The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-02-03
The Immaculate Conception.

ti,llars of the late convocation ut Rome,
the proceedings Of which are attracting con.
siderable attention:
RoMr. Dc. llth, l854.--The immacu
late conception of the virgin is now a fixed
fact--a settled dogma Of faith in the Roman
Catholic church. 1t was magisteriatly pro-
claimed in the midst of the celebration of
the retc of the conception in st. Peters on
the 9Th instant, By the authentic voice of
the supreme pontin. The circumstances
wrre imposing Over 200 full -robed eCclesi-
astical dignitarics, including 60 cardinals.
aud ll0 archbishops and bishops, represent
lug every part of the word, besides innumer-
able lesser office bearers of the church, as
sisted in the ceremonies of the eminent oc-
casion. Perhaps so remarkable an assembly
has not been convoked in the Metropolitan
cathedral before, since the commencement
of the century.
The grand procession was formed at the
Vatican al 81 o'clock in the morning. 1t
included the popes choir, the civil authori-
ties of the city, and the whole papal house
hold, en- costume, with the candles and vari-
Gus other insignia Of festal occasions, and
moved in solemn state TO the cathedral,
chanting the prescribed itany. A long line
Of officials preceded the rich buldachin OF the
pon,if A more sumptuous cortege could
scarcely be conceived.
The spectacle in the church after the pope
mounted the throne, surrounded by the gor-
geous suite, was perhaps. too oriental 10
suite western notions of religious rites but
the services were nevertheless performed
with becoming dignity After the chanting
Of the Evangelists in Latin and in Greek
Cardinal Maechi, as doyen of the sacred
college, conformity with the preates present
la nf 4 ba nd rpln
nian rites. presented at the foot of the
throne a petition in the Latin tongue, of
wlich subioin free translation, viz:
THAT which for long time o Most Holy
Father. has been ardently desired, and with
hll voice demanded by the Catholic church
viz: the definite decision by your supreme
and infallble Judgment of the Immaculat te
Conception of the Mos: Blessed Virgin
Nlarv, mother of God, for augmentng her
rraise. her glory, and her veneration, we, in
the name of the Sacred College of Cardinals,
of the Bishops of the Catholic world, and of
all the faithful, humbly and urgently pray
that in this solemnity of the Most Holy Vir-
gin, may be accomplished the common de-
Sire. For which end in the midst of this
august Sacrlice--in this Temple sacred to
the Prince of the Apostles, and in this SOL
cmn assembly of the NEST ample Senate of
bSnOlS hnu pcOpc, uCl6hi " NA'ot llOl! (!
Father, TO raise your apostolic voice and
pronounce the dogmatic decree of the I'M
nacula,e Conception Of Mary, by which
there will be joy in Heaven and great re-
joicing on Earth"
The pope responded that he willingly re-
crved the petition bu, added that it was
necessary TO invoke the aid of the Holy
Spirit. in order to answer il. The Vcni
Creator was then chanted by the choir and
the whole assembly; after which the sover-
eign pontiff' read aloud, but with tremuious
voice, (n Lutin) the following
DECREE.
u is dogma of faith, that the most Blcs-
8ed Virgin in the first instance Of her con-
ception, by the singular priuilcgc and grace
of God, in rirtuc of the merits of Jesus
Christ, Saviour of the human race, aoas pre-
serucd ercmpt from all touch Of original sin.
The pronunciation of the decree was in
SANITY announced to the world without by
the cannon of the Castle of ST. Angelo
when all the bells of Rome forthwith com
menced joyful chime, and the inhabitant
displayed their various colored satin and
damask ensigns from the windows and bal
comics OF the city. The gloomy streets sud
denly become as gay as the flower-borderet
walks of pleasure garden.
On the cOuclnSiCn of the church ceremO