The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-08
A VISIT TO THE BAMBINO.

A private letter. by one who travelled
with his wits about him and his eyes
open, tells of visit to the wonderful,
miracle-working Bambino, one of the
greatest treasures Of Rome. He says:
"We went, this morning. first to the
Church of Ari Cell. where is the tomb of
st. Helena, the mother of Constantine, the
discoverer of the wonderful relics which
have so astonished us at various points.
1t is just beside the Capitol, and is on
what is held to have been the site of the
temple of Juno Moneta. The great feat
ure of this church, however is that it
contains the celebrated Bambino, the
wonderful baby which has performed so
many miracles. 1t is supposed to be
kept in certain chapel, and, as a con-
sequence, the front of the chapel is
adorned with votive offerings made by
those who have been benefited by the
interposition of the Bambino. Here are
pictures representing the wonderful es-
capes from injury or death of great
number of persons, such as being run
over by carriages and horses; falls down
precipices; blows on the head ship
wrecks, sicknesses, and especially the
dangers of child bed. There is no other
such baby in this world. OF course,
we wanted to see it, and on asking the
monks for it, we were taken to another
chapel in another part of the Church,
and there, after the manipulation of
vast amount of machinery. the monk
brought out the box, Ia little trunk like
affair, painted white and adorned with
gliding and jewels) which he unlocked
and then removing several little blanket
like cloths, he at last uncovered the
wonderful baby.
1t is small sized baby, and would Gf
it were flesh just born) weigh about six
pounds. The face is wax (the whole is
said to be wood miraculously painted)
and the features are very good, though
old for a newborn baby. 1t is swathed
in white merinos, bound up after the
Indian fashion. and has gold crown on
its head. with cross on the top of the
crown. The swathing bands are literally
covered with gold ornaments and pre-
cious stones, rubies, emeralds, diamonds,
etc. l looked at it as long as l chose,
handed the monk two francs, which made
him happy, and came away fully salts
fed. I have seen the two most wonder
full things in Rome, the Augu slime Ma
donna and the Bambino.
people in America cannot form a
conception of Catholicism as it exists
here. In this land, and especially in
this city, it stands forth in its true char
acter. l am again and again struck with
the simplicity of these priests and monks
who do not seem to think that we can
have any object in coming here to view
these pictures and statues but that of
devotion. The monk who showed US the
Bambino. this morning seemed to believe
it from the depths of his soul, and to
think that, of course we did the same.
Still. noticed that, while he would not
have gone in front of picture of the
Virgin without dropping upon at least
one knee, he walked up and handled
this wonder working baby with simply
a removal of his little skull cap. l ex-
pected to see him kneel before it; but
he didn't do so. Had he known why
wished to see it am quite sure he would
not have shown it to me; and am sur
prised that they should show it to any
hereto. unless they hope that thus he
may become converted. '-Journal and
Messenger.