CHAPTER XII.

THE great trait of the Church services in Italy is, their dramatic character. There seems to be a tendency to express every thing by sensible images, and the evil is, that men may forget the distinction between the sign and the thing signified. Expiring Paganism in its dying struggles threw its mantle over its conqueror, and then began the imitation of heathen rites. The lustral water-the incense -and the processions of the antique faith of Greece, were too faithfully copied in the holy water-the censer-and the sacred processions of the Christian Church.

The Middle Ages increased the difficulty, from the mistaken zeal and perverted taste which then existed within the Church. It seems to have been the study of her friends, to invent new offices-to add to the ceremonies of the Ritualto render the pomp of her outward adorning more magnificent —and the dresses of her clergy more dazzling. While doctrines were gradually changing, the exterior of religion was also fast losing the simplicity of ancient times, until it became encumbered with the accumulated inventions of centuries.

Passion Week gives ample scope for the development of this dramatic taste. In many of the Churches, the Gospel which contains an account of our Lord's trial, is read by different priests; who distribute among themselves the various parts of the dialogue. In some of the little country towns, the old

miracle plays or representations of different Scripture scenes by actors—are still performed. We spent this week in Vienna, and were able as it passed, to see each step of the Crucifixion regularly represented. On the arrival of this Season, the altars in the Churches were stripped of their flowers, embroidered cloths and ornaments, and all things wore an appearance of desolation. On Good Friday, the body of our Lord, as large as life, was suspended on the Cross in the different Chapels, which were generally, to increase the effect, lighted only to a twilight gloom, while crowds of worshippers were kneeling before these images.

At night it was taken down, and laid out like a corpse before the altar, covered with a pall, where it remained until Easter Even was over. I do not remember a more striking scene than the Cathedral of St. Stephen presented on that occasion. It was a brilliant moonlight night when we approached it. How magnificent it looked when seen at this time, part flooded with brightness and part in the deep shadow, the rents and corroding inroads of time concealed, and its fretted pinnacles and delicate tracery thrown out in bold relief against the clear sky! Its "long drawn aisles" seemed to have doubled in length, and its lofty arches and massive columns were even more imposing than in the glare of day. Through the vast building there was only a feeble lamp here and there, just sufficient to show its extent, except a distant Chapel which was brilliantly lighted up. There seemed to be every possible variety. One Chapel had been left in perfect darkness, and as we passed it, the moon broke forth from the clouds, and poured its rays through the tall Gothic window, lighting up the beautiful shrines, and spreading a ghastly hue over the figures on the monuments. Another had a single glimmering light at the far end, appearing like a distant star. And all around were worshippers kneeling. Some in the faint light of the nave, and others just visible in the deep gloom of the arches. Here they

watched in prayer through all hours of the night. Every thing seemed to be skillfully arranged to produce its effect on the imagination and the senses.

On Easter Even there is a splendid procession of the Austrian Court from one Chapel to another, carrying the Host to represent the body of our Lord. When Easter morning dawns, the whole scene is again changed. The gayest ornaments deck the Churches, and the most cheerful music is heard in the services.

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In some of the Italian Churches, however, on Good Friday the representation of the Crucifixion, the "Agonie,” or “ Tre Ore," forms a perfect Drama. Dr. Wiseman speaks of some of these services as being "worthy of ancient Tragedy." An artificial mount—in imitation of Mount Calvary— is formed as in a theatre, with pasteboard rocks and thickets, and painted trees. On the declivity are seen the Roman soldiers in armor, some mounted on pasteboard horses, while on a more elevated spot are the three crosses, to which are nailed the figures of our Lord and the two malefactors, all arranged so as to produce the best stage effect. At the time of the Crucifixion a sermon of three hours in length is delivered, the different topics of which are taken from the exclamations of our Lord upon the Cross. At last, when the priest comes to His dying cry-"It is finished”—he suddenly exclaims-"The moment has arrived-the Saviour now expires" and all instantly sink upon their knees. For a time there is an awful silence, while they are absorbed in prayer, until the priest again exclaims—“They come, the holy men to bear the body of our Redeemer to the sepulchre❞—and forthwith, from the side scenes issue a band of friars, clad in black, who toil up the ascent of Mount Calvary, and take down the body, amidst the groans and lamentations of the bystanders. As a preacher is always selected of wild and fervid eloquence, we may imagine the strong effect which must be produced, particularly upon the ignorant, by this

service performed in a darkened Church, and mingled up with every stirring appeal to the feelings.

The ordinary preaching of the Italians is deeply impassioned in its style, and I have sometimes listened to Dominicans, whose bold declamation and earnest gestures as they leaned over the pulpit, reminded me of Peter the Hermit rousing up his audience to the Crusade. They deal much in apostrophe, and you frequently hear them turn aside with the address-"O Italy!" "O my country!" There was one sermon we heard-very different it is true in its character and style of which I took notes, because it is a fair specimen of the kind of argument used, and because the preacher had just been appointed to a high office in the Roman Catholic Church in America.

Vicar

Having seen in the Diario di Roma, that Dr. General of in the United States of America, was to preach in the Church of S. Andrea della Valle, we went with a party of friends, for the purpose of learning what kind of a man was to be sent out to enlighten our countrymen, and by listening to a sermon nearly one hour in length, had a very fair opportunity of forming an opinion. We found the Dr. to be rather a fine looking man, about fortyfive years of age, and of a graceful delivery, although not very fluent in his style of speaking.

His text was, John xv. 26, 27. "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning."

The first part of the sermon was common-place enough, merely a discussion of the question, Were the Apostles credible witnesses? This being finished, we reached the grand plunge the great non sequitur, on which all the rest was founded. "Having thus proved the truth of religion, I have in the same way demonstrated the truth of the Catholic