The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-09-24
THE EFFECTS OF THE PROHIBITION OF
RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONS IN ITALY.
London Tablet, Sept. . ]


tated the Catholic population, and but fol
the Catholic clergy would probably have
caused many tumults. Bat the Catholic
bishops and priests have endeavored To pre-
vent disturbance, and have counseed ODE
deuce to the ruling authorities. The Car
dinal Vicar of Rome issued an admirable
notice, recommending quiet and compliance
with the orders of the Government, bat
at the same time declaring that the
ecclesiastical authorities had protested
against the ukasa of the Home Office as
contrary to the just rights of the clergy,
ard opposed to the interests of religion.
The prohibition against professions WAS not
published in some localities until the 18th
or 18Th of August, SO that it was impossible
| for the parish priests in those places to give
the required fifteen days notice to the
Sypdic In order to obtain permission for
the usual PROFESSIONS on the Assumption of
| Our Lady and the festival of San Rocco. In
| most of the towns and villages the process
| sions were held inside the churches. But
on the Feast of the Assumption, in several
OF the country tOwDs, the people took the
matter into their own hands, and made
their procession outside the churches, with
out the assistance and against the advice of
the parochial clergy. In the neighborhood
of Frosinone all the inhabitants of the
towns of Banco, Marolo, Sgurgula, Sapino,
and Veroli performed their accustomed pro-
cessions, without the intervention of the
clergy, on the 18th. At Segnl there was
quite rising of the population. The bells
OF the cathedral were rung during the night,
and the gendarmes kept discreetly to their
barracks. All the country folk confessed
themselves liable to prosecution, ard if
prosecuted and condemned will perhaps
seek refuge in the mountains. At Macerata
small number of Freethinkers and Free
masons tried TO prevent the annual thanks !
giving procession held on the 18th, and
called the procession dele CGneetreIle But, |
of ho @ofI
tho Catholic religion, the feelings of the |
peasants were not to be trif1ed with, and |
the legal permission was granted. AT Pie |
tramelara strange scene occurred on the |
10Th of August. 1t was the Feast of San |
Rocco, the patron saint of the locality. and |
there would be no procession, in conse-
quence of the edict of the Project, and he |
duly preached tranquility and gu omission to |
the highest powers. But the people would |
not allow their zeal towards their patron
saint to be repressea. After High Mass
was finished, the women OF the congregation
gathered together. and amid enthusiastic |
shouts of Viua EGn Rocco went to the |
statue o. the saint, took 1t upon their |
and issued professionally from |
the church, Notwithstanding the remon |
strances OF the clergy and the opposition of |
the authorities and some Royal Carbineers.
The men armed with stout sticks, formed a |
guard for the women, and thus the process
sion went it's accustomed rounds, a band of
music leading the way, and at intervals
halt being made to fire off mortars, and dis
charge rockets and other fireworks. For
three hours and a half the PROCESSION contin-
ued its course and returned to the church !
in tranquility. In several cities the pre-
fects and syEdlcs delayed the publication
of the prohbitory edict until the Feaets of
the Assumption and San Rocco were past,
in order to avoid offending the local Gus
toms But at FrascRti, near Rome, the
police authorities appear to have sought an
opportunity to fasten quarrel on the peo
pie. On the 22ud of August the Viaticum
was carried TO the sick without the bells,
aud without the prohibited solemnities.
The terms of the edict were strictly follow
cd. But the gendarmes illegally tried to
prevent devout persons from following the
VIaticun with their hats off, to show respect
to the Blessed Sacrament Then body of
infantry armed at all points appeared, and
by actual violence the persons who imme-
dlateIy followed tile Viaticum were driven
away. The officer in charge rudely caught
the parlsl priest by the arm as he was car
rylng the Host, and told Tim to go from {
under the Baldacchino. The priest re-
quested the officer to respect tho Blessed y
Sacrament. Tue officer found he had gone [
too far, and contented himself with dspers-
ing the crowd &C the point of tho bayOnet :
en1erlng only two persons, who Carried
lanterns, to accompany the Fiaticum. In !
mense crowds assembled in the streets of
and intense Indignation was ex- f
cited when it was known that gentlemen
and ladies of reapecta bilty, in common !
with the other inhabitants of the town, I
were thus violently prevented from per- 3
forming an ordinary act OF GeVotion-tbat t
of following Jesus in the Sacrament. The -
multitude repaired to the church to receive I
the parish priest with the Viaticum on his
return, and before the re-entry of the Host 2
into the church they sung the Tie Deum out :
side in loud tones. Many of the Italian !
Journals, especially the organs of the late
Cabinet in prohibiting these professions.
Under the past Government of the Mode. 3
rates professions outside churches were :,
awful, and it was only permitted to the &
Projects to interdict them occasionally and t.
lnder special circumstances. Under the n
present Government of the Progresssts the 9
PROFESSIONS are condemned in principle and
IRE forbidden. 1t is only permitted to hold v
hem by special favor, and upon special
utilization. Formally ha irritot;op N