The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-21
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY MORNING, JULY FL, 1878

| their tom 0S. never QlQ re6k more pr0uu Ol
being Catholic than when walkipg through
| the Colosseum and the Catacombs Oh these
Shings do strengthen our faith and excite in
us desire of initiating the heroic lives Of the
The first place visited here was the vati
can, the largest, most beautiful and most
s-cred oburoh in the whole world. 1t would
be vain for me-for I'm not aa artistic at
tempt description of this temple so worthy
of God. Besides, you must have often read Of
it in accounts given by travellers The sta
tnes, nossics and altars are masterpi. ces.
Before the High Altar, under which the bod y
OF st. Peter lies, many lsmps are continually
burning. 1t is only the Pope that oele brates
mass on it, or Cardinal specially delegated
is another (Which is quite close to the tomb
where st. Peters body rests) upon which had
the happiness of offering the Holy Sacrifice.
arse Christian Shuroh 70 and U sailed % The Mother @
and head of sii churches" 10 the very table on
which the Last Supper was eaten. On this
table, now an altar, was also permitted to
Outside the walls Of Rome is the Basilica-
Church of St. Paul, where the body Of the
great apostle Of the Gentiles Is kept. This
columns of porphyr, its altar of lapis-lszoli and
it's marble floor which reflects like o mirror.
The mos sics, which are very beautiful, are from
the earliest age age Of sns GaIsoH, @ mere are s, the
Church vas built by the Emperor Constantine
the Greet. s--' -
At some distance from the Cbarch of St. Paul
is that of San Pao'o ale ire Fontane whore st.
Paul was beheaded. When his head fell off
the block, it bounded three times and three
fountains S1rapg mp. These fountains are
from them. The water is cold. Hero is aso
the pillar at which ST. Paul was scourged and
which kissed.
forgot to mention that near the Church of
St John of Lateran is the Bsptistery of Con-
etaDtine. Here in the very font-s bath tub of
porphyry-in VT ich the Emperor was biptiza I'd,
Around the walls of the BAptistery are painted
the luminous cross which appeared to the Eu-
peror on his march to the battle field and his
victory over Maxentus. Near the Church of
st John of Lsteran are also the Holy Stairs
which led into the P % orium of Plate and
which our Lord ascended. The stairs are COW
cred with wood as the devotion of the people
who ascend them on their knees would wear
them a Hsy in the course Of time. was delight
ed to have the opportunity of ascending tho
Holy Steps.
It would be too tiresome both for me aud you
to say any more aeont the Churches of Rome.
They are nnmerous. there being 6fty-two
parish churches alone in the city. There 10
not a single church in all Rome that is not most
interesting and that does not con tain treasures
q relics, etc.
said mass in toe Mamertine prison, where
Saints Peter and Paul were confined. St.
Peter, W bile there, converted his iailor, and
there being no water in the dungeon, q f1un-
baptism. 1 drank twice from this fountain.
Here 10 the prison, 10 the pillar TO which the
Apostles were chained. This kissed with the
greatest reverence. saw two large pieces of
the True Cross, the nail that pierced one of
the hands of Our Redeemer, the pillar to which
He was tied when scourged. two of the thornS
of His crown, the imprint Of His feet.
Bot must atop. II went on at this rate,
Pd have to send you at least quire OF paper.
There are only few strangers in Rome now,
but many in Paris. Up to this time have
enjoy ed very good health, and hope the same
may continue. Bot travelling lone is very
tiresome. I sometimes feel greatly distressed
in no. receiving any news from New Orleans,
but think shall find some letters from there
in my native place. Write nue. soon pos
sible, Mr.. Joseph Fiaragsn, Churoh
stree+, Tullamore, Kings County, Ireland.
leave Rome tomorrow.