The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-06-29

kisses of the faithful. In fact if mistake
not, this particular toe has been restored
several times, having been worn off by
constant oscillation. All about the nave
and transept are confessional boxes for
penitents of all nations. The form of the
church is that of Roman cross, and the
dome rests upon firm buttresses at the an
giles where The arms OF the cross intersect
each other. Under the centre of the dome
and over the sepulcbre of St. Peter is the
high altar, very graceful object, surround
ed by railing and covered by canopy
supported on four spiral columns. Flank
| ing the side aisles are numerous chapels,
| each as large as an ordinary church, and
many of them are furnished in most cost
ly and elaborate manner. Most of the
services are held in these chapels, the high
| altar being used only on special occasions.
| In fact, while we were there during the
| Easter season all the services were held in
the chapels, there being no grand public
demonstration, on account of the state Of
Imprisonment in which his Holiness the
Pope has chosen to consider himself ever
since the occupation of Rome by the troops
of Victor Emmanuel. Much 10 our regret
also the usual Examinations were omitted
for the same reason.
st. Peters was one Of the churches found
cd by the Emperor Constantine, by the re-
quest of Pope Sylvester |. The original
structure was built on the site of the old
Vatican circus, where the great apostle
suffered martyrdom, and contained his
bones in brazen sarcophagus. AS early
as 800 A. D., Charlemagne received in it
the imperial crown of Rome from the hands
of Pope Leo Ill, and later many emperors
and popes were crowned here. Since that
time the church has been several times re-
modelled, the work having been entrusted
to several different artists; among them
Raphael. In 1916 it was placed in the
hands of Michael Angelo, to whom it owes
Its present form in the main. Some addi-
tions have been made to it since his time.
1t is now the largest and most imposing,
though not the most beautiful, church in
the world; its length being 651 feet, its
width 200 feet, and height from the base
to the summit of the cross 465 feet. AT
the end of the 18th century the cost of
building it had amounted to nearly
$5O,0O0,000, and much has been added
since. We walked about the floor, finding
ample employment III trying to realize and
appreciate the beauty and grandeur of its !
architecture, and it was afterwards source
ofmuch regret that we did not find time to |
examine its treasures or ascend to its sum-
nit.
St. Peters is a general resort One sees
everybody there, all sorts of ecclesiastics, |
from cardinals to mendicant friars, bare |
footed and dirty, officers and soldiers,
strangers and natives, the elite of human
society, and crowds of beggars; and it is |
interesting to stand near Peters statue and |
witness the deyotions of the faithful. A |
beggar devoutly crosses himself and gives |
the sacred toe hearty smack, nursery |
maid kisses it herselfand presses the baby's |
lips to it, well-dressed lady after having |
prayed and blessed herself, wipes it care |
fully, bestows her tribute in all humility |
and so it is from hour to hour all shad |
of society participating. Sometimes there
are quite number anxious TO pay their de-
votions, and they stand in order like pas
sengers at a ticket office, each waiting his
turn. Fatigued but not satisfied, we re-
turn to our hoteh our brains filled with
arches, colonnades, sculptures and paint
ings, only to return at every opportunity |
to enjoy again the beauties of this magnifi- |
cent temple.
Rome is city of churches, and l will
mention some of them, in regard to which |
there are points of interest, in some of
my future papers. For the present-adieu.
NJ n * Il ~