The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-02-06
MORNING STAR AND CATHOLIC MESSENGER
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY. FEBRUARY G. Is7J
The Epiphany at Rome.


having made his reverence at the altar Of the
Council Chamber, took his seat on the PaPal
throne Mass was then commenced the cele-
brant being his Eminence Cardinal Patrizzi,
sub-deacon of the Sacred College 1t was inn
possible to gaze upon the grand array OF ven
cradle and distinguished men (many OF them
requirements of civilized life) that was assem-
bled in that hail. around tie Papal chair, and
not be struck with wonder as one thought OF
the great moral influence that was there con-
\ centrated. The abiding love of over two hum
dred millions of Christians scattered through
every portion of the globe for the Catholic
the proofs of devoted allegiance and snbmis-
sion to its earthly pastor the zeal of its prelacy
for the unsullied purity of its doctrine, and OF
that rrelacy's anxiety for the highest interests
of those committed to discharge, all these were
represented by the seven oreight hundred men
gathered in that hall to-day. 1t is easy to
feeble, to speak of their church as 8>tottering
institution too weak to last-but yet there they
were an indisputable fact brought t0getheFby
the word of their Pontiff, and what other
sovereign is there in the world who could
gather together such a representation around
his throne?
They were vested in cope and Nitro of plain
white silk, the Eastern prelates wearing, as
before, the usual variety of colors IN their &C.
clesiastical costumes, and the Holy Father was
robed in his magnificent cope and Jeweied
mitre of cloth and gold. A second jeweled
mitre and gorgeous tiara rested on the altar
during the celebration of Mass and until the
was finished, the large book of the Gospel eN-
quisiteiy bound in crimson velvet and gold,
was brought by Mgr. Fissler, Bishop of San
Hippolito and Secretary OF the council . from
Father, and was placed open upon stand IN
the centre of the altar. The Litany of the
Saints was then chaunted by the rapal choir
the Pope, prelates and people forming a mag
nificent chorus for the responses. whilst 1T
was thus being sung the members of the Coun
Gil We're unlnitred and on their knees. When
. ~ ~ ,iah n
upon the Council was reached, the chaunters
paused, the Pontff rose from OFF his knees, and
in hrs own fine, sonorous tones, sang Out three
different times the invocation tor the DIVINE
benediction the work in which they were
engaged. Whilst he was entoning them he
made the ign of the cross SIX times over the
continued by the choir to the end, and the
usual prayers were chaunted by the Pope At
the conclusion of the Litany one OF the
Cardinal deacons channtcd q chapter OF the
holy Gospels the chapter chosen beng the
18th of the Gospel according to st. Mathew.
Immediately after this the Pope entoned the
first line of the hymn Jeni Creator Spirfus. 1t
was sung alternately by the Papal choir ana
by the prelates, and was very impressive
portion of the ceremonial The promoters OF
the Council then presented themselves before
the Pontil, and in the name OF the assembled
Fathers asked him to make II profession OF faith
according to the words of the Creed OF Pope
Plus ". His Holiness rose from his knees,
and took the book of the Creed in his hands;
the plelates also rose immediately, the Pope
proceeded to read, in clear, loud voice, the
form, ii profession of the faith contained i'll tho
Creed mcntioncd. When he had finished, Mgr.
Fe,skcr received the profession of faith from
the hands of the Pope, and gave it with much
Bishop of Fabrano. Having made his cever-
ence to the Holy Father and received his
blessing, his lordship was conducted to the
pulpit, and with slow, but very en-
phatic enunciatons, he read the text of the
Creed Just recited by the Sovereign Pontin.
When he descended from the pulpit, the
ng 81 nff nv hn
assembled Fathers commenced. Each Cardinal
and Prelate was conducted by the masters of
the ceremonies, in succession, according to his
seniority, from his place, and presented to the
Pope. a book of the Gospels was placed
in his hands, and on his knees before the Pope
he declared his name and ms diocese ana re-
juyta fo,aam p,ufactom'-ti promise, vow and
swear according to the formula just read)
The profession concludes with the words, Sic
,nc ID MS ddjaret, of which our English version
is the exact translation; he then Kissed the
testament and returned to his seat. For Il
good willie each Bishop performed the opera
found lElt this proceeding would occupy too
much tiIne, and the oath was admins stored To
patches of four or five at Il time. When the
last of the members of the Council had made
their profession. the Pope cnt"nrd the first
str"pht of the IL N'"m, aud tine glorious eX-
ultant hymn was surg WI h almost as splendid
al effect il on the "pcntH- diN. just
at this moment tine can"''S from ~ AngYio
began to thunder, and their booming '''s lDf:trd
at intervals during the singing al t.'' hymn.
The final prayer WAS sung hy the Pul- i've gave
his benc,liction and all Wa, ended.
January The Church of W .'"f C'i is
one of the sights to lac witurssy0 al i,,.nr dur
i'm the Christmas holiday s,;t"'t'i L. Nrtt!ng
of the Epiphany is :'l'ont ~ br1t Z" G''"'Sc for
the discharge of the iHrrestirIi Il. So. The
title of the church is>I, quaint uac. :s'ni such
antiquarian love ght be displayed i'll a mar
rativc of how it came to get it but that is not
my purpose now, and the display must be re-
served for, perhaps, another time. The church
is built upon the Captoline Hill, on the spot
whereon stood the Pagan Temple to the Capt.
toline Jsve, "king of gods and men," and is
. approached by 124 magnificent marble steps,
each Step being so or 60 feet in width. 1t is n
goodly ascent and you will have need of a good
strong puff before you begin it. The fine light
is broken at intervals of seven or eight steps
by platform of the depth of two of them, or
about three or four feet. The church itself is
very beautiful, and possesses many objects of
interest and of value The church of the Ava
Cnli is that in which, nearly everybody
knows, Gibbon was sitting one evening about
the hour of the Ave Maria, and as he listened
to the Franciscan Monks, in whose charge it is
placed, chanting their vesper office in their
choir behind the altar, conceived the idea of
writing bis history of ''The Decline and Fall
of the Roman Empire" But what makes 1T
peculiarly venerable i'll the eyes OF the Roman
population is that it is the resting place OF the
much esteemed ."BambinO." The Bambino is
an image of the Infant Saviour, and was carved
n,,re than 300 years ago by member OF the
FTanciscan Brotherhood from the wood OF an
S StSs Mat grow in the Garden of Oiivet. From
S;Mt SSlme down to this that image has been