The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-10-25

| The vitality and vivacity Of the Eoly
Rather are now more than ever the daily
subject, not only Of remark, bat of admire
tIon among the throngs Of those who are
constantly being admitted In relays, day
BY day, to the honor of an audience withii,
the walls, or sometimes, even, within the
gardens Of the Vatican. Throughout the
whole of this deadly season, when the
malaria floating in from the Campagnia
renders it perilous, even to the robust, and
to those who are in the full vigor of health
full youth and maturity, to pass the hottest
weeks OF the Italian summer and early
autumn in the Eternal City, the Venerable
Father of Christendom has been constrained
by circumstances to remain within the pre-
cincts of the only dwelling left to him in all
Through the mercy of God, in spite of the
grand old age his Holiness has attained,
Plus TX. has in no way suffered from this
cruel restriction upon his movements The
poisonous time, atmospherically, when
Roman fever, as a rule, is so alarmingly
RTE, having now most happily passed BY,
the receptions of the holy Father have been
at once resumed. Missionaries from
Otahita one day bring him from Oceania
the homage of the faithful at the antipodes.
Another while an European Bishop or
Archbishop brings plentiful store of gold,
spontaneously offered, under the old
medi0val title of Peters Pence, to the Su.
preme Head of all Christendom. The
Peasantry of Italy come to kiss his feet one
while. Another, the Roman Nobility
crowd the Hall of Consistory to proffer him
anew their allegiance. From the remotest
ends OF the earth pilgrims have been flock
ing, as the world we'll knows, all through
this past twelvemonth, bringing their offer
ings, bringing their homage to the footstool
Of the revered Pontiff, stripped now of all
his possessions save the one dwelling still
lefs to him. Visibly there is attestation.
thus, day by day, that this is, indeed, the
Head OF the Church Catholic, the Church
that teaches all nations, for the representa-
tives of all nations are constantly flockinp
thither. The receptions of the PontifR are
IN this respect by instalments what the
Vatican Council was collectively. Then,
especially on the ever memorable day of
the 9th of December, that |
ID lo69-the typical representatives of the |
whole human race were gathered together
edihce IN the world, and there, in stately
procession, to the number of nearly 800
Prelates, passed into the aula-the wonder
fnl array being closed by the sacred person
OF the Father and Chief of them all, the |
256th successor of the Prince of the
apostles. AS we stood there, under the
dome Of st. Peters, and watched that
stately throDg filing past in grand array to
the peaiing of the organ and the singing of |
the Papal Choir, it was simply impossible
not to recognize in the aspect of the very
of those 800 Bishops proof
positive that this was, indeed, the Catholic
or Universal Church-the Church not of |
nation, but of all nations-the Church
whose authority extends to the utmost |
boundaries of Christendom. That process
sioDal array was in itself a complete study |
OF ethnology. And over the heads of the |
multitudes there collected together under |
the dome of that stupendous basilica, as |
the Sovereign PontiR passed, as the last |
and stateliest figure of all, into the Hall of |
the Council, one read. as if in comment
upon the spectacle, the august inscription
In gigantic letters, emblazoned round the
inner belt of the dome, Immediately below
the upward springing of the concavity, Tu e.
Petrus ct saper hanc Petram edifcabo Eccle.
siam mean, et ibi dabo elares regni cploruD,.
The same truth that was then visible at a
glance, in that overwhelming spectacle. is
now just as clearly recognizable, is lust as
distinctly legib!e, from day to day, in the
records transmitted from Rome descriptive
of the the receptions granted by the HOLY
Father to the faithful of all nations, and
tongues, and climes, and peoples, who are
perpetually throngiDg into his presence to
lay at his feet their tribute, and to offs,
him the homage of their spiritual ale
glance.
LONGEVITY OF THE Poppss E.,