The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-10-01

passed by no cathedral in antiquity and
splendor, and equalied by none IN msgn.-
ficence. In tho year 80, St. Anacltne,
Bishop of Rome, who was ordained oy 81:
Peter, erected an oratory on the Msnt Oh
the Apostles burial, after his crucihxion.
In 3O6, Constantine built . basilica on tue
spot. In 145O, Nicholas ", commenced
building on plans of Bernardino and others
Paul II, continued it, and Julius H., Sc
cured the services of Bramante' WHOSE
plan was q Latin cross, and an immense
dome on arches springing from four large
pillars, The latter died in 1914, and Leo
X. appointed Giulinno SaEgallo, Giovanni
da Verona, and Raphael, who strengthened
the pillars for the dome but Sangaho,
diving in 1917, and Raphael in 1890, Leo
employ ed Baidassari PeruZzi, who changed
the plan to a Greek cross. Panl III en-
| ployed Antonio SargallO, who returned to
Bramante's plan, but Sangallo died very
shortly, and the Pope appointed Glui'o
Romano, who also died. The work was
then given to Michael Angelo, then in his
seventy second year. Paul I'LL, died in
I549, but Julius I'LL, continued Angelo in
his place, giving him full authority to
change whatever he wished in the building
az it then stood. Michael Angelo returned
piers for supporting the dome, and formed
the plan for it as it now exists. The drum
, of the dome was completed before he died,
in 1863. Pope Plus ", appointed Vignois
and Pirro, with orders that they should
adhere to Angelo's plans. Inc dome wa
Porta. sixtus ", gave 100, goo gold
3 crowns annually towards its completion
Q In 1905, Paul ", employed Carlo Maderno
4 who changed the ground plan back to the
. Latin cross. The nave was finished "
. 1919, the facade and Portico loia. u-tn Luz
q Will, on November 10, 1926. Under
}. Alexander VII, IN 1867, Bernini finished
g the colonnade. The building of st. Peters
d from foundation in 14J0 until it's dedica
IS ton, occupied one hundrsS ana seventy
70 ave years; and if we include the wor'
X done under Plus VI, three and half cen
y turtles passed away before it was completed
10 during which time forty three PoPes reign
ID ed and died. The dimensions Of tn
,g church are as follows; Length OF the exte
ne rior, 727 feet length of transept, 500 fee
ei height of nave, $50 feet width of til
ce great nave, 80 feet of side aisles, 81 fee
y" The pillars that support the dome are
ly feet in thickness. The cupola is l3 fee
er in interior diameter, and 1913 feet in exte
n rior diameter. A stairway leads to tn
to loaded horse to ascend. The Vesibule I
ed St. Peters is 233 feet long. The heigi
nd under the arch of the great nave is Il
e- feet. Upon four enormous pillars runs
les great frieze, on which is carved the 'nscrll
NJ. tion: "Th es Petrms, ct super hano Petra
he IEdidifcabo Ecclesiane mean; ct tibi da
L. claues Regni Celorum. tThou art Pete
". and upon this Rock will build my churc
Ter and will give to thee the keys of the Kin !?
lc- dom of Heaven). The letters OF the
So scription are about the size Of ma
IN, Above the frieze rises a great range
I'd composite pillasters, which enclose hi
ion windows, aud those are surrounded by
es- attic, from which springs the superb don
H." Finally, o gilt ball, and cross crown I
of lantern, which contains sixteen window
the from which one looks down into the ar
lar of the church "a into great abyss.
ry- work were successively directed by tn
8 q teen architects, from Bramante to BerniI
it'll and cost o sum which, in 1893. amount
oily to nearly 252 ,OO0, GOO francs.
ath The Cathedrals of Milan, of Mans,
'ity Rheims, the largest that exist, are dwarf
re- by the side Of St. Peters; and rs
i've Notre Dame at Paris, and the Cathedr
ugh of Bourges and Charities, they could sta
our very we'll in the trausept OF the sr
he'd structure at Rome.