The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-04-02
Before the Temporal Power
Passed Away From Hands
of the Pontiffs.
Written by a Convert Who
Witnessed Celebration
Forty Years Ago.
In the Vast Assembly All
Nations and Chimes Were
Represented.

In letter to the n. Y. Freeman's
Journal, Mr.. w. F. Markoe of st. Paul
describes an Easter Sunday in Rome
before the temporal power of the
Popes passed away. He says,
1t is now forty years since the spec
tacular function known in Rome in the
days of the temporal power of the
Popes as the "Benediction of the City
and the World" was discontinued. L
had the pleasure of witnessing it for
day, 1869. - The impression it left on
my mind has never been effaced. More
than one hundred thousand strangers
had aocked to Rome that year, from
all parts of the civilized world, to wit
ness the magnificent ceremonies of
Holy Week. Eas.>r znorning dawned
bright and beautitas.' ,1s,e the sun, ac-
cording to ancient tradition seemed to
dance in the heavens.
At an early hour the streets were
filled with joyful multitude in holi-
"Buona Pascha," just as we would say
"a Happy New Year" in this country.
If in4ancient tinnes~s"all roads.-led ito
Rome" on this particular morning all
the streets seemed to lead to st. Pc
ter's. AS I moved along with the hui
man tide the crowds kept increasing;
detachments of infantry and cavalry
hastened by; magnificent equipages
mixed with the throng; and here and
there a Cardinals coach, with coal
black horses, scarlet trappings and liv-
cried coachman and footman, rolled
along on its way to the Vatican.
After crossing the historic bridge of
San Angelo, came in full view of the
great Basilica of ST. Peter's-Michael
Angeles masterpiece-its mighty dome
glittering in the sunlight, and it's long
marble colonnades encircling two sides
of the piazza; as if Mother Church
were stretching out her arms to draw
all men to hNr embrace, as the hen
gathers her chickens under her wings.
1 was fortunate in securing posi-
tion on top of the colonnade next to
the Vatican, from which could see and
hear everything. The sight that met
my eyes was a grand one. The Italian
troops and the French army of occu-
pation-numbering many thousands of
infantry and cavalry-had been drawn
up in long lines across the piazza; and
the immense space back of them was
filled with sea of expectant humanity
At length the services in the church
were concluded, and the picturesque
procession began to file out of the lofty
''loggia," under an immense canvas
that had been stretched to protect it
from the sun. Priests and monks,
triarchs, cardinals and chamberlains,
Swiss guards and noble guards, all in
their gorgeous robes and brilliant uni
forms, ranged themselves in order;
when, lastly, came the great Plus TX,
seated in his "sedia gestatoria," and
borne on the shoulders of twelve men
in scarlet uniforms. Two cardinals
advanced to the railing and read the
announcement of the benediction in
Latin and italian, then dropped the
papers from their hands. AS they slow
ly floated down like white-winged mes
sengers from heaven to earth, the
crowd made an effort to secure them.
One was torn into shreds by score
Of hands; long arm reached up from
the crowd and seized the other in an
iron grasp-a precious memento to be
preserved for lifetime.
Then the great Pontiff rose to his
feet, the picture Of majesty in his
flowing white robes. The effect on the
crowds below was magical. AS a corn
field is swayed by the wind, so the
vast concourse of human beings fell
upon their knees; while the Pope,
stretching out his arms towards hea-
ven. and turning to the north, the
south. the east and the west, sang the
benediction "Urbi ct Urbi" in that rich,