Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-01-18
From the Plattsburgh Sentinel
Notes Of Foreign Travel Rome.
Sacred Relics.
BY REV. SELAH W. BROWN.

BY REV. SELAH W. BROWN.
!. 1t is perfectly astonishing to find
what an amount of strange and curl
Gus relics are deposited in the churches
of Europe. These are exhibited to
the people On certain great occasions,
and no good Catholic presumes to
doubt their authenticity. Among these
holy relics may be enumerated the
following: The head of John the
Baptist-a rib of St. Peter-a rib of
st. Paul-the thumb of St. Mark
two stones used at the martyrdom of
Stephen-the rod of Moses--a portion
of the ark of the Covenant-a lock of
the Virgin Mary's hair-two thorns
from Christ's Crown-a nail from the
true cross-and a piece of Christ's
seamless garment. Great parade has
latel ly been made over a tooth which
we are told was once in the head of
some saint, martyr, apostle, prophet,
or patriarch, | do not remember which.
But it is Of the relics in the churches
of Rome that | would now particular
ly speak. Nearly all of those | de-
scribe, | saw when in that city.
RELICS IN ST. PETERS.
st. Peters contains the usual amount
Of these sacred memorials. There,
may be seen part of the cross on
which the Saviour expired. and a por-
tion Of the spear which pierced his
side.
In one of the great piers which sup
port the dome Of the church is the
shrine Of st. Veronica containing the
sacred handkerchief" a most holy
relir. The story is, that the damsel
met Jesus, as he was bearing his
cross 10 calvary, and she offered him
her handkerchief to wipe his fearful,
bloody face. When she received the
handkerchief back, it contained all
exact impression of the Saviour's fea-
lures. Thus we have a photograph
Of Jesus, preserved for 1900 years.
Near another pier is the famous
bronze statue Of St. Peter, evidently
made many hundred years ago. He
is sitting on a high marble chair, with
his right hand uplifted, and his right
foot extended. 1t is thought by many
to be a statue Of the old pagan divini-
ty. Jupiter, transformed by some Pope
into an apostle. I saw men. women.
and children kneeI before this statue,
and, after saying their prayers, they
would rise and reverently kiss its
foot. To such an extent has this de
votioa been carried, that the great
toe has been worn half off by the kiss
ING Of pious pilgrims.
PILATES STAIRCASE.
Ia noble portico near the church
of st. john Lateran is the Scala
Santa or Holy Staircase. 1t con-
sists Of % marble steps which ira
dition says belonged to Pilates house
in Jerusalem, and down which the
Saviour descended on his way from
the Judgment Hall to Calvary. On
the steps are stains which you are
told were made by the blood OF the
! Redeemer. No one is permitted to
ascend these holy stairs except on
their knees. The morning | visited
them | saw five persons, three men
and two women, toiling up in this
painful manner. They paused at each
step to count their rOsaries and repeat
their prayers. Now and then they
would bow and kiss some spot more
sacred than the rest. So great is
the number of persons who ascend
these stairs, that 1t has been found
necessary TO encase them in wood, to
preserve the marble from being worn
entirely away. So after all, the de-
votees do not touch the vcritable
steps. On each side Of the holy stair
case, some kind Pope has provided
parallel stairs for the descent of the
faithful, and for the ascent Of such
prOfane feet as mine.
At the bottom | found a monk who
sold me little pamphlet in which |
read mine years of indulgence will be
granted for each Of the twenty eight
steps of the foresaid holy stairs when
mounted on the knee" And the
same pamphlet says: This indul-
gence may be applied also to the souls
in Purgatory, SO that, if the penitent
making the ascent, does not need the
indulgence, it may be applied to the
, credit Of some fl-ads ALREADY i'll Pur-
, gatory l.: Jhis way, a wife whose
, husband has died with no very fiat
. tering prospect OF Heaven can relieve
him from his uncomfortable situation
And it is wonderful how fast time can
. be made here. One can mount the
stairs in ten minutes, and in that briel
! time shorten the term of suffering il
+ Purgatory two hundred and tifty-twC
wears. At this rate those suffering,
y could be shortened ten thousand year;
i a day. Surely no one in Rome neeC
suffer hereafter. And, unless thC
pains are endless, no soul already il
/ Purgatory need remain in tormen
+ long, provided such unfortunate on
4 has piouS friends in Rome to go VI
the Scala Santa.
1t was while climbing these ver
steps, on his knees, that the great re
n former, Luther heard the voice of Goo
Of saying: "The just shall live by faith.
S Convinced of his error he started t
is his feet and rushed down the stairs.
rs At the head of the Scala Santa is
TO small chapel over the altar of whic
he is inscribed In Latin: e'There is not
:. holier place in all the world" In thl
little Sancta Sa-ctorum are severa