Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-06-13
Remarkable Catholic superstitions In the
City of Rome

| author of '!Peter Pafiey, and other works, III
writing from Rome, says the superstiiions Of that
city alone, properly dilated on, would form very
attractive book. One of the most remarkable (the
writer says) is the ..Santissimo Bambino," or Sa-
cred Baby. This is figure in wuod. about two
feet long, representing the infant Saviour. II
was carved by friar, on the Mount of Olives
while the latter was sleeping In the intervals 0i
his whiting, was painted by ST. Luke, who was
very prolific artist. This sacred brat has the
miraculous power of curing diseases and sick peo-
pie send for him as they might for any family
doctor. He receives more money-in diamonds
and votive offerings-than all the ply sicians in
Rome. He is all stuck over with gems and pre-
cious stones, and is decidedly the most effulgent
idol have ever seen. He has state coach in
which he makes his professional visits During the
Roman Republic, and while the Pope was al
Gaeta, the triumvirate gave his Holiness equip
age 10 the Banblno, but the French took it. away
again. The sacred baby festival occurs at the f.
pphany. On this occasion the altar ofhis church
the Ara Gel lis converted into stage, and
the nativity is played by pastebOard marlonettes'
(Punch and Judy performance las large as NE
The moneys received by the Bamblno go great
way toward supporting his church. An eminent
American lawyer here says that any society IN
America which should, on any other pretence than
that of religion, and. indeed, he thinks even upon
religious pretences, levy contribution upon the
community in such way as this, would be IN
dicted Tor swindling by the Grand Jury.
Then as TO the mortal remains OF St. Peter.-
They claim to repose in the Confessional DIST. Pc
ter's Church, and one hundred aud twelve lamps,
which are forever burning. hang around his tomb
from circular balusrade Of marble The Church
| 4 hat
or even one willing to be convinced, as to the re-
ality of this preension but of course The faithful
ask for no assurance beyond the authority OF the
Pope In the same Church, the famous bronze
statue the Apostle, the toe of which is SO con-
stanily kissed. has been pretty well proved 10 be
none other than the healhen statue tf Jupiter
Capitulinus
The Church of St. John Of Lateran possesses
the table on ,chich The Last Supper ,ras catcn,--
The only proof is legend of the vaguest sort. IL
alsu shows (vsiturs always paying for The show)
the mouth of the Well of Samarla, column split
when the vail of the Temple was rent in twain,
and miraculous slab with a hue through It,
This hole was made by the passage OF qnanilty
of cunsecrated bread, which fell from The hand ol
priest who doubted the Real Presence.
| The Church of Santa Maria has painting oil
the Madonna by st. Luke The authenticity OF
this portrait was doubted tor centuries, until
Pope settled the question by declaring 1t genuine
in bull issued for the purpose.
Santa Croce exhibits one day in Faster week
the True Cross" on which the Saviour was cru
Gifted. BY the word True" you will under
stand that this is the real cross, rs distinguished
from the numerous comteteits that are palmed
of: upon creduluus and indulgent public.
| Croce has no connection wth any other estab-
| Hshment.
St. Sebastian has large pile of relics of dubi-
US authenticity. The most impudenily grotesque
assumption is that of block Of marble, which
bears the impress of human feet. These retiert
are those of the Saviour, and the impression was
made at the moment when St. Peter said to him
Domino quo yadis2 This was after the resurrec'
ton of Christ he having appeared to the SAINT as tne
latter was proceeding to Rome 10 be cruclhed with
his head downward. The church is built over
portion of the Appian Way where this scene took
| place, and the pavement with the sacred stone
slightly raised from its level, forms part OF lis
floor.
In a stone in the stairway of the famous dun
geons known as the Mamertine prisons is the I'M
press of human profile, distinctly traceabie.-
This was made by St. Peters side lace, when
brutal turnkey jammed the martyr violently a.
gainst the wall. St. Peter must have been much
annoyed at finding that he left such lndellole
marks. s.uf his person behind him. And what sharPers
and charatans are the holy men that invest prop
agate and perletuate such shabby and degrading
fctions.
San Pietro in Montore is built upon the precise
spot where the Apostle was erucihed, IN an inver-
ted attitude. In hole extending rather deeply
into the ground hangs lantern. and further down
= k,r,o ,I,oi
as according to the sacrslian, it is in poor state
of preservation, and is sadly in want of repair
have no doubt the origiuat Mess Of Pottage is
somewhere to be seen in Rome, kept in sacred
cubby and covered over by Cathedral.
A place is shown which was once inhabited by
St. Dominic, the founder Of the Inquisltlon, who
received letters from Heaven, written by the Ho-
ly Trinity. However, this is by no means equal
to little old house at Siena, which produces the
love correspondence of the Saviour and st. Cath
arne. hardly expect to be believed when say
\ that letters are actually shown which profess 10
have been written to her by our Lord. lhose
written by her to her husband, Jesus Christ, and
TO her mother law, the Virgin Mary, may be
be seen by any body. The exact spot salso poin
ted where the Saviour and ST. Calharne stood
when they were married and where the weodth9
ring was put upon her finger.
The list of relics and of miraculous images
might be extended to infnity. ! have moi spo-
ken of the oldest Madonna in Rome, which on
one occasion being rked at being shut mp IN her
closet during Mass, brke open the door tor ITSELF
Nor of the canunized handkerchief, when pears
the impress ol The Saviuur's face. Nor OF 'he
Bocca della Verla. amarble slab In The grouna
with holes pierced FIR eyes. nose and monlh' I'D
to the latter incsion OF which whoever puts his
hand and sware falsely will never be able to win.
draw it, Nor of thousand other lmplous, de-
grading lodges by hich the church stoops to con-
quer. so
Now, in regard to all these assumptions, I'M
postures and mpossiblities, 1t must not be sup
posed that they are the inventions and creations o
cicerones handbooks and tanatlcal sacrlstans.-
The Pope is guarantee for them all. and the
Church is responsible for them, one and severally
Where no evidence exists, evidence is coined or
in some way trunped up, or, oel'er than al
+ Papal bull declares no evidence to be necessary
The Vatican, armed with lnlaliloility, pronounces
without appeal upon the authenticity OF any rel
ic whicn may be judged valuable, either tor the
collection of fees, the proInnlon ol chuich lnnu-
! ence or for the extension oi luoi worship for
instance, the ..Sacred Baby" declared to be the
work of St. Luke, and put forward as a mlracu'
ous healer Gf diseases-ior winch services he
makes extorlionate clarges--ls perfectly well
known by The Church 10 be gross lmposltlon.-
This, as well as all the paintings and uther ware
,,;rihn,ed IN the Evangelist has been quite con-
9 clnsyelv proved to be due to one Messer Luca
= Creek artist of much later period. Of course
, it was as easy for the Catholic Church to trans
mr,e Mr. nca into St. Luke, for lis own purpose
as il was for Barnum to manufacture Joyce Hett
out of an octogenarian negress. The difference i:
that Barnum has owned up, while the Church i:
, still deriving profit from its numerous and wei
stocked % museums. The Pope will one day delv
or lectures on humbug. too. His disclosures viii
, be much more degrading to the world, however
,L.n ,Ln.o of RaTnum were 10 America: for thu