Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-02-21
EASTER In ROME.


of saints. We have more saints than there are
days in the year; still Easter having been sub
ject of agitation in the church, and the cause
of separation between the Latin and the Greek
churches, Rome displays more luxury and &C.
clesiastical splendor in its celebration than in
any other festival in the calendar.
The holy week, which precedes Easter, is
worthy to be mentioned. Every amateur of
music will know something of the far famed
senaiesrcre,'' which is performed in the Sirtih
Chapel during the last three evenings Of the
| Holy week. The chapel is in the Vatican,
painted by Michel .4agelo, fresh as if his mas
ter pencil had touched it only to-day. Onthe
right of the altar a throne is erected for the
Pope; on both sides the Cardinals are arrayed
in purple, each of them assisted by their re-
| spective cGudatario, and Maestro di ceremoaia.
The patriarchs, and bishops in their pontifcal
dress; the generals, and chiefs of every religi-
| GUS order in therr monastic array. The lodges
erected on both sides of the chapel are crowded
with foreign ambassadors, their ladies and 9TH
| er distinguished foreigners of both sexes. In
the middle of the chapel is reading desk of a
triangular form, upon which thirteen candles
are burning, as a symbol of the candeabrum
| in the temple of Jerusalem; others, however,
say of our Saviour, and his twelve disciples.
Every eye is directed towards the throne the
Pope giving the signal, the ssrniserere nssi' is
commenced, and at once the chapel is render
ed vocal by a hundred yoics. To describe the
effect, and Impression which it produces upon
the senses, is beyond the power of human Ian
| 1C-f cilf roYao
cry side in thousand forms military and dip
lomatic decorations of all the courts Of Europe,
the display of the ladies, and other fdcinations
| beggar all description. In addition to this, the
paintings Of the most renowned masters OF It
ally, the best performers of the theatrical art
lists, and choristers, and the most unrivailcd
voices of eaa:sc5s, are too overpowcring to be
depicted. After every psalm candle is ex-
tir,,'.-a -.-.s'l --Ar,a:iins the
only oae burning in the Whole chapel. Wecan
see the colors gradually darl5en, and the figu-
res Of .he paintings by degrees lose their form,
striking symbol Of the papal power, which
is losing its influence, and gradually fading
away like the twilight Of the evening.
Saturday before Easter, att twelve O'Clock the
bells are heard from every steeple, the clouds
are rent by their sounds, and the earth trem-
bles from the roaring OF the cannon from FORT
ST. .QngeIo; the ears are deafened by the mer-
ry clasnors of the children in the streets, and
the reports of pistols fred nearly in every house
Saturday evening, at seven O'Clock, P. NJ,
every dwelling, where an image of Madonna,
or any saint, is stationed, for the houses areil-
lulnnatcd, affairs are erected, ltanies are sung;
and prayers upon bcndcd knees are offered to
those saints, all these in the middle of the
streets. In the meantime the multitude of the
$50 caled) better class Of the inhabitants of
Rome are directed toward ST. Peters where
the grandest and most imposing spectacle is to
be seen. But at the same time the most revolt
ing to every moral sense and religious feeling
y cross covered with brass, symmetrically
illuminated with thousands of lamps,) is sus-
pended in the middle Of the church. The read
crmay form some kind of an idea Of the colossal
height of that cross, when he is informed that
its magnitude does apparently, not diminish,
even after being suspended at tremendous
height above the heads of the people. Round
that cross you can see, promenading arm in
arm, the loUer with his dulcinea as though
promenading in dancing saloon; chatting
laughing, and indulging in most irreverent
acts, which would be considered an offence in
a respectable hotel; these are committed pub
licly in the sanctuary, uner the cross of Christ.
AS the the church is entirely dark, except the
light which the cross reflects in it, there are
sometimes loUers of darkness rather than Of
light, who often lose their way in the adjacent
collonades and chapels, where they perpetrate
the most wicked acts, of which every honest
man would blush, except the adorers of the
cross in the church of St. Peters. The specta-
cency forbids me to say more, and constrains
me to relinquish the subject of the alteration |
of the cross in st. Peters at Rome.
Easter morning. The roaring of the cannon |
announces the ushering in of the morn the !
harmonious sounds from the thousand steeples |
mitigate the roughness of the first, and invite |
the slumbering beauty to leave her couch, and |
under the illuminated cross.
Nine O'Clock, a. NJ. The square of ST. Pc
ter's presents the most varied and interesting |
spectacle. State carriages of all descriptions; |
the cardinals in their full dress, and suit; the |
ambassadors of all the foreign courts, with all |
the particular characteristics OF their nations; |
carriages CT the innumerable prelates, bishops, |
and chiefs OF the monastic orders; two regi- /
ments of soldiers in arms; martial music, the |
spouting of the gigantic fountains; thousands
and tens of thousands of pedestrians of every
sex and class. dressed iu their best garments, +
take their costs under the coI0psaie= ~ other