Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-03-13

until the cardinal takes the relics
back to the chapel where they are
kept The prelates and priests wear
their richest vestments and carry ban
ners embroidered In beautiful designs.
The regular choir is REINFORCED by
an orchestra and the music is very
fne.
But 10 me much more interest
ing and impressive ceremony took
place at the famous Church Of Ara
Coeli which stsnds upon Capitoffne
I'M and occupies the site Of an altar
erected by the Emperor Augustus to
commemorate the prophecy OF the
Delphie oracle concerning the coming
Of the Savior. Before that time, In
the gray dawn OF Roman history.
Romulus built temple here in hon
or Of Jupiter and his thunderboits
At this temple the spoils OF war were
divided Here the triumphai process
sious Of the emperorn and the gensr-
ais ended and the great Caesar. when
he returned from his victorious cam
pnign In Ganl. climbed the long stair
way that leads 10 hra.Coeli on his
knees Halfway down the stairs IL a
statue OF Ricnzi. the last OF the tri-
bunos. marking the spot where he
died
The quaint old temple which stands
upon this historic spot WAS erected In
honor Of 81 Helena. mother OF the
Emperor Constantine. and formerly
belonged to the Bcnedictipe order. but
was transferred to the barcfooted
gray friarH by Pope Innocent ~. In
Il 252 and they look after the parish
mili
II Is dlstinetiyely the church OF the
children. for here reposes the San
tiEsimo fiamhino tthe most sacred
baby which ls said to perform mir
acica. Like many other OF the
churches Of Rome. including st.
Peters, the material OF which II Ia
built was taken from the palaces and
temples OF the imperial era. and the
twenty-five ancient columns OF Egypt.
ian granite which support the roof
formerly performed similar duty In
| the palace OF the Caesars. The
church In not beautiful. but eminent
| Is picturesque. with an appearance OF
| faded splendor. n rich golden ceiling
that shows KreAt age. n mosaic moor.
with hrrc aud there the tombstone or
some valiant knight. whose cfhgy has
become partially eraccd by the tread
of millions of worshiperr. for the place
| rs always thfanged with the praying
poor Old women. haggnrd and
| wrinllcd iotter along, begging and
praying at the same time. the weak
md innrm inc,rnblcs bring votiye Of
| fcfings to 10 the image that Is sup
| posed 10 perform miracles upon those
who have faith on the wall OF one
Of the ohapels are many curious paint.
inga by amateurs illustrating acct
dents from which people have been
| miracuionBly preserved from death
| by the intcrccssion of the little doll.
about eighteen inches high. an cfnEy
OF the child Christ which occupies the
place OF honor II looks as II II were
| made OF wax The face " pink and
rosy, the eyes are china blue. the lips
are crimson but that Ia nil you can see
OF n for II is wrapped like mum
my and its covering literally In
crus,od with Jewels valued at mil.
lions Of dollars, the gifs OF grateful
dovotes The crown alone carries
precious stones valued nt more than
half million, and some OF them have
been presented by the most promt-
neni people OF Rome This little
doll IN very rich In money as well Al
icwrls It's funds being Invested in
safe securities and the interest ap
piled 10 the relief OF poor children,
II has servants OF it's own, a carriage
aud pair OF horses In which II is
sometimes carried to different parts
Of the city TO Wait sick children. II
is the oldest medical practitioner In
Rome
The ceremony performed here on
Chrlermas day takes you back into
the middle ages. and the church his
tories Eay that II originated with the
good 81 Frsncie who, when the eve OF
the nativity approached. arranged n
rude representation Of a stable IN one
corner Of n church In the village OF
Grecia no, far from Assist. where he
WAS 10 remain during the holiday
week II wns great success. and
since then the monks OF the order he
founded have repeated the exhibition
annually on Christmas day In one OF
the chepels Of the Ara-Coeli erecting
rude initiation OF n grotto In which
the Virgin sits with st Joseph At
her side and the miraculous Bsmbino
In her lap Behind her are an OF and
an ass and before her shepherds and
kings are kneellnE in alteration, while
above her God tho Father is repre-
scpted with outstretched wings. sur
rounded by cherubim and serHphim.
II It were less rude the representation
would be ridiculous. but its simplicity
makes II sncred They are. how
ever some inconRruites that provoke
smile For example. the mother OF
Jesus wears diamond earrings which
must he worth st least 81 ,o0o each.
They were the hft OF one OF the rich
est families In Rome when their baby
whs preserved from death by the pres
enoe OF the Bambino. which wns
brought from Arn.Cooli TO its he'd.