The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-17
MAKING A NEW SAINT,
The nteresdng Ceremony of "Beati-
ficatfOn" In Rome Described.

II iOuI IeHTSOn 8 weekly.
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 beatihcation.
When, after long and keen and scrupu-
lous examination. the merits of some per-
son of conspicuous virtue are declared to
be of superior or heroic character-and
that Is to say, heroically virtuous-and
that this virtue is further confirmed by
at least two undoubted miracles wrought
through the intercession of this person
then beatlhcation follows:
Not long ago such ceremony took place
at ST. Peters at Rome. The person so
honored was a poor Franciscan monk
Father Teofilo da Corte who died over go
years ago. To Our faster, quicker age"
1t seems a long time to wait for honors
But, on the other hand, the man who
wished his memory kept green might feel
satisfied at such remembrance SO long af-
ter his death.
The chief attractions for the strangers
in Rome from over the seas and beyond
the mountains, and for the students in
seminaries and for nuns and friars of the
same Franciscan order of the new Beato
was that of seeing the pope coming to
pray at the altar in the Hall of Beatifica-
ton in the afternoon.
This hall is over the vestibule Of St.
Peters and is exactly the same in size
In the days when the pope was still ruler
of Rome it was known as the hall of the
lavanda 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 disciples
and where He afterward served them at
dinner
1t is a long. narrow hall with FIVE win
dows on each side, those in the left open
ing on the great piazza In front of the
church, and those on the right to the in
terror of St. Peters. There are three tri-
Dunes, or small galleries, one over the
other, not unlike the stage boxes in a
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 religious or
ders, more especially Franciscans, who
gather i'm force to-day to pay respect to
their own.
The walls between these galleries are
brightly painted and lightened up with
heavy gold ornaments. The curtains are
Of crimson silk, with massive gold fringe
and tassels. A soft glow of thousands Of
candles whose light struggles with that
OF the sinking sun, renders the atmosphere
within the hall warm and rich In tone
1t is needless to say that the hall was
packed, and the great human mass had
filed the ante-room and the Sala Regia.
and even then there was not place for ali
who presented themselves. It was report
ed that many tickets of admission had
been forged and sold at hotels at prices
varying from twenty shilllngs to fifty-
eight The pope was borne into the hall
In sedan chair crimson and gold In col
or, which was set down after the hall was
entered and a great curtain drawn over
the door to shut out the cold air. He came
forth from this and assembled a portan-
tina, or chair, which wM carried Nv
eight bearers in red damaNk suits.
He wore the usual white soutane and the
little white skull cap on his head His
shoulders were covered by a purple man
tellette, edged with fine white. fur-errnine
and lined with the same material. His
appearance was the signal for the out
bursts Of cheering. the waving Of hand
kerehiefs and other similar signs Of enthu-
s.astlc joy.
There were the usual Swiss Guards and
Noble Guards, In their bright array The
aaming-hued costumes OF the consisforiaI
advocates, the suits Of solemn black ~
the private chamberlains, the vermiIion-