Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-30

as a guarantee of responsibility and re-
sponsibility. because IL is not prudent 10
admit strangers TO a place where an am
archist might deposit a bomb that would
destroy the greatest temple OF worship
ever erected. The Church of Rome has
more bitter enemies among the apar-
cnists. socialists and iniidels of that city
IMAM anywhere else in the world. Not
one OF them is a Protestant or a Jew.
ihey are all apostates. insane with fanat-
icism and take an active part in the poll
ties OF the Holy City. The mayor OF Rome
is Jew. but he is gentleman of most
Tolerant disposition. and the members Of
ms race. like the Protestants of that city.
always show the greatest respect 10 the
Catholic clergy. Ii is the apostates and
the men of no religion who are to b,
feared and against whom the church re-
quires continuous protection.
My application for a permit to visit the
crypt read as follows:
Padre Beatissimo: William r Curtis
oil Washington. United States iii America
inumilmente PROSTATE al bracio del sacro
pieda dimanda lagraza dipotor yisitan IL
crypta della Basilica di >. Pietro unita-
mente quattro persone.
Translated literally this reads: William
r. Curtis. etc. with humility prosrates
himself at the sacred feet and beseeches
the favor of q permit to visit the crypt Of
the Cathedral OF 81. Peter, accompanied
by four persons.
This application was Endorsed by Car
dinal Rampolla and Cardinal Satolli and
forwarded to Monsignor Bisleti master or
ceremonies. who sent me four tickets.
which were delivered To the custodian at
the entrance of the crypt. and we were
allowed TO descend the stairs. The crypt
is now illumined with electric lights.
which seem very inappropriate. but are
a great convenience. because formerly
,..it
around with them, and even then could
see very little.
The crypt is divided into two portions.
occupying the entire area beneath the
dome of St Peters and inclosing the sa-
cred plot of ground upon which st. Peter
is supposed to have suffered martyrdom.
Most Conspicuous Tomb Empty.
The most conspicuous tomb in the crypt
is empty. 1t was formerly occupied by
the body of Pope Alexander vi. which
was removed as unfit to lie I'm that sacred
place by one OF his successors, julius IL.
Alexander VI was a Spaniard. and when
the body was taken from ST. Peters it
was placed in the tomb of his uncle. Pope
Calixtus III. in an insignificant little
chapel belonging to the Spanish Jesuits
called Santa Maria di Monserrato.
The tomb of Urban vi is also empty.
1t is a magnificent piece of marble. and
bears his statue of heroic size. Tho
curious epitaph in Latin is perfectly pre-
served, and may be translated as follows:
Just. Wise and Noble Prince.
URBAN VI. p NJ,
A Native of Naples.
Full Of zeal he gave a safe refuge to
the teachers OF the faith that gained him
fatal poison cup at the close of the
repast."
Nnhndv - .l,a~
the remains of Urban VI were removed
from this magnificent sarcophagus. which
has been standing here since his death in
1887. There is a tradition that the ex-
quisite piece Of marble was for many
years used as a mortar box by masons
who were employed in making repairs.
Several women are buried in the crypt
among the popes. One of them is Char
lotte. Queen of Cyprus. who died in 1887:
another Is Christina of Sweden daughter
of Gustavus Adplphus. the great Swedish
defender of Professionalism. who was con-
verted In 1885 to the religious doctrines OF
her fathers enemies and was crowned
with honors by them. third is Maria,
wife OF the Emperor Honorius. Countess
Matilda. who founded the temporal power
of the popes and died in Ills. has a mag
nifcent tomb.
The Only English Pope.
A tomb of peculiar interest is that OF
reached the papal throne. He was Mich
olas Breakspeare u154-59), who began life
as beggar boy obtained employment in
an English monastery, was educated by
the monks, became one of the foremost
leaders of his time and crowned Freder-
lex Barbarossa Emperor of Germany
Nicholas Q447-550 was one of the
most glorious of popes. He founded the
Vatican library and gathered around him
the ablest thinkers. the most famous
poets and the greatest musicians and art.
lists OF his age. His epitaph begins:
The bones of Nicholas rest I'm this grave
" ro gave to thee. Rome. thy golden age.
Famous in counsel. more famous i'm virtue
he honored wise men. himself the wisest Of all.
10 Roman Catholics the shrine of SIS.
Peter and Paul near the center of the
crypt is. next to Calvary and Bethlehem,
the most sacred spot in the universe. be-
cause II contains a sarcophagus in which
the body of St. Peter is believed to have
lain. In teh words of ST. Ambrose. Where
Peter is. there is the church. and where
the church is there is no death, hut life
eternal. This sarcophagus Is said to
have been discovered in the spring of
1'9f while the floor was being leveled
and was identified by the presence of q
cross OF pure gold weighing 150 pounds.
which. according to tradition. Const ntine.
the emperor. and Helena. the empress.
placed upon the lid of the coffin of the
Fisherman when they Visited Rome in