ROME LETTER

New Zealand Tablet, 18 March 1915, Page 47

ROME LETTER

1 (From our own correspondent.) January 8. THE VATICAN GROTTOS. One wonders how many of the foreigners who every year walk into St. Peter’s in Rome, realise the great past that lies beneath their feet. Under the flooring of St. Peter’s are the Vatican Grottos, which run almost under the entire length and breadth- of the mighty Basilica—those historic series of apartments where Popes, emperors, kings, queens, princes, and cardinals sleep their long last sleep. For down here were the foundations of ‘ Old St. Peter’s,’ which Bramante demolished to make way for the giant edifice the world admires to-day. Nowhere on earth is so much majesty and greatness concentrated as in the tombs of the ‘ Grotte Nuove and the ‘ Grotte Vecchie,’ beneath the Cathedral of Christendom where lie the remains of Pius X. Let us recall some of their names. One feels keen pleasure in standing by the tombs of those of whom we have been reading in history, ecclesiastical and profane, since we first came to take an interest in books. Here lie the ashes of the Prince of the Apostles in a bronze urn, and those of the Popes who immediately succeeded him—Linus, Cletus, Evaristus, Sixtus, Telesphorus, Hyginus, Pius, Elcutherius, and Victor—all martyrs for the Faith of Christ. And, to come down the ages a little, in the grottos also lie the Emperor Otho 11., the warlike Countess Matilda (who, at the age of fifteen, put herself at the head of her troops and marched upon Rome to liberate the Pope from his enemies), and the only English Pope, Nicholas Breakspear—Adrian IV. ; and then the last of the Stuarts, King James, the Old Pretender’; Bonnie Prince Charlie, the ' Young Pretender,’ and the Cardinal Duke of York, Henry. Near these are the tombs of Pope Nicholas A 7., Paul 11., Nicholas 111., Urban !., and several other holy Pontiffs. Truly this is a hallowed spot. But there arc others of later years who can be passed over for the present. Suffice it to say the Catholic world feels glad that the remains of such a universally-loved Pontiff as was Pius X. repose in this sacred place. The administration of the Basilica has covered the tomb of Pius X. in white marble from the famous quarries of Carrara, on which is carved an inscription which sums up the life of the great Pope in a few words;-

PIUS PAPA X. pauper et dives, wit is et hum ills corde, regni Catholici vindcx fort is, Instaurare. omnia in Christo Satai/ens. Pie uhiit die XX. Any list, .1). IK 'M Xf 1 . RECEPTION!S IN HONOR OF THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR. The couple of receptions held by Cardinal Gasquet in honor of the newly-appointed British Ambassador to the Holy See have evoked a good deal of interest in Rome. They were a success. Big people and little people were there. People who represent a great deal, and people who cannot boast of this distinction were present. A CONTINENT UPSIDE-DOWN. Any remarks regarding the War of Nations made in this column will not be construed into partisanship towards either side. But there are certain anomalies worth mentioning, the mere thought of which makes one realise Europe is turned upside-down. Situations considered to border on the impossible nine months ago are now quite the order of the day. That 90 per cent, of the French are now fervent in their protestations in favor of everything religious is' something like a miracle. But when it comes to a whole regiment of French soldiers insisting upon defiling before a nun

for the purpose of doing her, public honor, we find a miracle of the first class. Right past the good little Sister marched officers and men with drums beating and flags flying for the heroism of the nurse caused them to disdain the crew of little political humbugs who heretofore drove such brave women from their country. And then the sudden affection for the Pope with which Turkey, Servia, France, and England have been officially seized ! They now realise the truth of the saying of M. Thiers in the French Chamber so long ago: — ‘ Qui manr/e du 1 ape en vieiirt ’ (‘ He who makes a meal of the Pope dies of the repast ’). NOTES. The Pope’s reference to a ray of hope for peace has encouraged Italy to think she may be spared the horrors of war after all. Among those at Cardinal Gasquet’s reception was the Most Rev. Dr. Redwood, Archbishop of Wellington, and Right Rev. Bishop Kennedy, Rector of the American College, Rome.