The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-15
LETTER FROM ROME.
THE COLOSSEUM ARRESTS


vations, announcing the restoration of the
Cross to the centre of the arena as soon as
the works shall be completed /; and assert
ing that it's removal was only temporary,
and necessitated by the development of the
excavations. No mention il made, nor is
any promise given, of restoring the Stations
of the Via Crusis. Sgnor Rosa has also
stated, in direct contradiction to the facts,
that the demolition of the Cross and Sta
tons was carried out in accord with the
ecclesiastical authorities. The worship in
the Colosseum was arranged by the Arch
Confraternity of the Via Crusis. To this
Society belonged the Stations, the Cross,
and the religious emblems. Its director is
Cardinal Guidi, and its protector is the
Pope. Before the removal of the Stations,
ETC.. Rosa, by order of the Minister of
Public Instruction, wrote to Cardinal
Guidi for his sanction. The Cardinal, after
laying the matter before the Pope, wrote
against the removal of the Via Crueis, and
would yield only to force" Rosa was also
reminded that ecclesiastical censures
would fall, not on his soul only, but also
upon the souls of all persons concerned in
the sacrilege." Rosa did not wait for Car
dinal Guilds letter, but proceeded with the
demolition. One might say that Plus TX.
consented to the invasion of his temporal
dominions, just as truly as he consented to
the removal of the Via Crm0is. Rosa,
however, is not singular in his boldness of
assertion. The same number of the Opin-
lone contained the following paragraph:
" Yesterday, several ladies went to the
then producing religious emblems, began
to pray in loud voice. The Delegate
Pelosi respectfully drew near to the ladies,
told them that professions were forbidden
by the public laws, and asked them to
withdraw. Some obeyed and departed.
The Countess Stenlein, however, being in
doubt whether it were but an arbitrary act
of the Delegate himself, wished to follow
him as far as the Office of the Questura, to
assure herself, she said, if it were really
true that the law was opposed to these religi
Gus demonstrations" This paragraph is ut
terly untrue. No religious emblems, except
prayer-books, were brought, and the arrest
intended to make PREPARATION for the insults
offered to the Via Crueis, have been held
in several churches by order of the ecclesi-
astical authorities and the Cardinal Vicar.
TIE CARNIVAL.
The Romans have taken little part in the
Carnival festivities this year. The present
rulers of Rome and the strangers have
endeavored to stir up amusement after
their own fashion. There was no horse
race, nor were many of the balconies hired.
The artists, and chiefly the German artists,
gave several OallS, anu subscribed TO erect
the cumbrous moving shows which pro-
ceeded down and up the Corso. These
representations were decidedly political,
and, in some points, offensive to religion.
The Italian News describes one of these
shows-that, namely, which figured visit
paid by Saturn and Ceres to Pasquino II.
Saturn and his satellites appeared near
Ponte Molle in triremes or biremes, and
landing there, made triumphal entry into
Rome, distributing gifts. "The torso of
Pasquino being near the place of landing,
Saturnus approached, embraced it, and de-
posted an offering of bread, which being
made hollow and in the shape of heart,
ISLANDERS caused them to hiss, as they under
stood the symbol to be some covert burlesque
on the oft. quoted Sacred Heart, which per-
haps ESQ adds the italian News) it was" The
Liberia describes another masquerade, in
which Don Carlos appeared mounted on a
donkey, armed with swords and pistols,
and "with an Agnus Del in his girdle."
His officers came behind him in large
car, made to represent a cave and rocks,
containing ferocious brigands. This bur-
lesque, at the expense of Spain, obtained
the first prize of 500 lire. A caricature of
warded by prize of $50 lire and carl
cature of the French army obtained 80
lire. The POpolo Romano mentions an
other representation. ga Pulcinella was
in ship. The sails, if the wind had ex-
banded them, would have shown the
inscription 1870. Three crowns surmounted
Pulcinella's cap, and net lay in the bark.
These two signs were enough to indicate
the bark of st. Peter, but the better to
explain the figure, man was seen under
the bark trying to grasp and overturn it.
This signitied Bismarck" The Carnival
of 1874 will BIO remembered as one which
managed wantonly to insult the brave
French nation, the Pontifcal army, the
Spanish kingdom, and the Holy Catholic
Church. The Government which itself
ordered the outrage to the Via Crucis in
the Colosseum, was likewise responsible
for the Carnival blasphemies, for Of course
all the masquerades had to be submitted
beforehand to the arbitrament of the Mupi-
cipality. The theatres were much in
request this year for balls, and the Piazza
Navona was to have been brilliantly illu-
minated on the night of Thursday, the
18th, for dancing. Altogether the Govern
ment did it's utmost to make the Carnival
attractive, but bad weather and the absence
of the Roman gentry combined to render it
n fnilurp