The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-02-23
ROME AND IT'S TERRITORIES.

Fhe prejudiced character, and Otter
bigoted tone of Protestant writer's when
describing Rome and it's surroundings
makes anything fair from such a source
quite acceptable. OF such description is
the latter, contributed to a Baltimore
: paper:
This last week has been full of excitement.
We have enjoyed the Christmas festiyitie so
must speak of the Aurora Mass in st, Peters.
| where we heard the " Pastorella," the most en-
trancing music ever heard; where the war
| bling of birds at break of day, the song of the
| angels, the hymn of the shepherds was initiated;
| and with this every now and then would min
| gle the Gloria in Excelsis Deo" of the organ,
while from the castle Of st: Angelo doomed the
Christ, the Lord We came home at seven,
took breakfast, and returned to the Pope's mass
| at nine A. NJ. -
1t was very grand, and we saw it to great
advantage from one of the high galleries to
which we found entrance through the interest
of Cesfft Zerlorio, who knows everything and
every body and informs us of all that goes on !;
from this gallery could see the +" HOLY
Father" the cardinals, and long tram of
bishops and iecclesiastics, and see all oyer the
church.. The PSpe's arrival at the door was an
bounced by the silver trumpets of the Noble
Ntlard and the chanting of-the priests in the
procession; then borne upon the shoulders of
eight men in crimson, and seated i'll chair, sur
rounded by the Guard Noble-the Swiss-and
escorted each side by the bearers of the great
fans of ostrich and peacock's feathers he comes
slowly up the broad asle-which is lined by
soldiers to keep back the people-haying borne
nc1ore hlnl three or four magnificent tiar;is and
lnl,itres, the gifts of-the great princes of the
Church AndEat Christ1nas:is added the sword
ana hat, which he blesses and gives to that
Christian b, Prince wis is in highest favor with
go to the Prince Imperial, who is also his god
son, or to the Prince of the A6strians, who is son
OF the Queen OF Spain. You can Imagine nothing
more effective than the blast of The wonder,
iully sweet silver trumpets which Salute the
blessed Sacrament at the moment of the>sle
walton. 1t seems to come SO mysteriousl y as
II from heaven itself SO soft, SO sweet, so haf>
monlous that the tears start and the heart
beats, when at that moment every knee is bent
and every head bowed. The swords flash from
tneir scabbards in the hands of the Guard
the military make the graceful salute with the
different arms.
was delighted with the reception of the
Spanish ambassador, the most brilliant enter
tainment l ever saw. The palace was like,
fairy land; eighteen rooms opened and all.
decorated with natural flowers; the marble
staircase entwined with white hyacinth. Our
names We're announced from mouth to mouth
from room to room by grand servants in livery
with stentorian veices, and undergoing a
REPRESENTATION RAJ each time, no one knew him
sell by name, when at Length he reached the
presence of the ambassador and ambassadors
the former, very grand and very handsome, was
covered with gold and embroidery, and>stars
and ribbons, We're all the ambassadors and
great mobiles present there were cardinals in
RED and churchmen in purple, with stars and
other decorations; officers of every hue and
grade, and every variety of uniform. AS friend
SAID more accustomed to courts than am, 81
DO not believe any court in the world presents
greater variety or more elegance" Every day
since Christmas has been some fete, and almost
every day fine music somewhere 1 must tell
you OF one more curious and interesting ex-
hsbitlon; From Christmas to Epiphany, in two
OF the churches, the little children preach be-
lore the infant Jesus, and we saw little thing
hardly four years old make her little gestures
and say her little speech as only an Italian
enid could. She was so little she had to be
put upon her knees and taken up again. They
are put upon a little. platform before a repre-
sentation of the nativity = St. Joseph, the
blessed Mother, the infant Jesus, and the
grotto with allits accomplishments
John Sayages last work, "Fenian Heroes
and Martyrs" is received with welcome and