, 1870-07-10
THE PILGRIMS AT ROME.
VnAliliE OF Feet.


From The FaficaA Cuune1i" in the tJuyyl Cdtdo
lie Eortd, BY fethtr Htrker.
At ono siao Of the large sanctuary, which is
about $50 feet deep, and IS feet
broad. an accent Of eight or ten stons leads II,
hFoad platform visible 10 all. On this plat-
form attendants move about, preparing all
that is necessary for the next portion Of the
ceremony. the mdntldtuua, or washing of foot,
Soon line Of thirteen figures, dressed as pil-
Brz1ps IN long white woolleu sobea reaching tn
the instep, ascend to tile platform, and lie
attendants contluc. them to the scats that arc
prepared. They are priests from abroad who
tn1ued to iasoec. them as they stand
ranged in line One il an Old man
etooped with ago, With largo. piercing dark
eyes, and heavy eyebrows, long aquiline nose,
and h.gh cheek bones, aud ruddr cheeks. Tho
onHe INT OF hls tkin looks darker ly contrast
with bis ample flowing beard OF pat1iArchal
Mh'teness Ho ~ f1om the East. Perhaps
those two other younger ones, with full hlark
teards. are from the East likewise. TO Judge
by his almond eye; the long and regular fca-
lures, and the datkish skin, the other Wa Al
take. He WAS from senegambia, in Africa, and
RS surname was za,nbd, CT, as We call it in
america, !Sdn'bo- His let black skin. his
negro features, the blne spect7cles he wore.
and hls shstinctive attitude Of dignity, male
4.m the most conspicuous in tho number.
something like stoyoptpa bats without anv
r'm. and with q fnft OH the summit; long
white dteases Of the shape you msv see in tho
miniatures Of Illuminated manuscripts written
! thousand yearn ago; and even their stock
icgs md shoes we're whito as their dress As
cEoir intones the antipbon, " "Mandatum novumr
~ new command give you"
Some preliminary prayers ar.
chanted, aud tho roEtiir, putting
Of the cope, but retaining his nitre. is girle3
with an apron, and ascends the PLATFORM An
OF the first pilgrim, and let's down tic stock
n'g. Other attendants present tho ever OF
water aud the towels; the pontiI, stopping
down or kneeling, washes tho inAtep, dries it
With towel, and kisses it. Wills the At
teisdants raise the stocking and lace tho s:,cc.
tas ney fAnf5 nes sres s 10 the psm large
contained a coin to aid him on Lis journey
homeward. He did tho sar,e thing n,,e lyv
QUO to all Of them During this touching cere-
mony tho choir continued 10 eing anthen after
anthem but few present did more than listen
or rather 60 fascinated, all seemed to be by i
ceremony 80 rarely nsed in the Church, and 80
July recalling our Diy7ue S7yiors act n..d in
ss1ucsion before the Last Supper. Few have
eve. seen it IN church, sAyo IL today
be ,sas,l to 10 carried out. TOO, on a IaIEor
scalc End in a practical way, all theso days
IN ltomc- Ihero il large institution
: hero called La ssntiss.md 1,-snita del l'etl-
CraNi, where, during Holy Week. thousands OF
poor ,pltSr7tns, Who have come OIL foot, and
reach Ecme weary and foot-sore, arc received,
I aud supplied with Two tneals day, aud Leds
! for three days aud nights. There in ono de-
partmcut Tor tho men. and another for thA
women and children. Each evening, after tho
eonelnslon Of the services in tho churches,
they Return to the institution. Cardinals
Bishops, priests, and laymen il nu.nbera, no.
l!cn aud private individuals arc thetc. aud
wasl, their feet thoroughly and wai, on them
| ut tue table. In the female department
Ftineesses. duchesses, and latlies Of
| every degree auh station, titled and untitled.
+, , nre there 70 perform thc same Offices for tho
! wGmen and children. All these laJias heIonx
: 10 -cveral charitable conIrasernisies and asso.
c::tons IN The city; and iy one OF their rule.
i, Eo Que Ct them is allowed tile privilege of
+. Lifting in this work in Holy Week unlees she
h-s. anriNg the past year, paid ct least stated
II nter OF chan, allie visitd to the prisons and
: lorritals, We tlo not know whetu. r the IN m
have tie same admirable rule.
After the washing Of the feet in st, Petcr.e.
Inc iupe retired, and tho pilgrims followed.
ne SERVICES iii tho church itself wero over.
bat There Was eonething else, which as many
rs could wished to see. The I'opo WAS to servo
tho Iilgrims at table. In tho large hail mem
toned ahovo az bciug situated over the ycs,i.
que ei TIE church, and from which tho pops
went cut to the loggia 10 givo Tho blessing.
long table had been prepared aud decorated,
soen the pilgrims eu.o1od aud stood Al
ther !laccs and tho hAll WAS filed With
'Musanas OF spectators. Tho ponti:f
Cardinals. his own as,cndsnts. and a. a
number OF bishops, lie said tho grace. and !
sSont1rnero read q portion Of the Scriptures.
ond then continued 10 read book OF scrmons'
Meanwhile, tho Zone was passing to and tn,
rem ono end Of the tablc TO tbs ether. help
finally: giving them his special blessing, he