiss the palm
ani his foot. Then the governor of Rome,
the prince assistant the auditor the treasurer,
the Mdggiordomo, the secretaries, the cham
berlains the mace-bcarers the deaoons and
sub deacons, generals Of the religious orders,
and priests in general, masters of the ceremo-
MES, singers, clerks of the Papal chapel, stu
their attaches, Italian, French, Spanish, Aus
TRAN Russian, Prussian officers nOblemen and
gentlemen all came up in turn, knelt received
blessed palms, and kissed the foot Of the Sow
ereign Pontif Among those who voluntarily
debasod the dignity of their freedom and their
manhood, to Protestant eyes, at least, noticed
two young officers in the uniform of the Eng
Ish army
During the distribution of the palms, an
thems were sung by the choir, who were Gagged
up in a sort Of trcllice- work box at the right
OF the altar. This long, but brilliantly pictu-
rescue ceremony through, the Pope, after wash
ing his hands. again mounted into his sedia
geStOtorid, and, bearing his palm, preceded
and followed by all those to whom he had
given palms, passed slowly down the nave of
the church, blessing the kneeling and bending
multitude right and left This procession of
palms was very striking and gorgeous from
the beauty and variety of military arms and
uniforms, the more than royal richness of the
prestly yestmcns, the CLEAN of mitres and
maces, and of innumerable sacred symbols
and insignia but to me it was neither solemn
nor truly grand. The Pope, it is said, is al
ways made sick by being borne aloft in his
chair; and he certainly looks miserable enough.
He moves his head doubtingly and dizzily, his
eyes are half closed, and the gesture OF his
hand stretched forth in benediction, is feeble
to painful degree. 1t is the situation in
which the more than womanly irrcsoluton
AMI weakness Of his character show the most
unds5uisedly and pteously.
In contrast with the strong and venerable
figures of some of his Enthusiastically in
contrast with the powerful, daring, and design
lng face of Antinelli--ho looks like a mere
pontfcal puppet tricked out in all the solemn
pIendors and grit about by all the pomp OF
spiritual and political supremacy, but in real
ity, subject utterly and hopelessly to the will
aud word Of those deeper, shrewder, holder,
ana more interruptions intellccts. His smooth
ana quiet face seems ever benignantly BEAM
ing and ms very presence balmy with soft
ana slnlcss bcneyolence. A sort Of languid
goodness seems to fall family upon the people
IRON ms mild eyes and to trckle from his deli
ea'e ingers in benedictions; but never may be
seen IN HIM that subducd force in action, that
m'ere earnostness which should mark the men
hcsVen'apponted to answer the growing needs
ana hopes OF the race, and rs wisely az bravo.
T@ help'on the inevitable progress of the age
y" ne looks sincere, and, under all his placid
neekheSs, You sec that he believes hmsef al
wat The Church declares him to bc-thc trut
az" n.l sole representative Of the divine Prophet
irneSt and Kng-sacred, supreme infallible
Oh scarcely doubt that he believes himself
%s highest and purest earthly receptacle o.
heavenly power, wisdom, and grace, instead
" mat which he has been proved to be-a
I"r ahtempcred vessel through which the D
''"c element weakly oozcs and which is found
noSt empty when for Gods great purposes i,
Snould most abound
e. M,er the procession had passed into the por
49, 49, Wo Singers rc-entered, and shut the door
,;o ,enrHng toward it sung the hymn, "Glo-
witbont q ,s.onor" alternately with tho choir
fine h"; ms the effect of which was very
O, tho az "lShed the sub-deacon knocked
The nr' uor win the cross; it was opened, and
wLicp G :, returned in the same order in
rerc,' - went out. After this, high mass was
i r.sD,I The only part of which that i'm
cbannIme particularly, was a passage in the
ps oi The Gospel, when at the words
Gu elIy'ng with loud voice. yielded up the
man., we rope cardinals, aud all that i'm.
c cure Call')lic assembly, knelt with one ac.
kaa3 many utterly Frustrating themselves. and
''sns the ground
."lb my dear =, | feel how utterly hone.
l,s., 'he endeayor 10 give you by this most
,l''. description clear and Just conception Of
an , MAGNIFICENT church ceremonies Ate,
us, we place, the surroundings were moro
uey The oyerpowering grandeur and
do"'nSs'y OF 81. Peters, under whose won.
d. nome we were, the multitude Of its chap
Tho ana ana affairs whose lights cleaned among
war; 'e'nt shadows, like far away stars--the
r,o' sllendors OF the mosaics in the dome.
cola circle on circle, toward heaven-zthe
sv-mu awful repose Of monumental stata-
Tie ,i oLe height and beauty of the altar
oG ed ,Ichness of the Papal thronc-the glory
lie , The swell of music, and, above ali.
hd. presence Of that vast and varied multi.
0Ound me in spell Of wonder and ADM.