The New York herald., 1871-09-17
The Relics of Saints.

A correspondent of Roman paper writes from
Milan as follows relative to the relics OF SITS. AM
brose Gervase and PrOtase, lately exhumed in that
city -"At Milan, II the Gothic cathedral Of white
marble is splendid, the church that is venerable
among all others Is the old aud famous .basilica OF
ST. Ambrose. wnere the great bishop preached. at
the door OF which he stopped the Emperor Theo-
doslus, sinner and unabsoved murderer and
where he was inferred, as well as the celebrated
Christian martyrs, SITS. Gervase and PrOtase. Dur
ing seven or eight hundredi years the situation
of the tombs OF those three patron saints OF
Milan was unknown. and the possibility OF
finding them was doubted. 1t was only known
that ancient chronicles OF doubtful authority
related about the year 1904 q kind Of trans
lation OF the relics OF ST. Ambrose, to which
were joined IN the same porphyry tomb the remains
OF Sts. Gervase and Protase. But where was
this tomb Of red prOphyry9 In 1864, while some
repairs were being made to the church, crypt was
noticed, and II was supposed it contained some
heavy supports OF the altar; but the presence there
OF porphyry sarcophagus was not discovered till
during the latter half OF the month OF July or the
present year. The tomb was at length fully brought
TO light during the early part OF August, and the
event. It was arranged that on the eth OF August
the sarcUphagus should be opened in presence OF
the Archbishop the cathedral chapter the clergy OF
st. Ambrose The Syndlc, q representative OF the
municipal council, &c. 1t was accordingly so done.
The cemented top OF the tomb was removed. and,
wonderful fact the first thing perceived was
quantity OF extremely lmpid water having no poss-
bic means OF supply from any external running
source. II was at first supposed to have been the
nal manner. This limpid water, filling only about
two-tnrds Of the sarcopnagus was ~, another !l1e1
tn the bottom i Of the water were three
indications IN the chronicles, and all present were
satisfied beyond doubt mat the remains were those
Oh S 1s S ana w. Ss
them, what miracle Alter having rejected the
idea OF filtration OF ram wafer some suggested the
Idea Of chemical preparation; but what KIND, now,
whenY After briei observation OF these facts, made
rather rapidly, the tomb was rec0sed and sealed,
after it had been arranged that 1t would be sOlemny
reopened IN order to anayze the water therein con-
II is stated in another correspondence that one or
two OF the eccesasics having taken up some of the
water IN vessel Of some description were requested
by the archbishop to pour II back, certain small
quantity only being given TO q chemist Tor analysis.
How the Vatican Likes It.
'sThe old Catholic movement in Germany has at
length begun to make the Vatican uneasy" writes
q Roman correspondent to the Vienna Pyesse. AS
learn from well-informed quarter the Curia is
but ndferently satisfied with the excessive cal OF
the German ana French bishops; for it looks on
the demonstrations they have initiated as prema.
ture. The Archbishop of Mayence was summoned
to Rome for no other purpose than to furnish con-
fidential and precise information, and to receive
suitable instructions regarding tie demeanOr he Is
to observe under present circumstances The su M
mons OF Archbishop ketteer 10 Rome, which Is a
new proof OF the freedom secured TO the Pope in the
independent exercise Of his spiritual functions,
but which had probably more to do with
politics than religion, has created an i'm
preston IN liberal circles that the famous
phrase OF Justly celebrated statesman,
"a free Church in a free State" however well it
may sound Is at best only an impossible patltude,
so long as the Catholic Church retains It's present
decidedly antagonistic attitude TO the modern civil
state. How long Italy can suffer the organs Of the
Roman Curia TO work Zealousy for the restoration
OF the '1ndspensably necessary" temporal power OF
the POpethat is, for the destruction OF the present
governmental must leave to the admirers OF the
above quoted axiom to determine.