Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-03-29
HOLY WEEK IN ROME.

lue Duruluul anu DlltslS WulhtU Ill Il
procession to the adjoining Baptlstely,
where the Holy Font of Constantine
is kept, which was filled with water
on this day. Several vessels of water
were taken from the font, to be used
in sprinkling other places; then the
Cardinal dipped his hands, aud the
priests were sprinkled. Oil was poured
on the water in the form of the cross,
and the procession Joined in o
monotonous chant, marching back
through tie centra, doors of the church
up to the high altar. The curtains of
section. far above, were next
drawn back, and the heads of st Peter
and ST. Paul exposed at sight of which
the whole believing multitude fell on
their knees. Only a few moments
could we gaze on the spectacle, and
the sacred relics were covered from
view for another year. As the priests
returned to their places in the choir,
all in white dropped on their faces at
full length, remaining in that position
for some time. These were the priests
ordained on that day. Weary of the
round of services, / sought out a cab
to take me to the spots most closely
connected with the traditions of Peter
and Paul.
The familiar story of Peters vision
of Christ, on the Appian Way, as the
disciple was fleeing from persecution.
has left its relic in the form of the
stone, with the imprint of the feet of
the Savior, and inspired the erection
Of the church of Domino Quo Vadis,"
near the spot where the meeting took
place, which led to Peters return and
the martyrdom he suffered later. Oyer
in Trastevere, literally "across the
i.,
Pietro IN Montorio, near which is the
circular spot, marking the traditional
spot where Peter was crucitied, head
downwards. Down in a lower chapel
light is kept constantly burning,
where the cross was placed in the
yellow sand ON this hillside, giving
the place its name of the Mount Of
Gold" In lonely spot of the Cam
pagna, monk will offer you a cup
of water from the springs, which, he
N'o Sou' hhN' lh'll oTlSln III lnc
beheading of Paul. They call the
place the Three Fountains" and say
that when the head of the saint was
severed from the body, it leaped
three times, and at each point where
hn OF, ~
gushcd up, over which the three
churches were erected. They show
you, also, the column on, which the
saints head rested when il was
struck.
However doubtful it may be that
Peter or Paul were ever incarcerated
in the Mamertine prison, the dark
dungeon near the site of the Forum
of Julius Caesar still allures you, and,
cropping carefully along, behind the
'buhi'N VI lnt IlIlbSl,
made my way down the modern stair
way 0he old one leading to the cap,
! itol having long since been walled upl
| TO the first room, converted into Il
little chapel, where he showed me the
heads Of the Saints in terra Gotta and
the spot on the wall where Peters
head rested,
Descending still lower into vet
more inky darkness, you find the
spring, from which st. Peter baptized
his fellow-prisoners, and the pillar to
which the Saiuts We're bound. But
| the sight of so much that was harrow
ing and awful made the joyful Easter
day the more welcome, and nine
o'clock found me in line with all the
long procession of carriages, making
its way slowly across the Ponte st.
Angelo, which spans the sluggish
Tiber, and up to the Piazza San Pie.
tro. For the first time l listened to
the mass from the High Altar, Just