Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-03-09

NellSO. Al the moment Ine decree OF
canOuizatiOn is pronounced, the veil
is withdrawn, and the mass for the
first time is celebrated in his honor,
and it is lawful to say, ora pro nObis. ,
After this the career of the new order
founded by him is generally smooth.
Churches and altars are built in honor
of the new saint, and served by his
monks. Funds and recruits flow in.
The rule is approved after eXamina-
ton by the Congregation of Rites, and
hencefOrth the superior of the order
ranks next to a bishop, has a seat by
courtesy near the POntifical throne,
and by right in all general councils
and synOds.
The religious orders may be divided
into three distinct classes-the active,
the contemplaIive, and those which
are neither, but partake of both. l
propose to review this latter class
first, as having many special paints OF
interest not generally known. What
in this country would be a sect, in
Rome becomes a confraternity. In
these orders the man lives by rule, re-
cites a certain office, wears distinct
i've dress, and yet lives in the world.
They are devoted to special works of
mercy in Rome, such as attending the
last hours of condemned malefactors,
burying the dead, escorting the Via
ticum to the sick, attending to pill
grims, etc. Two of these confraterni-
ties may suffice to explain the rest.
select the two most conspicuous, the
Flagellants and the Penitents.
Pursuant to the ideas of self-torture
to which have referred, certain per-
sons have formed themselves into a
confraternity To castigate the way
ward flesh by flagellatiOn. The names
of the members are only known to
the superior, nor is any one of them
able to recognize the other, for all go
masked, and speaking is strictly pro-
hibited. On certain nights-Friday
being one of them never omitted
they wend their way tD a certain
church, a long, nlack habit masking
them from head to foot. As only the
eyes are visible, it is impossible TO say
whether the wearer is man or woman.
Indeed, it is popularity believed in
Rome that several of the denli-nlOnole
of position resort to this mode of ap-
peasing conscience, and obtaining i'm
munity for further transgreSsions. On
arriving at the church, you are struck
by its gloom; not ray of light is Wis
lille, except those proceeding from the
red sanctuary lamp. These kneeling
figures might be the recumbent eff
gies of tombs, so fixed and motionlesS
they seem. And this is with design
Every one shrinks from recognition,
and therefore tries TO be as unlike his
or her real self as possible. A bel!
rings, and a priest, in suIplice and
violet stole, accompanied by two oi
the econfraternity approaches thealtar
on which six candles of yellow way
are burning, and huge crucifix with
picture of Christ scourged in pre-
Raphalite boldness, eXcites devotion
rhe priest commences a penitentlal
litany, and the congregation respond
in monotone. Then begins the reel
tation of the seven peniteptial psalms.
AT the conclusion of each candle Is
extinguished; at the end of the sixth
all the candles are out, and the church
is in utter darkness. Then the priest
calls on the fiagellants to examine
their consciences, and assists them by
NuCSNAolS1 ChNh 90 AAoN
[ sworn any oath? Have l been
guilty of lying?" ETC., through the
decalogue and the commandments Of
the Church. He then recites an act oi
contrition and the "Confiteor." Du.
ring this, the portion OF the dress Gov.
ering the back frnm the shoulders tC
the waist is unbuttoned, for the dres:
is so arranged that it can be removed
without barring any other part. Now
you see the meaning of the crossed
whips of many thongs embroidered
on the badge of the cOnfraternity
Each one produces a similar whip
made heavy or light according to the
ardor of his devotion. The prizes
then saws, "For these and all othel
sins let US do penance before God. ~
Then on the awful stiffness bursts the
''Miserere,n recited in their loudesi
tone, and to the accompaniment o.
the discipline regularly administered
In fact, they keep time on their flesh
Some in fanatical zeal, stung perhaps
by remorseful remembrances, lash
themselves till the blood starts; 9th.
ers, more self-preservative, lay it or
mildly. 1t seems as if that slow
dragging monotone will never end
But the "Gloria Patrin is reached al
last. the scOurges are laid aside, the
habits readjusted, and the priest rises
and prOnounces ahSolution and bless
ing over the throng PROSTATE on theil
faces. The eOnfraternity glide out
silently into the darkness; they came
like shadows. and so depart.
A very drOll circumstance once
came to light respecting these Flag.
gellanti. One member was observed
by another to be so timid in whipping
himself, that he at once assisted him.
Every time the weak-minded devOtee
brought down the lash, the other laid
on his. Surprised at the powerful re-
suit of so gentle propulsion, he tried
to decrease the momentum next time
but to his establishment the blow was
still heavier. He was inclined tC
forego the penance altogether, but
feeling ashamed to evince laXity, he
resolved to lay the discipline on as
lightly as possible, half believing that
it had some secret spring productive
of cnDcussion. And every time he
laid it tenderly on his shoulders, he
experienced a tremendous shock. So
disgusted was he, that he quilted the
confraternity.
The Penitents are a confraternity
possessing special interest. Like the
last mentioned, they are unknown tC
each other, and wear a dress thai
completely shrOuds them from head
to foot. They are rightly supposed tC
/ be persOus in high station who are
anxious TO repair offences, and yet moi
| forfeit their position in society. There
is a certain timIdity and cOwardict
about a repentant sinner. He would
amend, but is fearful of relapsing
more fearful still of those who saw his
efforts at amendment seeing anC
satirizing his declension. He doe;
not shrink from the penance, only a
the exposure. For such, a confrater
nifty like this is an asylum where op
pressed consciences are able to afflic
| themselves by notifications un
known to the censOrious world. The
confraternity go barefoOted. Follow
them on one of their expeditions Il
the Coliseum. 1t is curious process
sion-these ghastly figures in black
whose bare feet indicate often thos.
who tread on the high places of the
earth. Their "1d1tdi nos, Domino 2
sounds like a remorseful wall. Per
haps in many cases il is so. They
pass along the streets ObliviOus of al
attractions, up the historic Forum, by
wondrous remnants of the glory o
Imperial Rome, by the fine arch o
Titus, through which the JudeaI
captives trod with as weary steps il
the coDqueror's triumph. That sump
tuous equipage rolling past may con
tain a wife or daughter of penitent
| Thor- irrti N ntirnlrr feel Ii for the oa Z.