Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-06-02
Miracle Worship in Rome.

Mrs. Stowe, in her last contribution to the
Independent, has the following:
Yesterday afternoon we went To the Church
OF the Ava CGli, to see the miracle working
Bambino. The priest put on vestments and
lit candles, and unlocked with solemn reve.
renee little coffin foot and half long,
lined with white gold EN- brodered silk, and
there lay the uglest little wooden doll that
eyes ever rested on. Said doll is said to
have been carved from olive wood on the
Mount Of Olives, and painted by ST Luke,
and is covered from head to foot with jewels
which attest the miracles it has wrought
diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, from
various princesses and royal personages to
whom it has been sent. For the payment of
certain sum, the Bambino is carried in state
through the street to the relief of any sick
person, psalms being chauted n its honor.
An American gentleman, while looking at
it the other day, inquired if it could cure
weak eyes. The priest answered in the atfir-
native. The gentleman then said be should
like to try it for his, which we're ailing.-
"How long will the benefit probably last ?"
the priest. "Yes." The priest Immediately
began to laugh, and had quite little time of
joking over the whole affair.
In the church when we entered was large
congregation of the very poorest people, with
their rough black hands, shabby, dusty
clothes, and that peculiar air Of dilapidated
gentility which marks the lower classes here.
They were listening with profound seriousness
to Franciscan frinr, who, in his rough,
brown wool gown, tied round his waist, and
with little black cap on his head, was
preaching with the utmost earnestness.
AS looked at him could not but think
what capacities for eloquence are yet in this
people and this language All his move.
ments we're the most commanding and grace
ful that could be conceived, as in mellow
tones he poured forth his sweet, round, broad
italian, to which one listened as to music.
After this, as bambnos appeared to be in
the ascendent, our guide proposed to show
US another; which he gravely informed US
was the richest in Rome. We went, there
fore, to the church of St. Augusta, where we
found an image Of the Madonna and Child,
| completely covered with watches, seals Chains,
rings, jewels of all shapes, sizes and settings,
the whole inside of the church being in like
manner covered with offerings, among which
large silver hearts appeared to be the most
favorite article. Pictures on the wall ex-
pressed various miracles wrought by this
| image-a child preserved from being run over
oy morse, people rescued from browning,
| fire, and other accdents-were portrayed
with more or less vigor, each picture being q
representation of some votary-memorial OF
the event chroncled. The whole church was
! filled with q murmur of prayers, which q
multitude of people on their knees were heard
reciting.
Drawn up in hollow squares round the side
aisles of the church were classes Of children
with priest instructing them to repeat the
Credo, the Ava Maria. and the PaternosteI
in Latin. A class of these little fellows sar
rounding grey-hared old monk, particular
ly struck me-ragged, unkempt unwashed
they were yet so bright and intelligent look
ing and oil with such such dark, soft eyes
and many of them so handsome, that on'
could not help wishing there were some san
in the Romish Calendar who presided owe
soap and water.