New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-23
TIE FETE OF THE PROPAGANDA At
ROME.
y,om Our Own Correspondent.

FROM Our OwB Correspondent
ROME, Thursday, Jan. II, lS56.
THROUGH the kindness Of our Embssssdor, we
were favored With tickets Of permission to witness
the ceremonies in tie Church Of the Propaganda
on the day after the Octave of the Epiphany. This
College is the sap Of the vine Of the whole Catholic
Church. II is az Institution for the educaton OF
priests and missionaries for and from all parts OF
the world; but more especially for those destined
70 labor in ORIENTAL fields. The ancient Magi OF
tho Fast those same who rendered the first hom-
ACE to the newborn Savior, are now It's patron
saints. The Epiphany, with us the last of the
Christmas HOLIDAYS, and in France called Kings
day. is really the fete of these wise men. In toe
Romish Church it is also fete for the universal
diffusion of the religion of Christ On this occasion
masses were said and publicservice performed at
tie Propaganda, in all the languages OF the East
AT the close of the Octave-that ia, on the eighth
and ninth days after the EPphany-the students OF
the College recte in public pieces Of prose or
verse in their native tongues, subjects suited 20
the day.
The celebration of the fete must according 70
ancient custom, have some relation 10 the Magi
and in order to vary the honcrs thus rendered to
the patrons Of the institution, current facts OF
GRIND nOtOriety, or recent occasions OF special
Thanksgiving are selected on which are founded
the various themes Of the POlyglOt Academy.
Last year the newly established dogma of the
Immaculate Conception inspired these forty differ.
ent tongues. This year the subject of thanks
giving was less exalted in appearance; yetit called
.t,,I. I.
appears that On the 18th Of April last, the Pope,
accompanied b. the College of the Propaganda,
visited the Church of st. Agnes without the walls,
ard the adjacent catacombs. While there receiy-
ing the homage Of all present, the apartment
wherein were the assembly gave way, aud down
fell Pontif, Propaganda and people. Ruins aud
bruises we're the only disaereeable results; no
lives were lost. The Sacred Father was saved
from serious harm, and thus the church was pre-
served and the propagation Of the faith perpetuaed
To-day thanksgivings were rendered to Mary OF
Bethlehem for her interference in this moment Of
great danger. Through her the Pope and PrOpG-
ganda were preserved from destruction, and hen
the faith first inauqrated by the Magi. The
manner Of arriving 6t the patron saints s circuit
Gus as il is Ingenious the gist OF the whole matter
being: Thanks to the Virgin that we have been
"preserved to continue that homage to herself and
Son which the Magi first rendered to them at
Bethlehem, and to be the means of inducing
"others TO do the same, till the whole world join
in the mileniul chorus, Ave Maria.
We'Le4rd on this occasion forty different tongues,
all tuned to the same note of praise, by men and
boys Of all shades Of white, black and copper
color. The ceremony was curious in itself, and
above all interesting in revealing the great fucrum
of the Ronish Church in the means of ditiGsing It's
religion. These young men are preparing for their
various missions. The moment is drawing near when
each having completed his lst of VOWS will ap-
preach bis superior to receive his last orderthat
TO exile himself alone, forever, to the land Of his
labors-be it to Iceland, Kamtschatks or New
Zealand There is no appeal. Obedience is the
universal law. The parting priest is expected to
find his support On bis path CT duty; but should
resources fail there, the aid of the Propaganda is
pledged him. ! am told that this privilege to draw
from the parent source has never been abused.
Though cardinals, bishops and priests may roll in
luxury here ard insult the poor by their costly
equipSges and numerous attendants, ye, it is
doubtless true that no men are more devoted and
selfsacrifcing than the poorer Catholic clergy.
CelibaCy increases the sacrifice of the missiona-
ries and Sisters of Charity. Their dedication is
entire They espcuse the church, aud, like their
great master, do simply their Fathers will. If
premature death remove them they have only
parents, sisters BROTHER and disciples to weep for
them.
The exercists Of the day were to commence at
% in the afternoon. BY some chance we arrived
lali-an-hoUr too soon, and found ourselves in a
crowd of ladies, mostly English waiting at an
upper door which was 10 lead us to the galleries
OF the church. Nothing could be more amusing
than the spleen here manifested. Universal i'm
patience was expressed in general fault-hnding.
One strong minded person who had for time
chewed her parasol, quietly sitting on table at
length broke oct in pbiiippics against the nation.
She did not understand the policy of the Italians
in thus inconveniencing strangers. She had been
separated from her husband before mounting the
staircase, and, when comfortably seatedin an ante
room with friends, they had all been driven in
here like sheep, huddled add packed together. il
had been just SO at the Sistine Chapel. Ladies
were forced tO wear black dresses, and more than
all, to quit their gentlemen. In fine, it was all
tifeEome humbug. Besides, it was shocking
taste Of the Pope 20 have placed the altar be-
fore the Last Judgment, aud absurder still for
Michel Angelo 70 have painted ceiling 80 elsb-
orstely--it was 60 tiresoue 70 the back and eyes.
Though her previ, u defamation had been intOned
for the whole audience she ncw appealed 10 Ire
10 cOncgr with her lsst continent. l laid | did
1T was the easiest thing could do; il wss the
FureEt tactics to quiet the battery. Yet ] Was
much puzzled 70 know why this lady Wa stl
here 90 pertip1ciously On the table since all was
40 urconf I, risble and 50 abFurd. Why 20 20 tie
Siitire Chapel thought /. Why cone 70 the Prop
ageuds WY here in Rome Why such cutie
oi sufeIirgs But observe that half the world
make tier 70; ages in ihis same spirit OF martyr
dom. IL uust be done aud SEN They must be
bored; i j. a part q their destiny. What
charming world these people would have could
they susnge I'll in their own way. There would
be 10; Troublesome picture 10 tic S.stne Chapel
Tie Pope would never fsy E1sss at DigH; Egs-
bGnot, wives AID chiidTea would slssys a. slGs
by tCe in rows al their breakfast tables; there
- 1879. $500. L..