The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-06-18
IN ST. PErER's-PIUs K AS SAW HIM.

Half past eight, sharp, / viii meet you at the
end ST the colonnade in the Piazza of St. Peters"
The words came buzzing through the telephone
by means Of which | had, with much difficulty and
amid many Interruptions, been communicating
from my pension under the Pincian hill with my
Baeiictine friend in his closter on the Aventine.
IT was the last Ineligible phrase that reached me;
and ] was left wondering exactly where our rendez-
'ous was-sit which end of the colonnade, and, IN
deed which colonnade; for, as everyone knows,
there art two nclosing IN their mighty semicircles
of round pillars the great Piazza with its tall ODE
lisl and eapng fountainse. Whatever happened,
must not fail to meet my kind monk, armed with
1he litle yellow ticket which to admit me,
pilgrim from far lands, to privileged place in the
Baoica for the great festival place under the
very shadow Of the baldachin, the central point of
the august function of the morrow
IT only few minutes past eight next morn
ing whcn resolved TO be in time, | stationed my
self at the end of the north colonnade nearest TO
the bronze door Of the Natican-thc keliest place,
! thought. Hue enim asccndcrunt tribus, tribus
Doniu. Cardinals and contadiHi. prelates and pill
2lms, men and women of all races and all ages,
We're arriving in scores and hundreds-afoot, in
carriages, in cabs; advancing in orderly crowds
through the Porta di Bronze, where the black and
tciloW Swiss guard scrutnized each conner, and
pouring up the great stairs 10 the side doors OF the
basilica. Black-cowled monks, too. there were III
plenty each and all furnished with their GTegorian
] cannot cross Wonder threshold! 1t Is after half
past eight, and the throng grows visibly thinner,
huf he comes not. All, here he is A hurried greet
1ue-"lt was the other end of the colonnade that
] was waiting, No matter'-we too pass up the
stairs then a few steps along corridor, through
great double door, and we are IN St. Peters.
1t Is like getting into the open air again, vast
Is the space and SO distant seem the towering walls
hung with their festal damask of crimson and gold
Everywhere a surging sea of faces from end to
end and from side to side But in the middle of
the nave broad passage is kept clear by the Pala
tine guard. in their sombre telling uniform OF black
and white. Our yellow tickets pas us through into
Ibis clear road. and so we unimpeded, right
up 10 the confession. with It's cluster of golden
lamps burning over the tomb Of the apostles and
into the right-hand transept, where are mustered
the great array Of singers, monastlc and secular
vino are TO render today the churchs own especial
music. her traditional Plain Song, IN the most go-
gioUs temple Of Christendom.
There Is d pause now. while monslgnorl pass to
and fro. canons in violet and spotless lambs wool
1ppets and chamberlans of honor i'll their dress Of
ceremony-back doublet and cloak sword and
cambria But soon there IS STIR at the lar end
OF the great Basilica; the opening chords OF the
Pope's March, played by the Pope's own trumpet
prs. break upon the silence and one sees III the
distance the beginning OF the long procession.
Stately and slow it advances up the wide nave
prcbendares and canons preates and abbots, Dish
oops. archbishops and cardinals, all IN order due
Some fifteen sixteen mitred eminences there are,
conspicuous among them Rampola, with his strong
cear-cut features; and Merry del Val the young
secretary Of state, tall, dark and handsome, with
an expression of countenance singularly winning
and attractive
Immediately preceding the Pontif walk the
members of his noble guard, in their rich uniforms,
good-oobing, well-set-up men all; then the heads
Of the Orsini and Coonna princes assisting at the
pontiical throne Now we catch sight of the tall
fabeli, the ostrich feather fans waving on either