ROME LETTER

New Zealand Tablet, 29 June 1916, Page 41

ROME LETTER

(From our own correspondent.) April 21. HOLY WEEK- IN ROME. It is platitudinous to say that nowhere in the world is Holy Week celebrated with such majesty as in the basilicas of Rome. Nothing is spared to honor the week consecrated to Christ's Passion and Resurrection. We are all sufficiently familiar with the liturgical services, so some time reviewing some customs of Holy Week in Rome of other days will not be found uninteresting. Holy Thursday. - Palm Sunday over, and with it the procession of cardinals, bishops, ambassadors of foreign countries, and Roman senators around the Tomb of - the Prince of the Apostles and past the throne of the Vicar of Christ, from whose hands each received a sprig of palm, Holy-Thursday brought all Rome to the Square of St. Peter's, for on that day the Supreme Pontiff would bless his people. The sacred ceremonies in the Sistine Chapel concluded, the Holy Father, followed by a long cortege of prelates, used proceed to the Pauline Chapel, and drawing from its precious case the chalice of rock crystal, mounted in gold, adorned with jewels,. engraved with images of Christ and the Apostles, he made his way to the balcony overlooking the noble square. From the mighty square, the recesses of the colonnades (over which even Thackeray had to enthuse), and the streets leading up to them, a sea of faces looked up to the figure in white. And raising the priceless chalice, the Vicar of Christ used to bless the people of Rome, by which he implied a blessing on the world. This done, he prepared to follow Christ's example in the washing of the feet. St. Gregory the Great restored this custom in the sixth century, and washed the feet not of twelve, but of thirteen, poor men owing to the fact of the unexpected appearance of a thirteenth, who, disappearing immediately after the ceremony, was thought to be an angel. These- men were selected carefully by the captain of the Swiss Guard, the French Ambassador, and the major-domo of the Vatican, since to symbolise the Christian propaganda in the most distant lands, they had to be ' born beyond the* mountains.' Good Friday. In Rome, on the recurrence of the saddest day of the year, the cardinals and bishops laid aside the insignia of their rank and took the precious rings from off their fingers. The Pope deprived himself of the torch, which was borne to him along with the Sacred Scriptures. The Noble and the Swiss Guards of the Vatican carried their rifles and swords reversed. The life of the city was suspended : Christ lay in the tomb. Customs have changed, but not the piety of the Romans. The concourse of people listening to the preaching of the Three Hours' Agony in a hundred churches is sufficient evidence of this. "Pfie fact that thousands remain standing in St. Peter's and St Croce in Gerusalemme for hours during the Tenebrae, waiting for the blessing of the great relics of the Passion, shows the eagerness of the people to be worthy of their forbears. [, Just a word about the v Veronica: During the exile of Pius IX. at Gaeta,' says a well-attested document, ' permission was granted to expose the Holy Face," or "Veronica," preserved in the Basilica of St. Peter to the veneration of the faithful from Christmas to the Epiphany. On the third day of the exposition, the Face of our Lord seemed to be animated, and was encircled by a soft light. The figure o» the "Veil" is very lightly marked, but on this occasion it became quite distinct, appearing, in relief, with a deathly hue, the eyes sunken and wearing an expression of severity. The Canons on-guard over the Holy Relic sent the news

of this change to their colleagues and to all the clergy of the Basilica the two large bells were rung, and the people gathered in crowds, amid great and general emotion. A process-verbal of the occurrence was drawn up and signed in perpeiii'am ret memoriam. That same evening some veils of white silk, on which the Sacred Face was portrayed, were touched to the " Volto Santo" and, later, sent to France.' Easter Sunday. The people of Rome, up to the middle of the last century, solemnised Easter in a most imposing manner. On the great day the cannon of Castle St. Angelo was fired fourteen times at dawn, then the soldiers of the Pope, with their casques adorned with a myrtle branch, left the castle and went to St. Peter's, where they took up their position in the whole of the colonnade. Inside the basilica the statues, the walls, the pilasters and altars were sumptuously decorated. The Pontiff sat on his red velvet throne that was ornamented with arabesques of gold, and assisted at a number of processions. Writing in the Farmers' Union Advocate of the small bird and rabbit pest, « Agricola ' states:—By the way, I have just heard a story of how the particular kind of sparrow which worries" us came to be let loose upon us. It seems that it was intended to import the less harmless of the sparrow varieties. When the birds arrived here it was found that the robber variety had been brought in. The authorities in this country refused to take delivery of them, and the captain of the vessel that the birds were brought over in found them left on his hands. He debated with himself as to what he should do with themwring their necks or let them go. When it came to the deciding point his goodheartedness got the better of him, and he gave ' the poor little beggars ' their freedom. It would have paid us very, handsomely if that large-hearted sea captain had been more Hunnish in'his methods. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. • s By Arrangement with Mrs. Rolleston, Hair Physician and Face Specialist. Qualified, London and Paris. 'C.R.S.'The onlv means of permanently removing superfluous hair is electrolysis. Deuilatories rapidly increase the growth. It is impossible for any preparation to rienetrate to the roots -without destroying the skin. Unless yonr time in Wellington is limited, I would advise weeklv treatments. ' Bav.'—Use Henna Shampoo Powders. Thev are excellent, for bringing out "the rich tints in the hair as well as improving the growth. ' S.S.'—You will find a switch mofet, useful,if vnnr hair is scant v. We have them in all shades, and the prices range from 15s. ' Mother 'As a good head of hair in later life r?er>er«d<? on the care von give vnnr child's hair now. I would advise vou to let me examine* the scalp and see what, is necessary re cutting. Unless in cases of some scalp disease prevalent among children, hair tonics ara, not necessary, / ' Bridge.'—To keep the hands soft and w"i*"e, armlv T.olin« at, nighf, and occasionally sleep in kid gloves wi'fh +i-, ft tttva of fhp> fingers cut. TRVrfher twUor Kv letter. Correspondence invited. Spacious Toilet, "Room*— 2s6 L*>mhton Oy., Wellington, and Cathedral Square, Christchurch.—Advt.