The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-12-10
stronghold of Matilda. What followed Is
told very well in the following extracts
from Our AutbOf:


from the north swept bowling over the plains
and elevations of Lombardy. The Castle OF
Canossa arose from the dazzling whiteness OF
the snow which lay on all the surrounding
beights. Its stern and solitary pinnacle and
it's gloomy walls m ade it eem, from the depths
of the valley. like an eagls's nest, resting on
the summit of the rock. That steep was then
the retreat of the Vicar of Jesus Christ, and
multitude of sovereign princes. Canossa nsd
become the most brilliant metropolis In the
world.
dows of Matilda's palace could be seen, on the
severe morning Of the 23d of January, a young
10 an advancing painfully through the sno :,
bis head bare, ard his bair IN disorder. He
wore q garment Of coarse linen, fastened at
the waist with q rope, and walked barefoot;
Having reached the first court, he Knocked
at the gate. The porter raised the ppt.cat.as ~
q heavy snow was falling, mingled Wild small
icicles, hard and cutting, which the WIND drove
IN the traveller's face. 10 paes rom tne
secoud to the third court the Traveller was
obliged to knock repeatedly, bnt received no
ans yer. He took a stone aud Knocked on tue
large nails of the gate. making tremendous
noise. At this sou nd soldier looking through
a loophole, said
"Who is therew m
open, I pray sir" said the pilgrim "has-
ten, ere die of cold!'
"Whom dost thou seek !" ,
AZ seek the Pope, the Countess. apd the
Marchiouess of Susa; descend and open !!
II shall not descend, ,gepiieo the So'oier
al am Heury, King of the Romans, son.in-
| law of Adelaide of Susa, end consln OF the
| Countess Matilda, thy mistress. Come down,
or / will have thee hung on these battlements'"
Henry was announced, and Matilda
soueht an interview with the Pope for the
purpose of inducing his Holiness to ao-
solve her kinsman. But Gregory 81"
through Henry's insincerity, and. hrmty re-
fused his hostess's request:
During this interview Henry, benuLnoed with
| cold, stood in the snow In sullen anger some
| times he shed tears and struck his breast I'M
| ploring mercy. His ambassadors at leugth
came down and found their master, bis head
covered with frost and snow, and his bands
stiff with cold. His Holiness. wnlle Protestlng
| his love and respect for the king, had declared
! that he could not depart from the laws OF
equity and the order established in tho empire
| nor the usual DEGREES OF the Roman Cnurch,
and that he would conform to the decision OF
| Augsburg. .
! Augsburg" cried Horny in an angry tone.
| I" The Pope is jodge, bat he is also ~ tender
| father, while the German princes are bat rebels
| and felons, whom wou'd nos make my Wallets,
far from enduring them as my judges"
AS he spoke he quivered IN every ilmo with
| emotion. Pallid with cold a moment previous,
| his fscs was now FIRE with the rage which
consumed him. The ambassadors persuaded
him to leave the place and go to take some
| food and rest; for he had baen fastlng slhce
the preceding day. I.
The morning of the third day, Henry came
| once more to tho castle to seek an entrance
cast himself at the Pontiff's feet. and conquer,
through prayers and tears, the mind OF mis-
judge and father But, arriving at the third
| gate, he found it closed more securely imam
| ever. The silence of death reigued around. a
heavy snow was falling in thick flakes, the cold
was intense, the solitude gloomy and drear.
| The king knocked, wept, and called-the gate
| remained closed. Then Henry, after waiting
long, and seeing that they remained deaf to his
| supplicatious, despaired of his fortunes, and
| hogan to run like madman through the snow.
Finding the church of St. Nicholas open' ne
! rushed impetuously in, crossed the balustrade
| of the choir, assembled the altar steps, and kiss
ing The copsecrated stone, he cried aloud:
/ ALTAR of God venerated relics OF martyrs
| come to ye! contide in ye! abandon my
self to yr! l have called upon Uen for help,
ard they have heard me not. Now II IL ye
whom invoke"
Here tie king meets Ills cousin Matilda
who at his most earnest and pltlful entTea
ties, determines to ask the Pope once more
for pardon:
, She spoke so eloquently and shed 80 man.
tears, with her face bowed to the earta, tina
, the Holy Father said, raising her:
God grant, countess, that do not pass II
, thy eyes and in these OF AL Chrlstendom Ior al
implacable m an Still, with the same certalnt.
which have felt in maintaining the DlVln
i authority of the Church, predict to thee tha
Q thou, l, and the whole empire shall have caus
r to repent of this pardon and regret it.
, Then came the MarchIoness of Susa, Az
i d'Este aud several italian and German princet
I who had offered themselves to be Henry's sure
ties. But the Pope, w&o contouru=d not mere
- with justice, ead:
Q 81 pardon Henry on condition that be pr'
Is sent himself az the Diet of Augsburg, whittier
# ex pect to appear; that he promise to me an
'r to my prela:cs . free passage and protectio
d from ali p.uuCs through Germany. II be be q
t. knowledged Innocent and permitted to re7un
il the sccptte, he must promisc TO amend his ev
IN course, aud to IeIgN as Cur!StlaH uonaES
~ pardoning offences"
s Matilda and the princes who had been Il
III security immediately proceeded TO iuiorm hi
sp of the hoppy event. Henry swore before n
n. tary, aud in their presence, to observe the co
III ditions equired by the Pope. fhen he W
he conducted with great joy TO the Soverei
to Ponutf. He knelt at his teet and renewed,
~ | presence of the assembled princes and baroI
y. the promises which he had sworo. Tn
al Gregory, standing before his throne, with han
es and eyes raised to heaven, gave him absolute
II from all bonds of accommodation or Interdi
at and bending towards Henry in paternat m'
nd nrr, raised him, threw his arms ro1nd his me-
ed kissed him on the forehead, aud blessed hi
=, He then received from Henry the kiss Of pea