The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-02-13

readable letter, which we copy from the
Catholic Journal:
ROME, January 3rd, 1876
Very ReU. Dear Father-As l told you IN
smy last letter, l went to Mount casino,
which is certainly in itself wonder OF the
world. 1t ia situated on the top of the
Appenine Mountains. 1t was here st.
Benedict erected bis famous Monastery and
ON the spot where once stood the statue of q
renowned idol. In this institution this
saint lived aud died. Fragments of the old
Monastery are still preserved and now
especially one or the ancient towers, which
il built over the room said to have been
once occupied by its first founder.
Al In order TO reach the present bailding,
5you are obliged to pass through q tunnel
about one hundred feet long. While view
ng such splendid architectural monument
~ so high an elevation one is foroi6ly re-
minded of the nob!est of all birds, the
Eagle, which builds its nest on the summit,
and most inaccessible point of the highest
mountains. Yet, those who carried such
vast amount Of material to this height had
no wings nor even roads to facilitate the
enterprise.
To give anything like description Of
this Monastery would require q whole book.
can merely give the outlines. The
Aurcb, which has q nave and two aisies,
ath several affairs, is a perfect jewel of
oh and rare marbles, adorned with gilt
.IZuAu0nG. lie tOut SHS6Ut0tE 10 llCCl6 6lS6
han 8 magnificent museum of the fine arts,
"a statuary, and of oil and fresco paintings
,y the best artists. 1t was here the Bene-
lifetime monks displayed, nay, exhausted,
heir genius and resources. 1 have never
cen, not even in Rome, in any cbnrcb, such
rare coliection of rare and beautiful mar
htes, and so deliberately worked. The
bhlustrade which separates the great altar
en- the body of the church is made Of
HlBrbles laid in mosaic with fine and nu-
eE1Drous designs, some representing boquets
IGf natural flowers in color and form, and
6Nine other and many beautiful objects in
nature.
.e IN the midst of the sanctuary stands the
high altar, under which lie the bodies of St.
G&nedict and his sister, st. Scholastica.
Ahls altar is the crown of that rich and,
1ty say, royal building. In its rear there
1Hka Latin inscription, in substance as fol-
{nWs: Here lies, in ths one grave, the
kemsins of Benedict and Scholastica: born
zen the same day (they were twins), died on
ne came day, and entered Heaven at the
N1me time" I said Mass twice on the altar
ever their graves.
The next object of interest in the sanctu.
ssxy is the choir of the monks. The stale
Rfe q masterpiece of carving. To look at
em a person can hardly believe that men
Npuld have the patience or that human
shsDds could do such work: l am sure it
could not be done in our age.
1O"diu Jito Gnu VI tuC CuclF SbROQ5 b
large and sweet toned organ. The Prior of
me Monastery. Father Bonifacius, SO we'll
Known in che Pittshurg diocese as a former
mem Der of st. Vincent's Abbey, near
Esatrobe, played on this grand instrument
and brought out all it's fneet qualities. I
was much pleased with the inimitable tones
Of the UoI humGnd.
Passing by the sacrsties, reliquaries, an
Gent ornaments and other objects of inte-
Eest to the stranger, l visited the library.
This building, which is ono of the most i'm
pOrtant parts of Monte Casino, is very
large and attractive, and contains the most
noted and ancient works in the world. The |
man uscripts are kept in a separate DEPART |
Haent and form the real ricEes-far more
'pfecious than gold or silver-of the sons of
So Benedict. Great expenses are annually |
Incurred by the monks to keep and pre- |
eSsve those treasures of learning-the fruit |
of their labors, the sweat of their hours for |
Centuries. The parchment scrolls are |
regularly classified and laid away carefully |
ia hundreds of drawers, made for the pur-
Ross, of the hardest wood and shut in by |
tOllipg doors. The room which contains |
shem is of the most elaborate finish, and |
audiences clearly the love and veneration
the monastics for those ancient trea-
b.
no great distance from the Library is
tbs printing office. Here everything, too,
1sCumplete, and all work done in the best
Of the monks. The most difficult task of
thi1 department is the printing of old man
necripts in such manner as to reproduce
the fac -simile of the exquisite and more
Than beautiful Ornamentations of the ante
type. A work of this kind was shown to
me, and it was very hard to distinguish
between it and the original copy, except.
perhaps, in the newness of the reproduc
Ion.
3 Leaving sthis spot, hallowed by the
helghtest intellects of ages, my companion
the Rev. Charles O'Connor, President of
tie Theological Seminary, Philadelphia,
aAd myself wendell our way toward the
lining room of the Monastery This por-
tien of the building is about sixty feet wide
Ggld two hundred feet long is high, COM
Odious, well ventilated, and is tastefully
but not extravagantly decorated. An i'm
Eaense oil painting, by the famous Basano,
pgers the entire back wall of the refrec-
81. tits intended to represent Our Lord
Multiplying the lOaves and fishes and dis
tibuting the came to the multitudes that