Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-04-04
SIXTEENTH ANNIVERSARY
70 BE COMMEMORATIVE
on the Surface Celebration viii Con
tinue Over the Whole Year, Which
viii Begin Tomorrow With a Sol
emn Euchsristic Procession


pilgrims from all parts of the globe
are assembled in this city TO witness
the opening Of the series of celebra-
tons which the Vatican has arranged
10 commemorate the sixteenth centen-
NAL Of the proclamation of the edict
of Milan, known as tae Peace of Con
stantlne, which marked the Christian
ization Of the Roman government On
the surface this celebration. which
will extend over the whole year, is
supposed merely to be a fitting remem
brance Of the adoption by the Emper-
or Constantine, following his victory
over the pagean General, Maxentius.
just outside OF Rome. of Christianity
as the official religion of the State No
secret, however, is made of the fact
that back of the celebration are two
other motives In the first place this
commemoration is intended as a pro
iect OF the aVtican against the cele-
bration by Italy two years ago of the
fiftieth anniversary of its unihcation.
celebration which was highly often
sive to the aVtican. because ii com
memorated an event by which the
Vatican was deprived of its temporal
power.
TO celebrate the anniversary of the
unifeation Of Italy the government
had arranged exhibitions on magni,
ficent scale at Rome and at Turin, but
owing to the outbreak of the war with
Turkey, the prevalence of a cholera
epidemic and other unfortunate condi-
tions the celebration proved a failure
and attracted but few visitors to Italy.
One of the motives in arranging the
Constantine Year" celebration by the
Vatican was to prove to the world
how much greater is the temporal
power of the Vatican than that of the
Italian government. Judging from
the number of pilgrims already assem-
bled here ana the many thousands
who are either on their way to Rome
or who have made their plans to vi
sit the city al some time during the
celebration year, the Vatican bids fair
to make a goo dshowing. Although the
commemorative celebrations planned
will all be held in this city, some of
the principal anniversaries will be OBJ
served by Roman Catholic churches
throughout the world.
The illness of the Pope will prob
ably prevent him from taking part in
the services and ceremonies schedu-
led TO take place within the precincts
of the Vatican, but there will be
enough pomp and spectacular display
of a magnificent order TO satisfy even
the most exacting sightseeing visitors.
Should the condition of the pontiff inn
prove he may, by his presence, lend
greater importance to the religious
ceremonies in the Vatican to be held
in April The traditions of the
church will, of course, enclude the
Pope from all celebrations held out
side of the Vatican precincts.
The series of commemorative cecil
brations will begin tomorrow with a
solemn Mucharistic procession, pass
ing from the Catacombs of Saint Dom
itilla to those of Saint CalliXtus and
then 10 the church an dcatacombs of
Saint Sebastian where a re Deum will
be sung and the blessed sacrament ad-
ministered to the pilgrims.
From April to 10. inclusive, sol
emn Octave will be celebrated at the
Church of Saint John Lateran with
exposition of the "AcherOpita.' Dur
ing the Octave the mornings will be
set apart for the reception of pilgrims
of Young Mems Christian Associa-
tions, Arch Confraternities, Congrega-
tions and religious orders; with ser
mon every afternoon by bishop and
benediction by cardinal, eliminating
in a Pontificial high mass on April Is
celebrated by cardinal in the pres
ence of the Pontifcial court, the dip
lomatic corps accredited to the Holy
See and the high dignitaries of the
hurch in Rome.
On April 20 there will be a solemn
commemoration of Saint Peters on
the same scale of magnitlcence as the
Feast of the Prince of the Apostles,
with the exposition of the relics of the
Passion of the Saviour, which are
kept at Saint Peters.
On April 27 there will be a celebra-
ton and Pontificial mass at the Patri- 1
archal Basiica OF Saint Paul on the
Oetian Way May >, 3 and 4 there will
be Pontificial masses in the Church
of Saint Croce in Gerusalemme and on
the night of May an immense elec- |
trio cross will be inaugurated on Mon I
te Cavo. eighteen miles from Rome.
In May, June, August and December