The New York herald., 1869-05-01
ROME.

ROME.
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Catholic Ocremonies-HoIy weck--NIass in
st. Petcr's-Interesting Rites-Thc Sistine
Chnpel-Sacred Reiics-The Baptistcry Of
Observation-Disclosures Visit.
Ors-Distinsuisled Persons.
ROME, April 4, 1859.
Another Holy Week has passed; again we have
assisted at the Vatican and once more have wit
messed those august ceremonies at st. Peters, under
the cupola OF Michael Angelo, and have seen the
profound impression which they produced on all
who witnessed them.
viii not enter into the details of the solemnities;
they are quite well known. Except TO Catholics who
understand the difference, one ceremony is like
another. 1t is always first the ingress Of the Vicar
OF Jesus Christ into the Basca, borne aOft on the
''sedia gestatoria," preceded by the diverse
orders OF the Church, and surrounded by the
most distinguished personages of his COURT on
whose passage all knees bow, from the crowned
heads their tribunes TO the simplest peasants from
their neighb0rlng villages. AS always, once seated
on throne raised opposite and facing the high
altar he receives next the obedience of all the
dnals, patriarchs, archblshops and bishops pre-
sent; at mis- right side stand the cardinal deacOns
Prince Coonna caed prince assistant), the Senator
and CONSERVATORY (these form what we call the mu-
ncipaty of Rome At the left OF the throne, Is the
tribune for soveregns next to them the diplomatic
cOrps opposite to this the tribune set apart for the
superior officers OF the army. The noble guards in
their magnificent scarlet uniforms completed the
ensemble OF this stupendous picture; framed on one
side by the celebrated and grandiOse concession or
tomb Of ST. Peter the altar OF which burn the pas
cha candles on the candelabra sculptured by Bernni
AS said before, IL Is useless to follow step by
step the ceremonies OF Palm Sunday and Easter
Sunday. but on the latter day who can but be i'm
Father (whO then says the mass himself raises the
holy wafer and the blessed chalice, turning all
round, and slowly, during which play, from the
the silver trumpets or the noble guards. Words are
not sufficient to depict the greatness and majesty OF
the most sceptc spirit must then feel moved before
that grand, holy and venerable figure Of Plus the
Ninth. that kneeling crowd and that melodlous
usual, isowsa the ne, Pope through his many I,
carry the sacrament from the Sstine chapel to the
Pauna ana place II i'll its gttering shrine OF steel,
rock crystal and thousand lights we then, by rush.
ing and fighting through dense crowds saw him walk
and kiss the feet Of the named
for that office by the national churches OF different
countries and from some colleges Roman and for
eign. We then ebowed our way up to the supper,
served by the Pope to these same priests. 1t is
called the Gene or SUPPER but is, from the hour,
breakfast or dinner They get good soup tmeagre,,
fish, vegetables and sweets. Fus TX helps them to
all these dishes and pours out to them their wine
and water so kindly and even jocosely that 1t ls
pleasant to watch him.
ON Thursday evening, as had also on Wednesday
aud Friday, heard the Wanted "Msereres" In the
Sistne chapel, the first by Alegri, the second CON-
posed by Palestrlna and the third modern by Mus
tafa the celebrated alto singer OF the POpes cele
biated choir. On Thursday evening at ST. Peters,
after the ''Miserere" the high is washed with
wine by all the priests OF the church, each drying
with small broom or mop made OF shavings. This
ceremony comes just after the exposing OF the three
great relics preserved IN t,s basicama piece OF the
Roman soldier VINO pierced the Saviour's side and
the veil OF the Veronica. Each OF these relics Is con-
tanned In silver reliquary and the objects cannot
be distinguished from below by the kneelInR thou
sands-for thousands and tens 'of thousands have
thrOnged TO ST. Peters from morning Til night dur
ing the whole OF Holy Week.
On Good Friday, being determined to lose nothing.
again assumed my dress coat and white tie, thus
gaming admittance (by pushing and kicking) into
the Sistine chapel. and saw the Pope, with all the
cardinals, adore the cross pr0sternated low the
ground, without snoe or sandal; ana on saturday
arose early IN order to be In time TO visit the
Church OF st. John Lateran, 10 see the baptism OF
the Jewess, who tins year was the only one OF her
race who became Christian Tue ceremony was
performed at the baptistery OF Constantine by Car
dlnal Reisach, and the water poured ON her head
came IRON the same font where was christened that
Emperor OF the East.
The trbunes at st. Peters and every public cere.
mony connected with this holy week have Of course
teemed with our countrymen and women, and as
usual the latter have carried or the palm OF beauty,
In church draped In black silk and half shrouded In
Spanish wells, rs they do in ballroom In very differ
ent attire. The Wadsworths the Wards, the Fishers,
the Caroll's, the TROmpsons, the Treggios, the
POikS, MIS-. Won HOnman all tncSe names Will bring
to your mind American beauty. There were also
many handsome eEnRlshw0men-Lady Dudley, Mrs.
Stanley, Lady Archibald Campbell and the Duchess
Of Sutherland.
The conversion OF Count and Countess Schomberg
to the Catholic religion Is the subject, by the by, or
all conversations. lie ~ q Saxon and an immense
landed proprietor. ON his estates are many
Protestant churches. The pastors and their families
and friends are In despair, and deputaton has
been sent on to Rome TO entreat them not to 90
over. In vain; It Is un ydMuccompif.
After this short account OF the ceremonies must
stop, but not before mentioning the solemn bene-
dction given by the Pope from the large balcony
over the principal entrance door OF st. Peters, The
sight was really sublime. The multitude uncovered
and kneeng IN that glorious square In front Of the
church. the Holy Father with hands raised TO heaven
mplorng the blessing OF God on the crowd OF people
Of every nation, the profound silence more remark
able as when the Pope appears at the balcony he n
saluted by the troops drawn up In square In the
middle OF the place. by trumpets and the changing OF
TX, and all this followed by burst OF enthusiasm,
evidently coming from the hearts OF the assembled
thousands form an ensemble ever to be remembered
by those who once witnessed II.
good many rOyalsts were here for the ceremo-
MES. saw IN the sovereign's tribune the King and
Parma, whose marriage with Princess Maria Pia,
third sister Of the King Of Naples In to come OF to-
morrow: his Serene Highness Prince hereditary
Bernard Frederick OF Saxe-Meini2en the heredI-
tary Prince OF Monaco, and their Royal HiRhnesses
the Princes and Princesses or Naples. must not
forget among royal higbnesses the Duke and
Duchess Of Mouchy. who, however, being neither
Roman princes, had TO have u seat set apart for
them by Cardinal Antoneli.
FRANCE AND BEL GllJM