The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-03-25
A WORK COSTING FIFTEEN YEARS OF
LABOR PRESENTED TO PIUS TX.
THE GRAND ORNAMENT OF THE ROOM OF
THE CONCEPTION.

THE GRAND ORNAMENT OF THE ROOM OF
THE CONCEPTION.
ROME, February 26.-The Vatican has
received an addition to it's art treasures in
| the shape of an image of the Blessed Vir-
gin Mary surmounting an elaOorstely- de-
signed and completed cabinet, destined to
contain the Bull inefabilis promulgating
the doctrine of her immaculate Conception
aud the translation of the said Bull in to
come three hundred languages, 1t was
presented to the Pope and accepted by him
with the greatest plasure on the evening of
the 10Th instant, and now stands as the
most conspicuous ornament of the room of
the Conception in the Vatican. Its pro-
jectors and donors are the Able Sire, Di-
rector of the Seminary of 5. Sulpice, in
Paris, and Mgr. Langenieux, Archbishop
of Rheims. 1t is an embodiment of the
faith of Catholic France and testimony of
her devotion to the author and fnishern
of the dogma of the immaculate Concep-
ton of the Blessed Virgin 1t has been
nearly en- years in preparation-from
1862, when the Abbe Sire dedicated to the
Pope a complete compilation of al the
documents relating to the dogma as pro-
mulgated ia 1854, and began the collection
OF tue Translation of the Bull, now over
three hundred, into all languages spoken
by the Catholic world. These documents
and translations, beautifully engraved and
sumptuonsly bound, are eoshrlned in a
cabinet worthy of their reception-a spec
linen of Catholic bDouteric OF which have
compiled the following description from
the Catholic Journals:
Its form is that of table six metres long
by two metres high, with q projection be-
tween the two principal sides to break the
monotony of too long line. This table,
supported by thir y-two elegantly proper
toned feet, ID surmounted by a glass case,
tft a1~ lsat A.. n
volumes. some open, some closed, go as to
admit of their beautiful designs and beau
tlful bindings being we'll seen Between
this & lass case and the feet runs the lower
frieze, whose characterization, finely cemen
ted together, deserves special notice. First
TO strike the eye Is u series OF escutchecns
indicating the personages, or families, the
parishes, pilgrlmages, colleges, cummunI-
ties which have contributed as much as
900 francs to thu work. They are 30 ar
ranged as to torn q connected history of
the Blessed Virgin and a history of France,
the kingdom of her prediction. Incosed
in a very fine frame, they are link ed together
with a garland of wild roses, recalling those
of Lourdee; and mingled with other flowers
rose, petal and green leaf alternating
with white ilS-on a splendid blue belt
variegated with amaranth- wood, they pro.
duce the most charming effect. At regu-
lar intervals this row of escutcheous ia
u
Plus TX who hat them executed in the
famous Vatican Mosaic Mandatory. These
represent on one eide the chief places in
Palestine where Providence cast the Bless.
ed Virgins lot: Nazareth, Hebron, Beth
lehem, Jerusalem; on the other, her most
venerated sanctuaries: LorettO, interior
aud exterior; Santa Maria, in Traetevere
the oldest church in Rome consecrated to
the Mother of God and Santa Maria Mag
giore, the grandest, richest, most triumph
ant tenple reared to her honor in the
Eternal City. Besides these mosaice, all
placed Immediately above the feet, appear
IN the four lnterspaces of the same lower
frieze Serves porcelain, recalling in exQui.
site taste-a sort of white cameo on a green
ground-the to0r quarters OF the globe
Europe, Asia, Africa, Amerlca-in their
relation to Jesus Christ, Mary's divine son.
These are the gifC of the d Lchess Magenta,
wife of NJ .rshaL MacMahon. Above It runs
another trieze, much larger than the pre-
ceding, which may appropriately be termed
the upper frieze. 1t ia foot high aud
more than metre broad, and expands be
tween two principal facades into two pic
lures, one representing the famous Coun-
Gil of Ephesls where Mary was solemnly
proclaimed Mother of God; the other re-
presenting the Offering of the tran s. atious of
the Bull of Pho Mono. The frat is, as it were
the point of departure, aud the second the
point OF arrival of the triumphant march OF
the nations carrying their rich volumes to
the iofallible head of the Church All this
painting, 30 striking in it's grandeur and n
its originality ID the work OF NJ. Oh. Lee
metre, young aud brilliant laureate of
the Paris Exposition of 1867. The cen
ire of the structure forms the cupola. and
on this central cupola-;he image of our
globe-is placed as on a pedestal the most
exquisite statue in silver OF The Blessed Vir-
gin-of her who deigned to come and tell to
France, aud from her To the whole world
." am the Immaculate Conception. >"
Executed carefully with the hammer by
the first artitcers of the house OF Christofe,
after new model by NJ. Lsfranc, who OBJ
tanned some years ago the fret prize in
works OF the kind in Rome, IT is the NUM-
dcent gift of Mgr. LAngenIeux, 3 shop of
Rheims.
1t was when still bishop of the diocese
"bIessed among all others by the Immacu-
late Virgin" that this prelate seconded the
simple desire of the Abbe Sire to crown in
the most worthy manner possible the monu,-
ment destined for the venerated he ad of che
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