The Washington times., 1922-07-23
The Great
Eucharistic
Congress for
the elaboration
of the Blessed
Sacrament
Meets in the
4 Ancient
Coliseum
Where the
Roman
Errapero.rs
Tortured
the Poor
Christians

HE great international Eucharistic Congress that recently
in Rome held its chief celebration in the ancient
- Coliseum of the Eternal City,
This perhaps the most wonderful setting OF historic
contrasts ever SEEM remarkable triumph Of Chris
tianity witnessed
In the great arena where the al-powerfu Roman En-
perors once threw Of Christians to the wild
symbol the formerly depsed religion was wor
shipped by of happy Christians from all OF the
civilized world. +
Did the spirits of the Emperor Nero, of Docean Of
the other great look down
upon the scene? What did they think OF II! FROM WHAT
locality did they view it?
great of the Congress consisted OF the ceeora
ton in the Coliseum by the Archbishop OF Trieste
been the largest religious ceremony held IN
Rome since 1870 During of the High Mass
Coliseum the Archbishop gave the Holy Communion TO
children in the of about Soooo people
There a magnificent procession to the Coliseum
twelve cardinals and two hundred bishops took part
These high eecleass full robes took turns carrying the
Sacrament, while picked force OF Italian troops
escorted them
II need hardly be explained Eucharstic Congress
is held for the alteration Blessed Sacrament and to
publicly proclaim faith Of those who believe in revealed
and religion In it an assertion OF the
simple held in the early days Of the Church.
when Christians despised and prosecuted by the
rulers of the earth.
The Coliseum one of the most wonderful buildings in
existence was built in 72 A. by Emperor Vespasian
was intended primarily for gadaoral contests and wild beast
fights various times the display consisted OF the
slaughter Christians They massacred here by the
thousands-orn limb by the lions, tigers, hyenas,
wolves and wild beasts burnt alive torches of flesh
and killed every that human cruelty could suggest
For four hundred years the Coliseum the chief seat
~ booshed plendor in which the Roman
rulers populace delighted 1t succeeded to the position
once held by famous Circus Maximus which was the
faorite place for gadatora contests under the earlier
Caesars.
The extreme length width Of the Coliseum, including
th seats GIT feet. The 2S2 by
TT feet its best days must have held about
200 900 people-the population of a city.
II was very sodly built Of brick and concrete faced with
marble In the subsructures there is an enormous system OF
dens for wild and prisoners secret chambers and
labyrinhs Although the building of enormous size as it
stands to-day than twohird Of were carried away
nc building material in the middle ages.
Il would impossible to find more thrilling account Of
the Christians such occurred in this arena,
than that by the great senkewicz author of
ouo yads" this wonderful of the
The representations changed rapidly The torture of the
adens who were mrs. Sa1ed s Dy I %e
and Ceres the Danades Drce and PaPhae finally they
S he proud happy looked through his polished emerald
e. the Tn bs sxOs oG%s victims given also
ing the history Of the Roman people .,.vo. hi. .od
iron tripod Allied with burning Goals The smell ELL Of burning
flesh flied the amphheare but the marty IKE genuine
o Heaven and with bsekened lips prayer
. midday % Desy w sS % Sesa
and Augusans left the amphitheatre and went into large
cent prandym served The crowd followed his example
and picturesque groups around the tent to rest their
ssssr Eesy s"1 Command by his slaves Only curious
e the and g s hanS sI of sand xed
they finally leaving only those who remained out OF
servants meanwhile arena began
dig from % one wall f Of the ann amp9heaFe b at to the
OoSium From without handcappng conversations and
calls and within tortures were being prepared with
At the doors appeared of Christians naked Bearing