Roman Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 10, 4 July 1890, Page 3

Roman No tes.

The Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel has been this year again celebrated with great solemnity at her shrine of Genazzano, an ancii-nt town in the hills some thirty miles from Rome. Ihrongs of pilgiims from a radius of fifty miles around were present, and the devotion shown was worthy of the most palmy days of Catholic fervour. On the occasion in question the great object among the priests, large numbers of whom also come to the festival, is to obtain an oppor unity of saying Mass at the altar of the Blessed Virgin. This, however, is not easy of attainment, so many competitors enter into the pious competition, Among the more distinguished ecclesiastics ihis year who enjoyed the privilege were the Archbishop of New York and the Bishop of Cheyenne. As to the general effects produced by the pilgrimage the testimony of a nonCatholic writer, namely Ferdinand Gregorovius, the historian of mediaeval Rome, may be taken as an example of what they are, " The bands of pilgrims," he writes, " begin to arrive on the vigil of the feast, and then the place and the whole of the vicinity become animated, and the chant of the litanies resounds continuously in the air. All the streets are filled with groups of pilgrims, who approach in good order. They come from the Abruzzi, from the region of the Ciociari, or sandal-land, from the banks of the Liris, and principally from all the towns of the Latin Campagna. . . . They come down from the hills, chanting their ' Ora pro nobis,' and to hear them and to see them in that magnificent country, along the wide path by the river, in red or green, or blue-coloured costumes, with their long pilgrim's staff ia hand, they really form a spectacle worthy of the attention of the artist, of the poet, and of the historian." — Gregorovius, whose sympathies are not Catholic, has nothing to say as to the religious results, but they are quite in proportion to the evident ardour of the pilgrims.

Preparations had been made by the authorities in view of the workingmen's demonstrations expected to take place on May 1. Rome was strengthened by additional forces of police and soldiers, and orders were issued that rioters should be summarily dealt with. Nothing very formidable, however, occurred, two or three bodies only of the dreaded foe putting in an appearance in the streets, and being at once dispersed. Something of the same kind was the case generally throughout the country. The preparations made, nevertheless, show the confidence placed by the Government in the people and the contentment they believe to exist among them.

A dispute is now taking place between the municipality of a town named Sarzana, near Genoa, and that of this city, respecting the possession of some parchments containing portions of Dante's great poem which have recently been discovered in the archives of the town first named, and which are said to belong to the very earliest copies of the poem. The Minister of Public Instruction has ordered the parchments to be placed in the University Library at Genoa, but Sarzana disputes the order, and shows a determination to retain the treasure,

Propaganda at present feels the pinch of the timca and the consequences of recent penal legislation — finding it difficult to provide for a call made upon it by Japan for missionaries. There is every reason to believe toat the complete conversion of tbat country to tne Catholic Church is highly probable, if only missions in sufficient strength could bo established there. For this, however, larger means are required than Propaganda can command, and the only hope lies in the charity of the Catholic world. The magnificence of the object to be attained should add to the zeal with which Catholics contribute towards its realisation.

Another slap in the face has busn given to the monarchy in the shape of a demonstration made the other day in placing in the capitol a bust of the late Aureho iSaffi.who had been one or. the triumvirate that presided over the Roman Republic. The turn-out was Red Republican and Garibaldian to a degree, and an opportunity was Uiken in passing the Austrian Emb<ssy to insult that power — a member of the Triple Alliance. United Italy, however, winch barely tolerates the King, puts up with hia allies only because she cannot kelp it. Such is the loyalty for which King Humbert is willing to sacrifice hia allegiance to the Church. But a compromise of conscience, even in this world, not unfrequently meet* its punishment — at least partially.

On Thursday morning, May 8, a large body of German pilgrims was received at the Vatican by the Holy Father. The pilgrims displayed the utmost enthusiasm and cheered the Pope on his appearance to the echo. His Holiness made a short address in which he especially referred to the better aspect of thing* in Germany. He based his hope, he said for the entire freedom of the German Church on the elevation of mind and just sentiments of the Emperor, the steadfastness of the Catholic party in Parliament, and the harmony existing among the Catholics of the country. The Pope's address was received with renewed, or, if possible, increased enthusiasm.— The "Te Deum " was sung by the pilgrims as the Holy Father took his departure from the hall of audience.

The Bishop of Cremona, who lately published a pamphlet on the Roman question which was condemned by the sacred Congregation of the Indices, has been charged by the eloquent French Dominican, Father Monsabr6, with misrepresenting his teaching in notes appended to an Italian translatiun of his sermons at Notre Dame in Paris, published by the Bishop. Father Monsabro writes that his opinions, and especially those relating to the connection between Church and State, are those sanctioned by the Catholic Church and no others. Father Monsabru is upheld in his rebuke to the Biebop

by the ecclesiastical authorities at Rome. It is believed that, in consequence, the Bishop of Cremona will resign his See.

A discovery has been made at Pompeii which is said to confirm the opinion previously pronounced by savants, that the destruction of the city had taken place in the month of November. The discovery alluded to is that of the remains of a species of laurel-tree covered with berries, and whose berries do not reach the stage of those thus fcund before the month in question. In the interests of science the discovery is of some value.

The plan of a church is now to be seen at Propaganda to which a very particular interest is attached. The church is to be erected in the hills near Castel Petroso, a village in a Bouthern]province earned Oampobasso, where some two years ago an apparition of the Blessed Virgin took place. The apparition, which wa9 seen by many people in turn, and, among the rest, by the Bishop of the diocese, represented our Lady mourning over the dead Christ. A fountain also has sprung up on the spot to whose waters miraculous powers are attributed. The Bishop in consequence is about to erect a church there which will be dedicated to the Mother of Sorrows. The favoured place has already become one of pilgrimage.

With respect to what is possibly the most flagrant piece of penal legislation as yet proposed, that is, the confiscation of the Opere Pie, or funds contribnted or bequeathed by the faithful for charitable pnrposes, and placed in the hands of the parish priests for distribution, the Senate has had the decency to reject the clause including legacies left for worship and the support of charitable confraternities. This trifling rejection aroused the wrath of Signor Crispi, who for a moment contemplated the dissolution of tbe offending Chamber. On consulting the King, however, wiser counsels prevailed and he abstained from an appeal to the country which must have resulted in his humiliation. All the other clauses of tbe iniquitous Bill have been passed but cannot become law until they have been further ratified by Parliament. It will, however, be possible in future for those who make donations or bequests for charitable purposes to arrange so as to evade the cupidity of tbe Government.