The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-01-30
ROME, Dec. lS, 1853.

- ROME, Dec. 49, 1862
No doubt the papers tell many
things about the Council, as much as l. can tell
Do not let yourself be disturbed by stories
or rumors about what is doing or saying. Cor
respondents for papers naturally wish to make
their letters as sensational as possible. just
now notice some English papers making merry
over the Holy Fathers telling us that the
Church is stronger than heaven. But the Holy
Father simply quotes st, John Chrysostom,
and st. John quotes our Lord Himself: "Hea-
ven and earth shall pass away but MY Word
ehall not pass nway. What word 7" says st;
build my Church. and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it," You see it is the WISH
bic heavens-the sky above our heads-that is
not as strong and lasting as the Chuteh, which
endures for eternity.
Thursday paid short visit to the Manner
tine prison, where st. Peter and ST. Paul were
confined, 1t is the same one in which Jugur-
tina was thrown, and left to perish of cold and
hunger, as was often done with great Grimm
ais, or great enemies, by the Romans. 1t is
right IN the side of the hill that goes up from
the Forum to the Capitol There are two
prisons, one underneath the other The upper
and larger one, some Is feet square, and per-
haps 10 feet high, built of blocks of stone from
4 TO feet long, AID 20 inches thick No light
but by q hole overhead. In the middle of the
floor is q round hole, some two feet in diane
ter, formerly the only access to the lower pri-
The floor between is of the same stone as
the walls, and 30 inches thick.
The lower dungeon is about half as large
the upper one, ana not more IDau leeb HlBu
A staircase was made through the floor on one
side and an altar fitted up below by Mgr. jan
sen, who was in the United States in 1872 In
the floor of this, near the corner of the altar,
is a spring, which, tradition says; was opened
at the prayers of the Apostles to enable them
to baptize their fellow prisoners.
Mass is said in both the upper and lower
dungeon They told me twenty five masses had
been said there that morning. expect to
offer mass there little later. Last Monday
offered it on the subterranean altar of st.
the HiUb Altar and the
bodies of st. Peter and st. Paul.
have paid two three visits to st. Peter
in Montorio, where they are laying the founda-
tion for the monument of the Council tits on
the Janicu1am Hill-a high range running
along the other side (the right bankl of the
Tiber. 1t is the place marked by tradition as
the spot where st. Peter was crucitied All
the inhabitants of Rome might have witnessed
1T. for it stands to the city our mountain"
church does to all the fields about the Long
Lane-n
The stone selected to make the chief part of
tho monument is round column of African |
m hasFbf yard lately discovered and uncovered I
on the bank of the river. All the large blocks |
are marked with the date of their being
brought to Rome, and this one was brought in +
the reign of Nero, and the very year that st.
Peter was martyred. 1t has never been dressed, |
but only Clipped out round. They are work
Yhave visited already several places of deep
interest for their relics their historical usso-
Citations: The chains of St. Peter-the Nam
ertine Prison, where he and ST. Paul were con- |
fned-the Convent of st. Bridget of Sweden, |
the room and the table where she wrote her |
revelations and where she died-the Church of
st. Clement, where five years ago they diseov- |
cred the old church underneath, with its fres-
coed walls; and since then they discovered, un- |
der that again, the original chapel which was |
in the house of St. Clement, with it's old mosaic |
floor. Saint Clement belonged to the imperial
family.
In all these places offer prayer for all
especially for those tUho pray for I1talicised
by the copyist.l
Our holy Archbishop (Odin) continues in bad
in France after Christmas. 1 saw him Thurs !
day, 10th. He is not in bed. He rides out |
sometimes. He is cheerful; and as kind as |
ever. We have had much wet and dark wea-
theF,-#hieh- has been against him. Bishop I
Martin has been nnHell.-He -batteF-ssheTa
saw him yesterday. Bishop Dabuis and 7
Bishop Quinlan are we'll.