The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-12-15
OUR AMERICAN CARDINAL.
THE RED-ftArTED REPRESENTATIVE q,
THE SUPREME P0NTIFF TELLING
THE INTERESTING STORY
OF HIS VISIT TO
THE HOLY
SEE.

A carved door in the rcredos Of tia
Cathedral behind the Virgins altar
swung inward at half past ten o'clock
yesterday morning, and the head ofa
religious proccssion-acolytes bear.
ing crucifix, a smoking censor, ID.
cense, and lighted tapers-appeared.
Then more acolytes, robed like the
leaders, in crimson and lace. The
color Of the cortege changed to pur.
pie, the hue Of the vestments of Fa.
theirs Farley, Kane and Hogan, sepa.
rately, celebrant, deacon and sub des.
con Of the mass; to black, the color
of the robes Of Vicar General Quinn
and Fathers Kearney and valois, and
last, to royal purple scarlet, the rul.
ing shades in the apparel of Cardinal
McCloskey.
A purple soutane, with a trailing
train, was the main garment of the
| American Prince of the Church. II
was girth at the waist with a broad
scarlet silk sash, weighed down with
grert tassels of gold. Above was a
surplice of soft lace, and a mantilla
of purple velvet, lined with scarlet
silk. Around His Eminence's neck
was golden cross. On his erect,
grayisll head were the berretta and 4 .
skull-cap-both scarlet. His signet
the Papal arms craven on large
sapphire, was on his left hand. Ac.
olytes and priests fled in state along
the edge of the elevated platform, on
which the altors rest, aud entered the
chancel.
All knelt for a moment. Then tho
Cardinal ascended a throne of gilded
and frctted walnut, with panels Of
crimson silk. Fathers Quinn and
Valois took lower seats just without
the canopy, the acolytes arranged
themselves attractively, and the cele-
brant and the deacons began to sol
emnize mass, the chair supporting
them. At the end of the confession
the Cardinal fed the live Goals in the
censor with incense, and white smoke
wreathed his person, the throne, and
all near it. Then the priests incen-
sed the altar, and one another, each
in his turn. After the incensing the
Cardinal was absorbed in his missal
"a worn, bulky book that has prob.
ably been his rade mccain since he
was ordained. When the mufflci
gong admonishel the worshipers IN
bow their heads and turn their
thoughts to the altar, at the commn
MON, the Cardinal stepped down from
his throne, accompanied by the Vi
car. General anil Father Valbis, kncIt
in front Of the altar, barred his heal
and kaelt low in worship. After Fa
Their Farley. had intoncd the fir.t Z
Gosp, !, the Cardinal was escorted TO
the pulpit, hung with purple in his
homo. Having read the goth, s6tl',
9th, 2Sth, Goth and 3Oth verses Of
the twenty first chapter of Luke, he
said
Ny DEARLY BELOVED BRErBREN-YOM
do not, trust, expect u sermon. I'yu
hardly recovered from the effects Of 4
! Tong and rather tedious voyage across
the Atlantic, and cannot deliver set
Grafton. III prepared though / am, 4
feel that l should lack consideration for
you, aud do myself injustice, II l did
not grasp the earliest opportunity ofut.
tering the heartfelt Joy that fills me.
rejoice that AM once more at my post,
and at liberty to resume the regular
performance Of my official duties among
my weli-cherished flock. know that
YOU want to hear Of one whose name
has been in your minds, and, unuttered.
on your lips since began to speak-our
Holy Father, glorious Plus X., the
Vicar of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ. During my last visit to Rome
| was permitted to enjoy great deal OF
the society Of tho Holy Father. Some
times sat In familiar converse with
him in his simple private cabinet, aud
ut others shared his walks, or listened
| to his words to the hundreds that daily
flock into his presence. was pro-
foundly impressed with the moral gram
deur aud the sublime dignity OF the au- 8
gust head of the Church. All who eil-
Tered his presence were struck with
reverentiai awe. 4 radiance, that lit
up every scene In which he appeared,
was in his countenance. His eioquepes
penetrated the hearts Of those to whom
1t was addressed, whatever their pro-
fessious or creeds. None looked on the
Sovereign Pontiff, captain In his own
palace, without feeling that he Wa
above monarchs, princes or any Of I'VE
great ones of the earth. Even when
speaking Of the wounds that cruel enc
mics have inflicted upon the Church,
his words were not harsh. He spoke
IKE father grleving over rebelliods
children.
You have heard Of the sufferings Of
your brethren in less favored lands
Our turn to suffer may come next. In :
the holy season Of advent, which begins
to-day, you ought to revive In you.
hearts the spirit Of fidelity to Chrisss
holy Church, that you may be ready
under all circumstances, to profess your