The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-06
The Holy Doll.

10 the Editor of the Press:
L noticed an extract in the PRESS con-
corning the Sacred Bambino ill santo
pamplno) In the church of the Ara Coeil
near the Capitol in Rome. There are
also other interesting PARTICULARS concern
ing. this "Holy doll"
IL is only exhibited during the church
Mondays at Christmas time. when the de-
sire to see 1t draws throngs of people both
from those living in Rome and people
outside, who have come to Rome to cele-
brate this festival season.
This doll is not only made out of wood
from a tree on the Mount of Olives said
to be connected with the agony in Geth-
semane, but it is resplendsnt with costly
diamonds and other precious stones. No
doubt one reason why it is SO carefully
guarded when carried to the bedsides Of
the sick, is on account of it's intrinsic
value.
harly Christmas morning the "sacred
oape" is uncovered and all day crowds
come and go to the consecrated chanel
where this brilliant jewel is kept. After
tnls 1t is taken and placed in an illumi-
naueu manager constructed in n chapel
near une entrance too the chucrh where
shepherds and wise men and sheen and
oxen all are seen. During the week after
christmas, little children between four
ana nve O'Clock address their petitions
before the bambino as holy shrine and
mere things remain the same for the in
spectlon OF the multitude until Epiph-
when the grand celebration in honor of
any, the Infant is given.
On this day. after various ceremonies,
cardinals take the bejeweled babe from
Ghe manager bearing it aloft over the
heads of the dense crowd to the accom-
panlment OF bands of muse, with the
Dea6lng OF immense drums and the fife.
IL Is borne out of the church and car
rleo through the crowd outside which
PACKS the lofty stairs leading up to the
chufch and occupies most of the space
Glcai procession marches back through a
loor on the other side, the crowd divid-
ing as they still bear the enchanted doll
alol5 ana back to the reliquary, from
Whence 1t was taken Christmas morning.
IL was in one of these Epiphany
crowds IN the cara Coelin that my pock-
Gu was picked by man who seemed one
OF the most devoted and whom I noticed
near me In agonized raptures as the last
ouGpurs5 from the crowd took place,
when the rush was so great as to blind
every one.
During Christmas eve and Christmas
day there are on exhibition IN the church
OF Maria Maggiore five boards'' from
the original manager of the In1ant'' in
Bethlehem.
These are only a few of the relics
mlraculously saved and preserved by the
chuch at Rome.
The "holy staircase" which the Epmress
Helena, the mother of Constantine, had
brought from Jerusalem, the same
which Christ assembled when he was
brought before Pontius Pilate draws
crowds at all times Of the year. 1t is Gov
cred with boards which are renewed every
year or two. they becoming worn out BY
the devotees who ascend them at all hours
of the day. The prayers said at each step
give dispensations for sin, to cover a
whole life time. Luther was the only
person who has descended even a part Of
the stairs In the middle of it going I'D
on hands and knees, he saw the fallacy
of it all. Thence arose the HReforma-
ton" A. H. G..