A VISIT TO LEO XIII.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 431, 15 July 1881, Page 20

A VISIT TO LEO XIII.

(Correspondence of the CatlwUc Telegraph.') Rome was the culminating point in a series of pilgrimages we began some months ago, in the heart o£ sunny France, continued in the Pyrenees, and prolonged among the Apennines. Having reached the goal of our desires, the Eternal City, we immediately called on Monsignor Hostlot, Rector of the American College in Rome, to whom we had letters. A note from our kind and courieous compatriot gave us the entree of the Vatican, our next visit being to Monsignor Macchi, Maestro di Camero or Chamberlain to Hie Holiness. This distinguished prelate receives every afternoon at four o'clock, in his sumptuous apartments in the Vatican, and through him alone can an audience with the Holy Father, Leo XIII., be obtained. Audiences are not so frequent now as during the life of the illustrious and venerable Pius IX., and fortunate are they who are able to obtain an early admission to the presence of their beloved Father, the Vicar of Christ on earth. We began to feel we were doomed to delay, when, the second evening after our visit to the Vatican, our permission arrived at 10 pm , for the audience to be held two days later. The dress prescribed for an audience of the Holy Father is a black dress coat and white cravat for gentlemen, and for ladies, black dress, with a black veil over the head. One-horse carriages drive as far as the steps of the Vatican, under the portico leading to St. Peter's Church, hose with two horses drive around to an entrance on a large court, called the Court of St. Damascus. The great day for us has arrived, the audience is named for 12 o'clock noon. We are at the Vatican a little before that time, pass the two Swiss guards, on duty at the entrance door, on the Ceurt of St. Damascus, enter a hall and ascend the most supberbly beautiful steps of polished white marble we have ever seen. On the last landing are two more of the Swiss Guard, in their fanciful garb of red, yellow and black stripes. We pass from this hall into a large room, and again into another room, before we are seated. Circulating in the two last rooms are the ushers of the Papal household — large, fine-looking men, in magnificent costumes, composed of crimson coloured silk stockings, crimson satin breechep, with vest and doublet, also of crimson satin damask. Another individual, slender as those officials are stout, presides in black cloth short clothes, black silk stockings, pumps and white cravat. Several Monsiguors, in purple gowns, also pass through the apartments from time to time. Whilst waiting the entrance of the august personage, to whom we shall soon be presented, the Master of Ceremonies, il Marchese Testaferrata, in citizen's dress, and wearing three gold collais of vaiious Orders around his neck, collects the permission each one has in his hands. These papers bearing the name, quality and residence of the person to be represented, are carried to the Maestro di Camera, Monsignor Macchi, who accompanies the Pope, when His Holiness makes the circuit of the rooms, announcing the names aloud. Let us describe the the apartment in which we are seated, for we have left the " marble halls,' and we are now in a carpeted salon, with a large fire-place ; on the walls hang richly-framed paintings by celebrated masters ; on two sides of the room, between the high, wide windows are elegant pier tables ; on one is a handsome French

clock, on the other a pair of elaborately decorated Chinese vases ; chairs are ranged against thy walls, and about thirty -five persons are present, gentlemen in black dress suits, some wearing decorations on their breasts, ladies in black dresses and black lace veils ; gloves are never worn in the presence of the Pope. Around the door leading from the Papal apartments, is a group of armed soldiers. One moment more of suspense, and our dearest wish on earth will be gratified. Leo XIII. quietly enters the room, accompanied by the Maestro di Camera, another Monsignore, and the Master of Ceremonies. All knees are bent, all heads are bowed ; the soldiers guarding the door also kneel, ground their arms and touch their caps, until His Holiness has passed them. All present rise again, and remain standing, while the Maestro di Camera, slightly in advance, but facing His Holiness, reads aloud, from the papers in his hands, the names of the persons presented, to whom the Holy Father, in his sweetly paternal manner, addresses a few words. Leo XIII.'s portraits do not convey a just idea of his presence. He is tall, almost emaciated, with a pale, sad face, bearing traces of suffering, and his whole appearance bespeaks sanctity. His movements are rapid but gentle. One this occasion he wears a white robe, scarlet cloth cloak, white silk skull cap. and white silk mittens. A lady of our party is from Baltimore, and' at the mention of that city, the Holy Father's eyes brightened, and he enquired particularly about the Archbishop, saying, " Tell Monsignor Gibbon I have remembered him, and send him my special blessing." We feel a thrill of joy as our turn approaches, but ths mild, sanctified face of Leo XIII. reassures v«. All the difficulties of our undertaking, the thousands of miles we have traversed, the perils of the ocean, fatigue, all vanish, as we remain prostrate at the feet of the Sovereign Pontiff receiving his blessing. On learning we belong to the oldest Catholic family of our city, established in America before the Missions, His Holiness renews his blessing in a special manner, holding his arm a long time in benediction on our shoulders. We feel it is a grand tribute to the steadfast principle of our ancestors, who had unfalteringly transmitted the faith to their descendants. May this precious benediction never depart from us, or be in any way diminished by the slightest act of infidelity on our part. Do the favours end here ? No, for one of the Monslgnorg in attendance has requested us to remain after the audience is over. We do so and are soon alone in the vast salon with a solitary Swiss guard, musket in hand, pacing in front of the door. We are soon joined by the Monsignore, and to our great surprise receive permission to be present at the Mass and to receive Holy Communion at the hands of His Holiness in his private chapel. The favour is greater, as the occasion is the third anniversary of the election of His Holiness to the Pontifical Throne. Only twenty persons are admitted, who remain to hear the Pope's Mass of Thanksgiving, celebrated immediately after his own by one of the domestic Prelates. When it is over, each one in turn approaches the Holy Father, receives his blessing, then bends to kiss the eros« on his embroidered slipper. With this last great favour, and the holy words still sounding in our ears, we bid farewell to the Vatican, the eye, the heart, and the soul all satisfied. On the morrow we resume our wandeiings ; but wherever Providence may in future guide us, we shall ever have a lingering tendrcsse for the Eternal City. M. A. G. Borne, March, 1881.