DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.53553#0297
263
ing to their different orders, Dominicans, Franciscans, Au-
gustines, Carmelites, Carthusians, Benedictines, Bernard-
ines, Theatines, &c. &c. &c. Innumerable banners and
images of silver of great value belonging to the different
convents, were carried between each congregation, and the
frankincense issuing from some hundreds of censers soon
filled the church with a dense cloud of smoke, which pre-
vented me, at least, from seeing distinctly the proceedings
at the high altar. I asked my civil cicerone if there was any
impropriety in making use of my optic apparatus, as I was
very short-sighted. “ On the contrary, sir,” replied he,
e( it is our wish, that every stranger should see as accurately
as possible the miraculous function which distinguishes our
city above every other place in christendom ; and to remove
all scruples, sir, when you have done with it, I should be
glad to have a spy myself.” I might have saved the trouble
of asking, for I found that the glass magnified the smoke
and vapours of the church to such a degree, that I scarcely
perceived the bust of the saint on the altar, and the bishop,
with his assistants, who had just begun the ceremony of ap-
proaching the phial occasionally to the head of its owner.
The experiment was continued for more than half an hour,
and no favourable result ensued. Sighs and groans now
issued from various parts of the church, and these soon
changed into loud and distressful lamentations. The scene
soon became truly tragic. Misericordia—ah per I’amor di
Dio—Disgrazia del Cielo, and other exclamations of despair,
mingled with the most fervent prayers, were heard on all
sides ; some shed tears, other clasped or wrung their hands
above their heads, and a woman just below me, beat her
bosom, nay, tore her hair in the most shocking manner.
Three quarters of an hour had now passed in vain attempts;
the whole church was in an uproar, moaning, crying, shriek-
ing and every variety of sounds of grief and despair rever-
berated through the ancient edifice,**when on a sudden the
waving
ing to their different orders, Dominicans, Franciscans, Au-
gustines, Carmelites, Carthusians, Benedictines, Bernard-
ines, Theatines, &c. &c. &c. Innumerable banners and
images of silver of great value belonging to the different
convents, were carried between each congregation, and the
frankincense issuing from some hundreds of censers soon
filled the church with a dense cloud of smoke, which pre-
vented me, at least, from seeing distinctly the proceedings
at the high altar. I asked my civil cicerone if there was any
impropriety in making use of my optic apparatus, as I was
very short-sighted. “ On the contrary, sir,” replied he,
e( it is our wish, that every stranger should see as accurately
as possible the miraculous function which distinguishes our
city above every other place in christendom ; and to remove
all scruples, sir, when you have done with it, I should be
glad to have a spy myself.” I might have saved the trouble
of asking, for I found that the glass magnified the smoke
and vapours of the church to such a degree, that I scarcely
perceived the bust of the saint on the altar, and the bishop,
with his assistants, who had just begun the ceremony of ap-
proaching the phial occasionally to the head of its owner.
The experiment was continued for more than half an hour,
and no favourable result ensued. Sighs and groans now
issued from various parts of the church, and these soon
changed into loud and distressful lamentations. The scene
soon became truly tragic. Misericordia—ah per I’amor di
Dio—Disgrazia del Cielo, and other exclamations of despair,
mingled with the most fervent prayers, were heard on all
sides ; some shed tears, other clasped or wrung their hands
above their heads, and a woman just below me, beat her
bosom, nay, tore her hair in the most shocking manner.
Three quarters of an hour had now passed in vain attempts;
the whole church was in an uproar, moaning, crying, shriek-
ing and every variety of sounds of grief and despair rever-
berated through the ancient edifice,**when on a sudden the
waving