The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-17

cheerful holiday crowd, moved by curiosity.
instead OF what might have been expected
serious congregation of faithful worship
ers quletly awaiting a solemn service
After aWhIe time began to drag. IT was
long past the hour announced for the papal
mass. There had been several false alarms.
with EXPLANATIONS of "Eccolai Eccola" and
much cranng Of necks tip-toeing and even
angry pushing, and then lapse into COM
paratiVe quiet
At one time considerable hilarity was
caused by the apparition of seven pigtailed
were said by my neighbor a priest, to be-
long to the mission of the Salesians of
Turin. To me they seemed to be in full the
atr1cals. And the other spectators thought
so too
At length the first installment of pilgrims,
proudly bearing their gaudy banners, made
its appearance in the nave. After solemnly
marching toward the altar they quietly
grouped themselves in the special spaces al
more banners, until the 1900 newcomers
needed the assistance of the Pope's soldiery
to crowd back the public upon itself.
1t was almost 10 o'clock when at length
the Papal cortege began to move out from
the Cappella della Pieta in its slow and
measured march toward the high altar of
the Confession. Anything more splendidly
theatrical in effect than this procession 1t
would be difficult to imagine. And, indeed,
the deyout WorShiperS seemed for the
ment to have become transformed into an
opera audience when some idolized prima
donna makes her last appearance before the
footlights A perfect storm of applause
broke loose. Cheer after cheer rent the
cathedral air.
Eccola! Eccola! II Papa! II santo Pa
DIRE! Viva Leone! Viva il Padre die Cat
talici!
A SIGHT OF THE POPE.
The clapping Of hands, a frantic waving of
handkerchiefs, shouts and acclamations a
veritable frenzy of unbridled alteration,
greeted the Pope as he was borne forward,
seated aloft on his gold and scarlet chair.
On his head shone the silvery mtre worn
NV,1vy tot IOlr
seemed almost ready to be crushed under
the heavy splendor of his vestments. His
head was but slightly inclined to right and
left in salutation. His hand was tremuous
as he raised it in blessing all those faithful
worshipers. Preceded by the dean of the
Vatican chapter, bearing the Papal cross,
the cardinals clad in richest raiment, prel-
ates, patriarchs, archbshops, bishops, chap
lains DEANS prothonotaries, he was per-
sonally surrounded by all the superb and
white feathered fans (the fabelli, OF ORR
entail origin, that once were wont to wave
in pagan Romeo were held aloft on either
side of the Papal throne, and he was fur
Their escorted by the foreign ambassadors to
the Holy See in gala attire, by knights of
the Cape and Sword in rich renaissance
costumes of black velvet. with white rufus
around their neckS and heavy gold chains
festooning their chests, and other officers
and dgnitaries but one and all reSplendent
in gorgeous robes or snowy uniforms.
Slowly alighting from his throne, the
sedia geStatoria, the venerable pontiff
stands for a moment. Then with but a
slight stoop he ascends the few steps lead
ing to the high altar OF the confession.
where none but PoDes, may celebrate a
mass. His voice is but family audible,
drowned in the involuntary sounds of the
vast audience, even now not fully at rest.
/ can see his thin lips move and catch the
glitter OF a pair of dark, piercing eyes, as
In nomine PATHS, ct Fill ct spiritus
Sanct1. Amen
I'm troibo ad atari Del.
'Judica me, Deus, ct discerne causam
mean, de genie non sancta."
The liturgy proceeds. The Pope's every
movement is slow and measured. He is as
sisted by five prelates of high degree. Two
the monsignor eleemosyner-seem to sup
port his arm whenever he raises 1t. They
spare him every atom of strength. to insure
tho completion of his functions as cele-
brant.
FASCINATION ABOUT LEO XIII.
There is a fascination about Leo XIII
now. The waXen pallor of his countenance
seems of one mold with the Wilderness Of
his sacred vestments. His features appear
as if lit up with the fervid glow of spir-
ituaity starting from his very soul. But
not the faintest flush of color ever nantes
that Darchment-like face. There is no
quaver in his voice. The gaping multitude
hangs breathless, as if awe struck, OH his
every word and gesture. When the ven
cradle patriarch bows his head there seems
to emanate from the altar a weif7 force,
almost despotic in its suggestiveness to bow
likewise.
Shortly before the elevation of the host Il
priest nudges me, and with a rapt look up
ward murmurs See the cloud lowering
the altar. a / alo is descending for the
vicar of Christ
L look. 1t is only the sunlight now flood
ing the cathedral and making visible the
dust notes suspended in its motionlesS at
mosphere.
The air has grown heavy with the emana-
1Cfy 4If,tre
faint odor Of incense is warted over toward
me. The senses seem numbed as by some
slckly spell. Nearby a woman has sWooned.
1t causes no commotion. A hush Of expec-
fancy is upon ali.
Suddenly from OH high, as though sent
down from heaven itself the silver clarions
sound clear high note. A nervous thrill
runs through the assemblage The troops
kneel and those who can in the crowd do
its soft chant with the blast of the trum-
pets. At this supreme moment every sense
is held spellbound by the most profoundly
impressive ceremony yet devised in Chris
tendon. And there before us stands the
sovereign .pontiff himself tremulous with
emotion. The apotheosis of q human being
seems for the moment no chimera Vague
fancies fit dreamlike through the mind.
There is a contagion Of mystic turmoil in
the very air. Wave after wave of exotic
feeling tingles through the wrought-up
body The nervous strain becomes almost
Rut presently the cite missa est" in
forms us that mass has been said. The
choir sings "Oremus pro Pontfice," Leo
XIII is assisted down from the altar and,
facing the people, joins in the '"re Deum''
intoned by the full choir of the famous Sis
tine Chapel. And presently the entire as
semblage. joins in the hymn. a mighty
chorus of 10000 voices. The effect is indie
scribable. The tide of sound sweeps on and
on through nave and aisle and transept. 1t
floods with its noble cadence the solemn
cathedral spaces, where majestic tombs
m ark the last long sleep of departed pom
tiffs; it rises up into the shining glded
dome and is lost finally in the blue vault of
the heavens above.
And now the TIE Deum" is ended. An al
most painful hush has fallen upon the
masses.
The Pope has exchanged chasuble for
cape, and the heavily-bejewelled papal tiara
is placed upon his head. Thus crowned, he
once more ascends his throne and pro-
nounces the benediction Then the cortege
forms again, and once more amid wild
cheers he IS borne down the nave and into
the chapel leading to the Vatican.
A wild rush for the exits followed the dis
appearance of the Pope. Bad language and
even blows Immediately succeeded the i'm
preSSiVe scenes lust enacted, Oh these VO-