Huntsville gazette., 1886-05-01

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At St. Boniface the grave was the
most elaborate of any of the churches.
1t was surmounted with beds of flowers,
tropical plants. and flowing fountain,
while far back in the tomb lay an inn
age of Christ.
Ten churches were visited by our
party that day, in each of which was
found an elaborately prepared Holy
Grave or "Heilige Graver," and an
impressive service with devout wor-
shippers, devotees who, from early
morn till eve, with but slight intermis-
sions, as they went from church to
church, knelt on cold stone floors with
out breaking their fast.
The next day had little to distinguish
it from other days save at nightfall, but
our party, interested with the scenes
OF the previous day, planned another
tour of the churches.
Confessional boxes were all filled
apparently, being closed, save one far
down the aisle. Into that our venture
some maiden sacrilegiOusly entered.
1t was a little box, with barely space
for one to kneel beside partition. A
small iron grating, about one foot
square, was inserted in the wall on
level with the penitent's face, when
kneeling. On exploration intent, the
visitor knelt, to peer into the apart
ment beyond, when the voice of Fa-
ther Confessor, in close proximity was
heard saying: "Well. daughter, am
ready" as standing with bowed head,
he awaited her confession, which came
not, for ignominiously she had turned
and fled.
At the Theatiner Kirche there was a
dungeon-like place, with an iron gate
and fence, which was called "All
Souls Gate On shrine just inside,
was an image of the Virgin Mary and
Christ. The face of the Virgin wore a
most agonized expression, in her hand
was very beautiful lace handker
chief, which incongruous as it seemed
to be, had been placed there by some
devotec. The face of the Christ i'm
age was 80 distigured and almost de-
void OF paint, that it was simply hide
Gus. Out of that room was another
iron gate opening into cell dark as
night. 1t is supposed that all souls on
their way to the better land pass that
dolorous way. A number of very des-
olatc, poverty-stricken mortals knelt
there, with their faces pressed close to
the iron gate, and with tears streaming
from their eyes, prayed fervently for
the souls of friends of whom they had
been recently bereaved. One poor old
crone, bent with age and toll, with face
and figure expressive of the deepest
suffering, moaned continuously, until
our st. Cecilia dropped several coins
into her hoary palm, when the poor
creatures gratitude became as out
spoken as the gift was unexpected.
Following the benefactor upon her
knees, she, in her curious patois, reite-
had lost her only son, her stay and
support. and that the poor pittance she
could earn, did not enable her to pay
for masses for the repose of his soul.
Radiantly she exclaimed II have
enough. He will be saved; | shall say
prayer for you many times"
The active duties of the day being
concluded, the people, as with one con-
sent, turned their thoughts to the one
great coming evening event of the
evening-the Resurrection, not single
one in some chosen, highly favored
tomb, but, as the attending Italian
Count expressed it: "They will have
resurrections all over town tonight"
At the Court Chapel there was a
procession in which the King appeared.
A dense crowd waited for over four
hours. Carriage after carriage rolled
up to the gateway, and deposited the
nobility who were to occupy the gal
leries. At length music was heard,
and through a window in the passage,
between the palace and chapel, the
procession was seen. 1t seemed to
consist of priests arrayed in the most
gorgeous embroidered robes. They
entered the church and the service be-
gan. What were the further exercises
there, none save the royal family or
those who had friends at court. was
privileged to know.
After time the people passed out,
entered their carriages and were driven
away. Those who then secured a
glimpse of the interior, saw that all
was dark and the grave empty.
The following morning the sun rose
bright and beautiful. but already the
churches were radiant with light.
Flowers, beauteous, fragrant and in
great profusion filled altar-place and
niche. The people, with glad hearts
and happy faces, knelt, murmur-
ing prayers Of thanksgiving. High
Mass with all its pomp was celebrated,
and through nave, arch and groin
swept the triumphant strains of glad
melody, voicing the exultant anthem:
"Christ has arisen to intercede for us.
Future years with their successive
Eastertides will come and pass, but
none will ever twice come with the
same impressiveness, or half so firmly
fix the great pervading thought and
fact of the Restoration Of our Lord as
the one delightful Eastertidc we knew
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