New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-19
CHURCH SERVICES AT ROME.

CHURCH SERVICES AT ROME.
From Our Own Correspondents
ROME, Thursday, Feb. %, 1856.
Every afternoon at during Lent the bell towers
of St. Roc and st. Carlo, between which we are,
syirce an extra agitation. Their bells hy out and
in. calling with pealng camOr the people to tho
preaching. When the ringing ceases the slow, sol
emn toll commences, warning the approach of the
mcment when the minister mounts the pulpit. St
Carlo s close by us, in the COrso, so let US pass
this hour before dinner there. The Church u
nodern-thst is, only little older than the fame
ofPbmouth Rock; abundant in frescoes, gliding
and marbles, and yet without interest here as
mOnumeot of art. On the steps without an Old
WOMAN stands, guarding flock of chairs. Wei pay
a baoccho each and carry ours in. one-leggod
aud man. all that is necf sssry, raises up
OF one side the stuffed leather stitched Mattress
looking curtain haoging before the entrance. to d.
low us to pass. You give him halt-baOccho II
you Like and with your chair seek place IN the
nave be fore or at the side of the pulpit, as suits
your taste. You are as free as in your own cham
bers to stand lit or kneel, when, where and as
long AZ BELTS your mood. No one disturbs, not
tie.s or attracts another. Ifyou are real fdels
you viii seem to see nothing but the crucihx. or
some image of the Virgin. But If you are little
hereto and curious YOU will quietly wrap yourself
in q semb!ance OF devotion, and contemplate what
is peculiar around You. The pulpit stands 10 the
middle of the left side of the nave. Its body 10
like a short column whose capital is the box tho
preacher stands in. On il is the cruciix, which in
French churches is usually on the opposite side OF
TIE nave. Above is a sounding board painted with
tho emblems of the Holy Spirit; and higher still an
awning of cloth stretched over the pulpit and part
of the people, to preTent a dissipation OF tue
speaker voice. Humility" in large gilt letters
is inscribed on the front Of the desk, which, with
all ats symbols ard souvenirs is an object winning
contemplation. The pulpit, as well as all the inner
columns aud walls, is covered with real or iD,i-
tated colored marbles, with rich, red hues FREEDOM
mating, giving that VAIN tone to the interior
which cOlored giass imparts to the bare white
walls of Gothic churches.
A few wooden benches are placed In rows oppo-
site the pulpit and its sides, whero those who do
not choose a chair Msy sit They are high aud
hard with no suggestion OF upholstered seats and
kneeling. cushions. This is no school for nods-no
time for luxury. There is the choice to stand,
kneel on the stone pavement, or sit on bench or
on a straw bOttemed chair that costs a cent.
KneeliDg. statue-lookDg figures are scattered al
through the church, in the nave and before tho
different affairs of the cbapels Catholics remain
for some time in this attitude after coming in. All
seem tDtUTDeC IN 0tSOuOn. lne Oiu mcn tno
women are counting their beads, aud murmuring
spes and psters. There is scarcely an expression
OF wandering thought. ThepOor women and serv-
ants are as YOU will see them Mt their work or In
the streets or perhaps little tdier, with no extra
covering except handkerchief or shawl thrown
over the ht I'D to fulfill the injunction of Paul.
There NO neat white caps seen, Ike those OF
the French servants. Occasionally maid or
waiting woman wears q black lace vail on her
hoo Tho IN mostlg old Of fha
gregstion, are wrapped in blue cloth cloaks with
ample capee, one corner Of which they throw
across the breast and the shoulder, offering.
whether they move or rest, endless studies Of drx-
perry. They wear long boards aud small black
skullca and edifying in their devotions a.
the women
But cur preacher is coming in by the door Of
toe sseristy man In blue gown and pink cape
leads the way; the monk follows-a brother of
TIE convent of the Ara Cell, the Heavenly
Altar" His head is uncovered except by q small
black silk crown cap His capucbiD falls back %
his shoulders, his coarse dark brown gown and
cloak fall almost TO his yellow skin shoes. He
BE- Dds the knee in passing the chapel OF the Holy
Sacrament and approaches the pulpit. The blue
and pink man opens it's door, takes the priests
cloak, folds it, and follows him, and remains mid
somewhere there during the sermon. The preacher
mounts to his place, removes bis tiny cap. sslutes
tie cIucfx, then stands in prayer q moment with
palm tn palm. Meantime the people hneelj the
pri, st kneels too and pronoUnces an Ave Maria TO
which all respond These various genufsxlOns
aid deyOtiOns occupy not more than minute
Then the priest sits down, puts on his cap, then
rnes and takes il of to pronounce bis text th1A
r. places il again and proceeds directly to his dis
course. There il no book, no reading, no invita-
tions to attention, 10 Dear hearers, You VIII lind
"tl text recorded etc, but the words are given
in Latin, then in Italian, and without preamble
tie man il at his work There are no faint, fash
iopable whispers at the beginning, but clear nat
nrsl audible voice announces that he has some
thing 10 soy and simply seeks TO say it. His severe
costume. and impassiOned, graceful and flexible
ce.tures would inspire deaf mans interest: his
soporou. LANGUAGE feryid sympathy, and elegant
style could not leave blind unmoyed. Tho
foles Of his long wooden go M are confined around
his u sist by hemp cord which winds t~ice
around his body and hangs down in strings at as
eide. There is no white about bis neck or wrists.
81. looks as il in a dark working frock without
collar. The sleeves are conveniently long and
wide. but nothing extra for grace is given, consc-
ouently there is DC. occasion for those fourishes
for drawing up the folds in defamation and devo-
ton. which are among the finest attractions Of
mary modern preachers. Neither are there any
Gcursbes Of fine linen 70 cover prctty his face in
prayer but he looks stesdfast!y at the She hinah
and pra,s The French Catholic and Protestant
ministers, too, pray with open, upturned eyes-a
habit which seems commeDdable for its natural
ness and freedom from embarrassment Italian
~ well as other Continental preaching IL extern
porsneous, allowing soul and body 70 more 10
eether in the expression of thought aud sentiment
ard particularly inducing the culture of geshca-