The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-02-06
st. Peters Church at Rome.

AS the grandest spectacle, whether ecclesas-
teal or monarchcal that has ever been wit
messed by the world, is now being presented
to us in st. Peters, at Rome, it seems to us de-
srable that our readers should be made &C
quainted with the size and magnifcence of
| that first and most glorious of all cathedrals i'll
| the world.
There arc in Rome five great basilicas, as the
cathedrals are called there, and eight lesser
ones. The first are called patriarchal, in honor
of the patriarchs of Rome, 2 COnstantinople,
the that towers above all is that of ST.
Peters's the cathedral of the prince of patri-
archs, archhshops, bishops and priests.
In the year 80 A. d., Pope St Anaclete erect
ed an oratory over the tomb of the chief Apos-
tie. from whose hands he had himself received
holy orders, and in the year BOG, Constantine,
the first Christian Emperor, converted the
oratory into basiliea, In 145O, Nicholas V.
commenced to reconstruct it, and Paul III. con-
| tnued the work, though it made but slow pro-
gress. But when julius H. assembled the pom
tifcal throne he determined to resume the
works on n grander and more magnificent plan.
Bralnante, the architect selected, entered upon
his duties in 1903.
Pope succeeded Pope and one architect sup
piled the place of q deceased predecessor, and
so it went on until Michael Angelo, in his I'D
year, was appointed architect by Paul III.
Althoug Ii tho great artist lived to the mature
age of 80, he did not witness the completion of
his work. ~ The dome was entirely his, and his
successors were, not allowed to alter his plans
So anxious was Sixtns V. to see the completion
of this work, that he~yeary devoted lOoo.G
gold crowns, and employed 600 men upon it,
who worked night and day.~But when the
dome completed the original design OF
Raphael, "a to II Latin instead of Il Greek cross,
was substituted in the place of Angeles. -
Exclusive of sacrsties-and some of them
are large as English cathedrals-t had cost
at the end of the seventeenth century no less
than ten millions sterling. When one enters
into this majestic temple of the living God he
is lost in amazement. He cannot believe that
it is so large reported, because everything is
III such just harmony, and the proportions ar.
perfect
Even Lord Byron, who was not noted for his
relig ious instincts, could not but eNci.lim, wIsl
first lie visited this stupendous fabric
But thou, of temples old or affairs new,
Standrst alone-with nothing like to thee,
Worth est of God The holy and the true
Since Zion dcsolaton when that He
Forsool his former city. what could he
OF earthly structures in His honor piled
Power strength and beauty. ali are aisled
In this eternal world of worship indebted a.
Thus wrote the scotfer and the infidel, an5>-f
the mere building made such an impress Ell
upon him, what must be the effect upon Il u
tholc who for the first time enters into tat
sublime sanctuary-the resting place o. n
Peter, and the mother of all other churche A
the Catholic world! We can give an idea of
it's size best by comparison. 1t is nearly II
hundred feet Longer than st. Paufs, sixt, f'ct
higher, and the dome is fifty feet larger a ear
conference. But this docs not take into esti-
| mate the side chapels or the TRANSCRIPTS. Il is
built in the form of cross. AT the juno ion
| of the cross where the head of our Bhesed
with, is the tomb of the Apostles, and til sigh
altar where the Pope celebrates Mass. The top
part of the crucitiN, as it were, is on grand
public functions ssigned to bishops, pre- .atcs,
aud other disntarics, the Papal throi.e icing
at the extreme end. The arms of the Gro IS are
| formed by the transepts, and in these the lsitE-
full hear Mass when there is no great Son9oufse
of strangers in Rome; but in Holy Week and
on grand occasions they are reserved for ticket
holders Uickets being given gratis). II is in
one of these wings-that to the right Of tho high
olt and
archs, bishops and clergy OF the Catholic
world are now met in Council. Va A'nend
tb s-',owiry desc rinic,, ,-tieh S6iiNe not.
will prove interesting, to readers:
Over the entrance to it, on the SOUTH is a
| tympanum, on which IS represented tue head
and half figure of Christ projecting, az it were
| from the clouds. In His lett hand He holds
| the Gospel open, while with the right, which
| is also extended and has the attitude of com
mand, He sends forth His disciples to preach
| the glad tidings. This clever painting was
executed in three days by Cavaliere Francesca
Grandi, Roman. Underneath is the following
inscription Doceteommes gentes, eece ego robisc"m
omnibus diebHs usque dd communications
srcnl. Teach all nations; and 10, am with
You all days till the end OF time. 1t is a long
parallelogram running north and south, and
facing you as one enters is the throne of the
Pope. Ii stands ;t@Si1It of ririsr tl;is, to
which the ascent is by six or seven low steps,
and right and left are arran ged seats nearly on
the same level to each extremity of the dais
sufficient to accommodate sixty Cardinals
Just below the Cardinals, aud on the dais,
will be erected seats for five patriarchs on
either side. The entire platform is covered
with green baise, while the seats appropriated
to the Cardinals are covered with crimson
| fringcd tapestry, the whole representing rich
coup dUH. Seven tiers of benches each side
of the Cardinals offer accommodation for &c
Archhishups and Bishops. All these seats are
covered with rich green Brussels carpet, with
orange c"lorc,l flowers, the tops of the benches
being bordered with purple coorcd cloth.
Each memhrr of the Episcopal body has TWO
desks which may be raised or lowered at will
those for the Cardinals will he movable, aud
VIII be used only III the privat" sessions; the
Archbi>hops Will occupy the higher benches,
aud h"thTtT"y and the bishops will be placed
! in hr/"r,tcr of their appointments. BESIDES
! these high cCclcsia>ticS. there are II number of
other persons who VIII attend the general
session of the Council, and those only. There
are twenty -thrc"9 wc-!raIncd short hand
writers. ali selected from the various colleges,
and embracing among them Il knowledge of
most the languages spoken by the assembled
| body. These viii be seated iii the centre
each viii writ, five minutes and then retire 10
| a room appointed for them, where they will
trauscrihr their report. Towards the middle
of the hall, aud high IGnvc' the Bishops are
| two orders of galleries. In the lower gallery
on the left will sit the theo!ogians; and in the
one above the diplomatic body. In the lower
| compartments, Will he placed the singers on
one side, and the procn'dtori of those bishops
who are prevented from attending. Above
this is another gallery, which is reserved for
| the conSuffori pohtifcdii and thcologians. Over
| the Papal throne is large painting represent
| ing the descent of the Holy Spirit aud the gift
of tongues ut the feast of Pentecost. 1t is the
work of Signor Patti, Il young Roman artist.
On the right is represented the Council of
| Ephesus. by Cavlere Nobili a Roman, and on