Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-09
REVISION OF THE VUlGATE
LABOR OF FATHER GASQUET IN
COLLEGE AT ST. ANSELMO.
Story Of Aventine, Hill Of Rome,
Where Hercules Slew Cacus,
Vulcan's Son.

Salvatore Cortesi. In the Independent.
There are spots in the world whose his
tory is Accordingly interesting and seem
destined to perennial celebrity. Such Is
the Aventine, one Of the seven hills on
which Rome stands. 1t appeared for the
first time in legend over thirty centuries
ago. when Hercules came to Italy with
the oxen which he had taken from
Geryon. in Spain. and killed in a cave OF
the Aventine Cacus. son OF Vulcan. who
had stolen part of the cattle while the
hero was asleep. Hercules gave the name
of Aventinus to the son he had by the
priestess Rhea. and In honor Of the VIC
tory over .Cacus erected and dedicated on
the top of that mount the Ara Maxima.
which was In existence in Rome for ages
afterward.
Originally. according to Virgil, Mons
Aventinus took its name. alb avibus. from
the birds Of Ill omen which populated It.
and its reputation for bad luck continued.
and grew especially after 1t was chosen
as the burial place of Remus. who was
killed by his brother Romulus- 1t was
also a place of refuge for those perse-
cuted. for conspirators and for all in OPP
position to the powers of the moment. es-
pecially the ecclesiastical powers. From
being the hill of the plebe.an ii came to
be the scene of what constituted a re-
ligious epoch in Roman history. when the
orgies of the wild Bacchic worship took
place. in which 1000 men and women
Joined. At the Christian period the char
acter of the Aventine changed. ST. PAU
lived there as the guest OF host OF
Jews. who were later driven to the ghetto.
but succeeded. with the tenacity which is
SO conspicuous In their race. In recon
quering a portion Of the historical mount
and establishing their cemetery on the
eastern slope For the pagan temples OF
Juno. Diana. Hercules. Victory and Lab
erty the Christians substituted churches
which are now the oldest in Rome. and
there ST. Augustine and St Gregory the
Great and the terrible Hildebrand left
marks of their passage.
Middle-Age Wars.
In the middle ages the Adventine die
not escape the constant wars. when the
Saveli, Colonna and Orsini were fight
ing for the possession Of Rome. At that
time Sixtus " destroyed the Subliciar
bridge at the foot Of the mount which
besides being the lneal descendant Of the
bridge kept by Horatius. had a consider
able Importance because the popes owe
their designation Of pontin to II. AS they
were intrusted with its care and repara
tons. they came to be called pontifex.
followers tO'the Aventinue the night which
was the turning point of his life. anc
there Crescenzio-consul tribune anC
despot of Rome-is buried.
Nowadays the sacred hill has been en-
HANGED by the erection of the monastery
OF the Benedictines. the headquarters OF
this religious order. which. since 1t.
foundation by ST Benedict in the begin
ming of the sixth century. has played suci
prominent role m religion science, ar
and politics. The new building consid
cred one of the best of modern Rome
recalls the ancient abbeys of the middle
ages. and looks more like castle thar
monastery OF these Montecassino IL
the best example. and may say in pass
Ing mas as arch abbot an American
rather Bonitace Krug Of st. Vincent.
Arch Abbey. near Beatty Pa
The Black Monks" as the Benedic.
tlnes are called from the dark gown the,
wear. have as their supreme chief Father
Hildebrand de Hemptinne. appointed alb
bot primate by Leo XIII. who took the
order under his direct protection anC
built the great monastery of SAINT Ansel
mo. in which he instituted an interna
tional Benedictine College composed OF
students and professors from ali the ma
tons OF the world. Father de Hemptinn.
designed the monastery which was begun
i'm 1887. with $500. 900 given by the pope
and 100000 by the Benedictines in Ital,
and abroad II was inaugurated thre,
years before the death of Leo XIII. VIII,
was represented by Cardinal Rampolla