The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-28
MAKING A NEW SAINT.
The Pope's Appearance in the Hall Of
Beaiification.

AAaS AVPS AppSdiauSS III VIZ AasAA Va
Bealification.
Among the many ceremonies that Rome
has to offer to the sight OF the curious or
religiously inclined traveller, one OF the
most interesting is that of Qualification.
When, after long and keen and scrupu-
| lous examination, the y erits OF some per-
son Of conspicuous virtue are declared TO
| be Of superior or heroic character
| that is TO say, heroicaly virtuous-and
| that this virtue is further confirmed by
at least two undoubted miracles wrought
| through the intercession OF this person,
| then bea atifi cation follows
Last Sunday such q ceremony took
| place at st. Peters at Rome. The person
| so honored was poor Franc scan monk,
Father Teofllo da Corte, who died over
two hundred years ago. To sour faster,
| quicker agen Ii seems q long time TO wal
| for honors. But on the other hand, the
man who wished his memory kept green
night feel satisfied at such remem brance
| so long after his death.
The chief attraction for the strangers in
| Rome from over the seas and beyond the
| mountains and for the students in semi
naries a d for nuns and frisrs of the
| sam Franciscan order of the new Beato
| was that Of seeing the people come to pray
at the altar in the Hall OF Beatihcation in
| the afternoon.
This hall is over the vestibuie of st.
| Peters, and Is exactly the same size. In
the Gays when the pope was still ruler OF
Rome 1t was known as he hall or the
| layanda, or washing Of the feet, where,
| on Holy Thursday, the pope washed the
| feet of thirteen poor priests In memory
| OF Christ's washing the feet of His dis
| ciples, and where He afterward served
them at dinner. 1t is a long, narrow
| hall, with five windows on each side,
those on the left opening on the great
| piazza in front of the church, and those
| on the right to the interior of st. Peters.
There are three tribunes, or small CALLER
| les, one over the other, not unlike the
| stage boxes in theater, built into each
| window. These tribunes are set apart for
| the more select visitors. Some of them
are occupied by Ambassadors, ministers
| and attaches from the several nations,
| and distinguished members OF the relig-
| ious orders, more especially Franciscans,
who gather In force today TO pay respect
To their own. The walls between these
| galleries are brightly painted and Tighten
ed up with heavy gold ornaments. The
curtains are Of crimson silk, with heavy
gold fringe and tasseis. A soft glow OF
| thousands of candles, whose light strug-
giles with that of the sinking sun, renders
the atmosphere within the hall warm and
| rich in tone.
II is needless TO say that the hall was
| packed, and the great human mass had
4 niltu the HuIe-TOOIU ana even tne Cala
Regia, and even then there was not place
| for all who presented themselves. 1t was
reported that many tickets OF admission
had been forged and sold at hotels at
prices varying from "a TO 50. The pope
was borne INTO the hi ii in Sedan chair,
crimson and gold in color, which was SET
down after the hall was entered, and q
great curtain drawn over the door to shut
OF the cold air. he came forth from
this and ascendel portantins, or chair,
which was carr ed by eight bearers i'm red
| damssk suits.
He wore the usual white soutane ard
The little white skull cap on his head.
His shoulders were covered with purple
mantalette edged with fine white fur
ermine--and fined with the same mater
| ial. Hi appearance was ths signal for
the Cutbursts of cheering, the waving of
hsndkerchiefs. and other similr signs
| OF enthusiastic Joy.
lie is, apparently, no feebler today thsn
he has been 1t any time these last i've
years. lie looks even better than he d i'd
month ego, when / saw him last, and
| his movements are more active. / was
now looking down from a balcony on
| this procession as 1t moved through he
narrow aisle kept free amid the crowd.
Th re were the usual Swiss Guard and
Nc BILE Guaros in their bright array, the
faming-hued cos umes of thei- tonsis-
torial advocates, the "suits of solemn
'iack, Oh tne private cnamDerlains, the
vermillion colored robes of cardinals and
the rich purple of tn bishops-all form
ing kaIeioo oscope of the brightest and
most varied tiBts. And then the pale
faced whlte-robed old msn, the center
and the crown Of the whole group, whom
the crowd saluted with joyous cries and
acclamatlons-all contributed to compose
picture for the eyes and the mind that
those who were here W II not readily for
get.
And 50 the pope was brought up to the
altar and he prayers were said and the
benediction given, and as he was return
ing similar demonstI alton of affection
ate enthusiasm, more emphatic than be-
I re, accompanied him until he passed