The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-11
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.

region.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. =.
TWenty.Hrth Anniversary of the Pope
Proclamation.
ROME, December 0.-Hyer since tn,
proclamation ofthe dogma Of ::the .Immacu
late Conception by Plus IN, in 1851, III,
Sth Of December has remained one Of thC
most popular Roman festivities, and al
effort was made to-day among the clerica
to celebrate its twenty.dfth anniversary
withunusual solemnity. The day was cold
but clear and sunny. The Pope has mol
Oficiated in public since the Italian occu
patton, but the Pope Leo received about
a thousand persons, including Eve hun.
dred Italian pilgrims. He gave audience
in the hall OF the Swiss, surrounded BY
twenty Cardinals, with many other pre-.
lates, mobiles, and Palatine Guards In full
uniform. He addressed fervid but short
speech concerning the dogma, adoring the
sanctity of his predecessor.
Mass was held in the basilicas OF st,
Peters by Cardinal San stefano. Con.
slant prayers were offered before the tomb
OF Plus IN, which is studded with price
less stones, lGpis lGEdi and malachites.
Crowded pilgrimages were made to His
future tomb at San Lorenzo without the
walls. Many wreaths inscribed with Of.
lerings were placed in vacant inches.
Grand High Mass was held in all the
churches dedicated to the Virgin, which
were decorated with hangings OF tapestry
and lights. In the Basilica Of St. Agosti-
no, in the Via Rippeta, the statue Of the
Virgin was resplendent with jewels, to the
value Of millions, also in Santa Maria in
Loretto. The Church OF Gesz, in the
Piazza del Gesu, near the northern
foot Of the Capitol, which owes
its foundation to Cardinal Alessan-
dro Farnese, and is one OF the
richest churches in Rome, was splendidly
decorated in red and gold, with hangings
OF silk and gold, with consultations Of
light following the lines Of its noble archi-
lecture, and an occasional streak Of the
sun Illuminating the frescO OF the cupola
and tribune. In the apse was q crimson
hanging, against which the Virgins statue
stood out in bold relief. The chapel Of
San IgnaCio cleaned with precious stones.
The marble group OF the Trinity, by Ber-
nardino Ludovici, and the globe below the
Almighty, said to be the largest mass Of
lapis lazuli in the world, added to the
splendor OF the scene, which was as
solemn as it was gorgeous. Three musi.
cal services were performed by the best
artists in Rome, hired at the expense OF q
devOut foreigner, whose name was con.
cealed. There were immense crowds all
day in the church OF the Holy
Apostles in the Corso, where Canova
erected some OF his finest monuments, and
the heart of Maria Clement is deposited.
Here Cardinal Howard OtIiCiated with his
fine military air, assisted by eight bishops,
some Of them Oriental, attired in the mag.
niicent robe. In the Church oil Santa
Maria d'Arcola, on the site OF Jupiter
Capitolinus and famous for its antiquity
the services were still more splendid
Crowds tlocked TO kneel before the San.
tissimo Bambino, the wooden figure oil
the infant Savior, still reported to have
marvellous power in healing the sick.
Peasantry from all parts Of the surround.
ing country were among the worshipers
The church was hung with red
blue and white, the Virgins colors, and
blazed with light. In the afternoon 1t
was crowded for the sermon OF a Ca.
puchin friar. In front OF the church fac.
ing the Campidoglic patients ascended the
steps Of Grecian marble on their knees
The antique columns Of the Santa Maria
Alaggiore were awaited with red velvet.
Countless visits were paid to the small
chapel beneath the high altar, where are
preserved the boards OF the manger in
which the Savior was laid after his BIRTH
The "Cappella Paoliua" belonged to the
Borghese family, containing the mirauu.
lous picture OF the Virgin aud child, attrib-
uted to St. Luke, was brilliantly illuminated
at Vespers. Cardinal Nice Closkey's s Church,
the Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, the only
gothic church in Rome, was not decorated,
but frequent services were held there.
The Santa Maria della Pace, built BY
Sixtus w., the Santa Maria in Trusteyere,
the first church publicly consecrated In
Rome, and the Santa In Vallicella, better
known as the Chiesa Nouva, held splendid
musical services. All the shops were shut
and the streets were crowded on Sunday,
and Monday evening there was an
illumination OF private houses. Many
palaces: such as the PaIazzo Doria, which
are not usually lighted, were ablaze.
The illumination was most frequent in
the poorer quarters Of the city. The Vir-
gin and child, and iaun, described by
Hawthorne in his Marble Faun, was en-
circled with stars and lanterns Of the
Italian Colors, red, green and white but
as the municipality had not voted any
money there was no general illumination
Of the streets and public buildings. New.
ertheless the day was celebrated so fer.
vently as to leave the impression 10 an
observer that the Italians are still devout
Catholics.