The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-08-10
The Church in Portugal.
Correspondence Brooklyn Review. ]


days eIncs, the King sent letter of COM
pliment to his Holiness, on the occasion of
the twenty seventh anniversary of his ac-
cession to his throne; few days later, on
June 30th, Cavalier Antonio Braz present.
ed his Holiness with large sum of money
aud an address from the Catholics of Braga,
Portugal. We hear also, from private
sources. that the Jesuits will be permitted
to hold missions in various parts of the
country. 1t is rather curious fact that,
whereas, in Portugal, all the orders have
been suppressed the Jesuits have been per-
even noviciate. The jesuit school at
Campo Lide. near Lisbon, is very noble
Institution, and is frequented by the sous
of the frs. families of the country. AL
ways in the arante garde, the Jesuits have
returned the first to Portugal-please God,
But Portugal has driven the Sisters of
Charity from her door. and it will be, we
fear, long before she will have the grace
granted her to see the wisdom of restoring
her splendid monasteries, which still re-
main desolare. Alcobaca and Bathalia
have been carefully and judiciously re-
stored but not to the monks. Still, it is
satisfactory to know that these two great
monasteries are in perfect preservation, for
at one time they ran the risk of entire ruin
from neglect.
Al;obaca, at one time, accommodated 900
ClSt6rCiAQ MONKS. lis QumOcE WAS never
exceeded. In 1925, the number of monks
was $50. The church of the magnificent
convent is one of the finest of its order,
aud was designed by French architect in
1902. In it are the tombs of Pedro I. and
the famous Inez de Castro. 1t was the
scene of the posthumous coronation Of this
queen, one of the most romantic events in
modern history. Bathalia is not far from
Alcobaca, and is perhaps the grandest
monastery in the world. Its church is
beautiful beyond description. The archi-
lecture 10 Gothic, of the most ford kind.
1t is over 400 feet long, and the ceiling,
columns, walls, windows and affairs, are
carving. The cloisters have been pro-
nounced by Cardinal Wiseman to be the
finest in existence. In former times its
lands were most extensive and it's hospital
ity unbounded. After the suppression,
Bathalia fell into terrible state Of decay !;
but now, thanks to the zeal of the good
King Consort Ferdinand, and Of his excel
lent wife, the whole structure has been re
stored, aud is one of the wonders of the
world. Certainly, after St. Peters, at Rome,
it is the most surprising of religious edi-
fees.
ANOTHER SUPERB MONASTERY,
which has likewise been restored by the
government, greatly assisted by the above
mentioned King (the husband Of Maria H.,
mother of the actual sovereignty is Belem,
near Lisbon. Inferior in design and
magnifcence to the ether two, Belem- is
-till marvelously beautiful. 1t was built
to commemorate the discovery of the In
dies, and is in that peculiar style of archi-
lecture called Manuelite-a mixture of
Gothic and Italian a'enaissance--of admira-
BILE effect, and which deserves the minute
study of our architects. The columns in
the church are exceedingly lovely. Like
those of Roselyn Chapel, Edinburg, they
are covered with exquisite carvings, and
have let into them little figures of saints
under elaborate canopies, SO that they pro-
duce most novel and charming appear
line is thereby broken in the most fantas-
tic but at the same time pleasing manner.
The ambulatory of the monastery is a
quarter Of mile long. 1t is built of white
marble, and might readily serve for ths
magnificent nave of q cathedral. o yer one
hundred stained glass windows Of great size
adorn it, and its vault is rich in Gothic ira
cery. The ambulatory is covered walk for
the accommodation of the monks during
rainy or hot weather. The cIoisters of 3 elem
are worldfamous, and can only be sur
passed by those of Bathalia in richness of
decoration and design. Their tracery and
arrangement was evidently suggested by
the Moorish courts of the Alhambra. Be-
lem is at present an infant asylum, but is
most perfectly except up" The jealous
Catholics of Portugal, at whose head is the
admirable Infhnta of Spain, Donna Isabel
Maria, are doing their. utmost to obtain
permission for the establishment Of re-
Iigious orders in the country. Since 1888
not a monk has been seen in his costume
in the streets of Lisbon. Religion is in a
sad state in this beautiful land. Sermons
are rarely heard out of Lent, and missions
up to the present time have been utterly
prohibited. Still,
THE FAITH Is VERY DEEPLY ROOTED
in the hearts of the people, and their devo-
ton TO the Blessed Sacrament is very
strong. "It saves Portugal" once said the
Patriarch to an English friend. When our
Blessed Lord is taken in Viaticum to the
dying. every hat is raised aud every knee
bent. People get out of their carriages,
and the Queen, Dona Maria Pia, has been
seen to descend from her coach, and, after
kneeling in alteration, give up her place to
the priest and his attendants, so that the
Blessed Sacrament was taken TO the houses
in the royal vehicle, the good Queen walk
ing behind it, praying devoutly, and fol
lowed by o crowd of people. The Queen
went into the house of the dying person
"a very humble dwelling indeed-and
than asaisted at the administration cere-