The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-17

prepared for it. All the Cardinals sur
round the bier, and the cantors OF the
Cappella Giulia intone the customary
prayers, after which Mgr. Folicaldi Canon
of the Patriarcbal Baeilica of the Vatican,
pronouuces the AbsolutiOn. The pious
ceremonies being thus concluded, thoae
present withdrew, and the body of Plus TX
was left in the custody of the Noble Guaru,
who have the duty and privilege of watch
ing over it until it be placed in the eepul-
chre.
It is reported that, from midnight on
Saturday, persons began to gather around
the gates that close in the portico OF st.
Peters, with the intention OF waiting until
these gates were opened at Six O'CLOCK on
Sunday morning. However that may be,
know that at balf-psst five in the morn
ing, long before day broke over the sleeping
city, between six aud seven thousand per-
sons had already taken up their position In
front of st. Peters.
THEY WAITED PATIENTLY IN THE DARK AND
COLD MORNING.
They were possessed by one sole thought
to be first to visit the great POntif whose
death the Catholic world lsments. Soldiers
and carbineers were in the grand plaza tc
preserve order when necessary, and to
suppress rebellion or revolution, if such
should occur. Happily those who waited
at the gates of St. Peteg's were neither
disturbers nor revolutioniste. The gates
are opened and the crowd soon gathers
around the doors in the vestibule. The
minutes pass slowly, but the people are
silent. At seven the great doors begin to
fall back on their hinges, and the crowd
flows into the immense basilica. They
press forward to the chapel of the Blessed
Sacrament, where they gaze, many with
dimmed eyes, on the countensDce Of the
Pontiff; and, with deepest devotion, Kiss
his slipper, that may be easily reached, as
his feet are close to the iron rails that
enclose this chapel. AS the hours pass on
the crowd increases. At ten O'Clock the
crowd is immense, and many begin to
suffer. I had already endured the crush-
ing ct the Quirinal when the dead body OF
Victor Emmanual was exposed; but severe
and difficult as the crushing and the en-
trance were, they were but slight in COM
| parison to this in St. Peters on Sunday
morning. The gendarmes in front of the
chapel had formed narrow passage.
through which only a limited number of
persons were allowed to pass at one time.
This was an excellent plan; but as the
great nave was filed, for about one-fourth
of it's whole extent by q compact crowo
| that pressed towards tho narrow passage
formed by the gendarmes. the latter expe-
rienced the greatest difficulty in keepin
their position. Meanwhile, the crowd
swayed to and fro, and from right to left,
| in manner that was most disagreeable to
| many. AS some strove to force their way
forward to the Chapel of the Most Holy
Sacrament, the gendarmes, whose patience,
it must be confessed, had been sorely tried.
struck the people. Shouts arose from the
men and shrieks from the women. Many
of the latter tainted, and were brought to
q etate of consciousness by the ammonia
and vinegar with which the guards we're
provided. The men iu front, who were
driven by those behind them, were fre.
uueutly maltreated by the gendarmes
eoroa haip cnllara6 n q very rnda manner
and handed over to the Guards of Public
Security, who removed them from the
church. About l o'clock, however, a large
number of Italian soldiers entered The
Church and drew up in double line il
front of the chapel. They gradually
closed in and prevented others from join
ing the crowd. This is the first time tha
the Italian soldiers of the line ever served
in St. Peters. One gate only was open
tho portico, ard that was for tbe use o
those departing from TIE baeillca. M
more were allowed to enter the churc!
until tho crowd within was copsiderably
lessened. Tie entrance gate icing only
opened for few seconds permitted thE
entrance of but q limited number; and by
this means order was secured wluhin thu
church. But tho crowd without was ex
cessive. Sach g gathering has not beer
seen in Rome since the day upon which
J the Vatican Council was opened, whom
beheld the vast Basilica almost filled. Dur
: ing the whole day of Sunday laet th
crowd continued, and for three days after
wards. 1t is almost incredible that con
stant stream of thousands of people couli
> be kept up during the whole day from 81:
, in the morning until halfpast FIVE in tn
f evening. And yet it has been 80 for fou
: daye. 1t is one of the most wonderful con
siderations in this sad time. 1t shows
HOW DEEPLY THE ROMANS LOVED PEUs II
Although it may be said that some ma
have come to scof-as really did occu
unchecked by gendarmes or police-an
.. some through curiosity, yet not even tn
= most bigoted Liberal doubts bat that it wa
= the affection of the people for Plus TX, bot
. as Pontiff aud King, which attracted ther
: to witnesss his dear lineaments in til
: Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament at tn
a Vatican.
= The appearance of the Pontiff with gold
- en- mitre and scarlet cloth of gold chaeub!
y was beautiful in the extreme. the fac
. was pale-indeed, it was nearly alway
pale in life-and waxen. The features ha
% that distinpuishipC character which en