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tione vel angústia, quamvis Rex sit vel Papa. (De Imit. Christi, I. 22.) The Pontifical dignity was then, it seems, supposed to be the complement and perfection of regal, and even imperial power."

The income of the Roman Court is not only reduced in its amount, but is very irregular and uncertain. Several years ago, when in full possession of its territory, both in Italy and in France, it was not calculated at more than six hundred thousand pounds. "Contrary to a very general opinion, I must here observe," says Mr. Eustace, "that this income arose principally from internal taxation, and that a very small part of it was derived from Catholic countries. The sums remitted by Catholic countries may be comprised under the two heads of annats and of dispensations: now, these two heads, when united, did not produce in France, the richest and most extensive of Catholic countries, previous to the Revolution, more than fifteen thousand pounds per annum. In Spain, the annats had been abolished, or rather bought off; and in Germany, if I mistake not, abolished. Dispensations, that is, licences to take orders, to hold livings, to contract marriages, and do various acts, in cases and circumstances contrary to the prescriptions of the common canon law, produced merely sufficient to pay the expenses of the courts through which they necessarily passed, and added little to the Papal revenue. As for the concourse of pilgrims, which was supposed to be so very productive a source of income, it brought nothing to Rome but the filth and beggary of Catholic Europe. The far greater part of these pilgrims were not only too poor to bring an accession of wealth to the city, but even to support themselves, and were generally fed in hospitals, expressly endowed for their reception. Into these hospitals, seven hundred or more have frequently been admitted at a time, and supplied, not only with

the necessaries, but even with the comforts of life." The revolutionary invasion of Italy, and the coonsequent dismemberment of part of the Roman territory, lessened the Papal income, not only by diminishing the number of persons who contributed to it, but by impoverishing all the inhabitants of the Roman State.

The propagation of Christianity being their first and most indispensable duty, the Popes have applied themselves to it with zeal and success, not only in the early ages, when their spiritual functions were their chief occupations, but even at a later period, when politics and ambition had engrossed no small portion of their attention. To support this grand and extensive plan of Christian conquest, there are several establishments at Rome, and one in particular, which from its object is called the Collegium de Propaganda Fide. This seminary is vast and noble, supplied with a magnificent library, and with a press, in which books are printed in every known language. The same treasury has to keep all the public edifices in repair, especially those immense palaces, which, though of little use as residences, are the receptacles of all the wonders of ancient and modern art; to protect the remains of Roman magnificence from further dilapidation; and, in fine, to continue the embellishment and amelioration of the Capital, and of its territory generally. When, to these burdens, we add the pensions which the Pope is accustomed to settle on Bishops, when unusually poor and distressed, and the numberless claims upon his charity from every part of the world, we shall not be surprised, either at the expenditure of an income not very considerable, or at the difficulties under which the Papal treasury has frequently labored.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE daily service of St. Peter's is performed in a large and noble chapel, that might, without impropriety, be dignified with the appellation of a church, by a choir consisting of an Arch-Priest, thirty-eight Prebendaries, fifty minor Canons or Chaplains, besides Clerks, Choristers, and Beadles. The grand altar under the dome is reserved for the use of the Pontiff, who, on such occasions, is always attended by the College of Cardinals, with their Chaplains, the Prelates attached to the Court, and the Papal choir, or musicians, who form what is called the Pontiff's Chapel, or capella papale. As there is no regular chancel in St. Peter's, a temporary one is fitted up for such occasions, behind the altar, of a semicircular form, covered with purple, and adorned with rich drapery. In the middle, raised on several steps, stands the Pontifical Chair. The seats of the Cardinals and Prelates form a curve on each side.

When the Pope celebrates divine service, as on Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, Whit Sunday, St. Peter, and St. Paul, &c., the great, or middle doors of the church, are thrown open at ten, and the procession, formed of all the persons mentioned above, preceded by a beadle, carrying the Papal Cross, and two others, bearing lighted torches, enters, and advances slowly, in two long lines, between two ranks of soldiers, up the This majestic procession is closed by the Pontiff himself, seated in a chair of state, supported by twenty valets, half concealed in the drapery that falls, in loose folds, from the throne; he is crowned with his tiara, and bestows his benediction on the crowds that kneel on all sides, as he is borne along. When arrived at the foot of the altar, he descends, resigns his

nave.

tiara, kneels, and, assuming the common mitre, seats himself in the Episcopal Chair, on the right side of the altar, and joins in the psalms and prayers that precede the solemn service. Towards the conclusion of these preparatory devotions, his immediate attendants form a circle around him, clothe him in his Pontifical robes, and place the tiara on his head: after which, accompanied by two Deacons and two Subdeacons, he advances to the foot of the altar, and bowing reverently, makes the usual confession. He then proceeds in great pomp through the chancel, and ascends the Pontifical throne, while the choir sing the Introitus, or psalm of entrance, the Kyrie Eleeson, (Lord, have mercy upon us,) and Gloria in excelsis, (Glory in the highest ;) when the Pontiff lays aside his tiara, and after having saluted the congregation in the usual form, the Lord be with you, reads the collect in an elevated tone of voice, with a degree of inflection just sufficient to distinguish it from an ordinary lecture. The epistle is then read, first in Latin, then in Greek; and after it some select verses from the psalms, intermingled with Alleluias, are sung to elevate the mind and prepare it for the gospel.

The Pontiff then rises, gives his benediction to the two Deacons that kneel at his feet with the book of the gospels, and resigning his tiara, stands while the gospel is sung in Latin and in Greek; after which he commences the Nicene creed, which is continued in music by the choir. When the creed and the psalm that follows it are over, he descends from his throne, and approaching the altar, with the same attendants and the same pomp as in the commencement of the service, he receives and offers up the usual oblations, fumes the altar with frankincense from a golden censer, and then washes his hands; a ceremony implying purity of mind and body. He then turns to the people, and in an humble and affectionate address,

begs their prayers; and shortly after commences that sublime form of adoration and praise, called "the preface," because it is an introduction to the most solemn part of the liturgy, and he chaunts it in a tone supposed to be borrowed from the ancient tragic declamation, and very noble and impressive. The last words, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of armies,” are uttered in a posture of profound adoration, and sung by the choir in notes of deep and solemn intonation. All music then ceases, all sounds are hushed, and an awful silence reigns around, while, in a low tone, the Pontiff recites that most ancient and venerable invocation which precedes, accompanies, and follows the consecration, and concludes with great propriety with the Lord's prayer, chaunted with a few emphatical inflections.

Shortly after the conclusion of this prayer, the Pontiff salutes the people in the ancient form, "May the peace of the Lord be always with you," and returns to his throne, while the choir sing thrice the devout address to the Saviour, taken from the gospel, "Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us." When he is seated, the two Deacons bring the holy Sacrament, which he first reveres humbly on his knees, and then receives in a sitting posture: the Deacons and Sub-deacons then receive the communion under both kinds, the anthem after communion is sung, a collect follows, and the Deacon dismisses the assembly.

The Pope then offers up his devotions on his knees at the foot of the altar, and borne along in the same state as when he entered, passes down the nave of the church, and ascends by the Scala Regia, to the grand gallery in the middle of the front of St. Peter's. His immediate attendants surround his person, the rest of the procession draws up on each side. The immense area and collonnade before the church, are lined with

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