New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-18

n
scene. Its bells announce the present soiemni'y.
The mantle of the martyr is falling on one oi ner
followers Friends are gathering, munc is pre-
n,ring nuns are praying, mother weeps, father
rsces brother trembles, a daughter and sister Is
,iehine and resolving and adorning herseli lot tue
sacrifice. A new disciple Of the patron SAINT Is
coming 10 consummate her vows, IN eonseeraN"s
her virgin life 70 the cloister.
We entered q court to approach the Church OF
ST. Cecilia Cardinal carriages, caparisoned WIN
crimson and gold, attended by three footmen. each
In rich liveres and coachmen ln costumes OF SUIT
able magnifceuce stood on the side next 70 the
convent. O,her noble equipaees enclrcled the
court. ard the Swiss and Papal Guards stood about
the doors The interior of the church is simple
in white and gold, with painted ceiling. The
altar cleaned with light and cilded ornaments and
il made of the richest marbles, Dsid with precious
stones. 4 space before it was carpeted and re-
served omen for the ceremony. On each side oil
this aisle rows of chairs were placed, the hrst LOT
friends, the others for strangers and spectators
Priests, in short, black breeches, ana iong.
black stockings and floating black gowns OF
,ilk, seated the ladies, while striped guards
of the Pope, with long handled, lanced
tomabavks stood in reserve TO prevent ln-
| discreet seizures of seats. All the Catholics
kpeeled a long time after entering the church, or
! turned to the sids-cbapel where Mass was per-
forming At length their prayers were ended,
seemed impatient for the commencement OF the
ceremony Then Cardinal appeared in ennoni-
csls. follow ed by numerous attendants and ser
! wants and proceeded up the reserved aisle. Ills
| face was meek. his eyes fixed, and palm was
placed 10 palm children are taught TO pray. tH
| be waved the rgh. hand slowly in signs OF the
cross and blessed the people. All bowed or
kneeled and crossed themselves as be passed:
After kneeling and praying, the Cardinal seated
! himself on gilded stool before the altar; then
| divers men completed his toilet maids would do
! for a oueen-he Yapt in devotion while they
wTspped him in scaris and capes and stoles. Pres
! entlv command Of order and silence darhened
his face: then an illumination succeeded, which
announced the entrance of the bride OF the spirit
nal spouse She wes dressed as brides of men
are ", Mt to be- and attended by princess to give
! her aWay whom some called Barberini, and some
by another name as llusirious. Behind them fol-
| lowed small winged things supporting the long
| white satin train OF the novice. They were TWO
tiuy girls with of roses around tbeir heads,
below which light sunny curs fell over their
shoulders. They wore frOcks OF tarleton-one
pink and one blue-with starry spanges on their
short. friled skirts. Pumaged wings of rainbow
hues hung in repose on their little backs.
! With the precision Of pages, and the naIvot' OF
angels and babies. they bore their silken burdens
I'D the nave. On approaching the Cardinal me
maiden kneeled and kissed his hand and then with
! the angels and princess she was seated. y sermon
! followed, during which time some stared, some
wondered, some wept The girl was young JUST
! eighteen with proportions widely at warn iDce WIN
! tLOse of the graces. She wore cOr0net CT bril-
! liapts with marabouts and flowers attaching her
| vail of white lace. Her neck and arms were pro-
perly covered though the rest of her toilette, with
the exception of lis shabby gentlllty, was similar
to that prescribed at fOreig IN courts. Broad lace
partly mounted her SKIRT, and it's train aped like
! wise maenlfcence Intellectually The accompany
! ing princess wore a lavender silk with high lace
bertha: her head sparkied too with diamonds.
When the sermon was finished, the princess sc-
| con panied her charge 10 the Cardinal. She
| kreelcd received the cruciiix, aud then rising
took hold of part Of bis mantle, and so followed
/ by the train-bearlng angels lett the church 10
! enter the convent. A few lady friends followed
them Then in chapel at the right of the high
| altar of the church, and behind close grating,
! the rest of the ceremony was performed. The
! nuns in their white cashmere robes, some with
and others without black walls, came down to
receive the new sister who had Just espOused the
| Lamb. The Cardinal in his mltre stood without
| the grating and an entOned service began.
Then the novice was dismantled of her bridal
attire; her crown and feathers and flowers, gloves,
! bracelets and jewels, one by one were laid of.
! The srapipg folds of eternal chastity closed around
| her; vows were consummating: her long, black
| hair hung over the white mantle, then disappeared;
one by one, cap and cape OF the ehase costume COW
cred her; then the Cardinal saluted her by her new
name. Maria Sforza" was become . Maria Colon
! ba Teresa of the precious blood of Jesus" her
! brother stood by ME at the moment; he had been
relating to companion the history of his sisters
| determination to take the vail. had melted with
| his emotions. When the new name wss pro-
nOunced he grew suddenly pale, a. if pctriied in
| despair. Itwas finished. Never again could he
behold his sister, but separated from her by the
| bars of the convent Ii vas like standing on the
brink of the sepulchre of beloved friend, with
the agony of moment prolonged to years. The
| father, it appears, had opposed the cOnsecratOn
and withheld his presence from the ceremony. The
mother was near by. overfowng with tears. The
| girl from infancy had declared her desire TO be
nun; recent oppositions TO her will had induced
illness, till it's restraint was abandoned.
| Music followed the conservation. The nuns be-
| bind the grating held long tapers which lighted
strangely their calm faces and white robes. A
heavy brilliant diadem was placed on the head of
the newly initiated. The choir was OF men who
stood by the high altar Of the church. One voice,
sweet as st. Cecia's long g-toned, pure and melo-
dous at first concealed its origin from my ears.
There was DO woman in the choir and no boys to
be seen; but at length found the rare tones came
from tall, prestly clad person-was the boy over
grown, or the msn wOmanl | could not tell.
But the chants were noble, the occasion eloquent.
The patron WAS proptiOus-inspiration hung over
the altar-the image of the Saint lay beneath il.
it is beautiful reclining marble statue modelled
in the sixteenth century from drawing taken from
the body Of the Saint as found miraculously pre-
served in the bier brought from the catacOmbs.
The Saint is represented lying on the right side,
the head turned backward and the face hidden,
resting toward the earth. The arms are distended
togcther, aud the lower limbs lie gracefully bent.
She is wonderfully well posed, whether by mira