Papal Benediction from the
Loggia.

HEN the Pope had made his thanksgiving after the Papal mass, his Holines was borne in grand state on the sedia gestatoria, accompanied by his august suite of cardinals, princes, dignitaries, ambassadors, and escorted by his Swiss and Noble guards, to the Loggia, to confer the Papal benediction on the congested masses of the anxiously expecting multitudes awaiting in the Piazza. This Papal Benediction, regarded even as a mere spectacle, is unparalelled in grandeur, in sublimity, and imposing effect by any other religious, secular, or military display in the world, whilst as a religious ceremony, it confers on the soul in grace the most abundant consolations, and presents to every observer a visible, tangible, demonstrative significance of the boundless extent of the Papal dominion, and of Peter's supremacy in honour and jurisdiction. The Loggia is a highly elevated arched balcony in the very centre of the façade of the great Basilica, commanding an extensive view not only of the Piazza and city, but of the Campagna and of the sea in the distance, and it was the very focus on which were concentrated all those wondrous structures, and all the surrounding architectural and picturesque beauties, and from which they radiated all over Christendom. What an artistic and commanding position for the principal figure in the grouping of the congregated multitudes! It was covered over by an outstretched awning, to screen the Pope from the excessive heat and glaring rays of the dazzling sun. The arch and pillars were draped in crimson velvet, and festooned with gold lace and tassels, and from the front

ARRAY OF TROOPS.

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of the balustrade was suspended rich tapestry, purple silk, and embroidered "lama d'oro"; and a baldaccino, or canopy, draped in crimson was suspended over the spot where the Pope was to stand. The eyes of 100,000 spectators were concentrated as in a focus in one peering gaze on that balcony. Beneath, in front of the ascent to the vestibule, 10,000 men of various regiments, of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, all in their state uniforms, with their regimental colours, druins, trumpets, and military bands, were drawn up in gracefully curving lines, corresponding with the figures on the marble pavements, and in the centre the generalissimo, in glittering uniform, was seated on a noble charger. The military consisted of the "Gendarmi"-the "Antibes Legion" the "Papal

Zouaves"-the "Cacciatori"-the "Guardia del Senato"the "Grenat ieri"-the "Carbinieri"-the 66 Dragoni Pontefici", and other detachments, all arrayed to salute their Pontiff-King. The height of the Loggia was so great, and the distant view from the extreme end of the Piazza so extensive, that the Sovereign Pontiff and his entourage appear there not larger than the beautifully coloured little entities of atomic creation. The Vicar of Christ, robed in his sumptuous pontificals, surrounded by the cardinals, ecclesiastical dignitaries, the guards and high officers of state, in their varied and brilliant costumes, all standing on the distant balcony, seemed like a bird of Paradise of eastern climes, fledged in gorgeous plumage, surrounded by other bright members of the feathered tribe that had nestled in a crevasse, beneath a branch of the rhododendron, in the sunny vales, amidst the Himalayan reeks. After a lengthened period of profound silence and anxious suspense, the Pope, borne on the Sedia Gestatoria, followed by the fan bearers,

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SALUTING THE PONTIFF-KING.

surrounded by his courtiers and Noble Guards, appeared on the balcony. A sensational thrill electrified the multitudes. The heavy guns of the Castle of San. Angelo boomed their thundering volleys, the great bells chimed merrily, the multitudes prostrated, the general on horseback waved his sword, on which, as at the glittering wand of a talisman, the ten thousand military fell on one knee, the ensigns were drooped to the dust, the bugles flourished, the bands played, a roll of rumbling drums ran along the lines, and the gleaming sheen of the swords and bayonets completed the resemblance to a whistling tornado, followed by peals of thunder and vivid flashes of lightning, which seemingly swept across the piazza. Contrast all the might of earthly potentates with the overwhelming majesty of the Pontiff-King on Easter day-how do they dwindle into despicable insignificance! Contrast their most extensive empires with his boundless domain, uncircumscribed even by the circumference of this little earthly sphere, and they become as little spots in a valley viewed from a lofty mountain. Contrast their power with the power of him who can "bind and loose" not only on earth, but also in Heaven, and it becomes as the impotence of an infant's grasp! It recalled to my recollection the memory of that day when Moses received the tables of the Law from the Almighty Legislator on the Mount of Sinai, and when thunder and lightning emanated from the countenance of the God of Israel. But there the people were prohibited from approaching even the very foot of the mountain, and terror and death guarded every access. Here, all are invited by the great Moses of the new dispensation to come near and drink plentifully from the copious stream of mercy, grace, and benediction, which flows from the rock struck by St. Peter's hand.

WINGED COURIER OF MERCY'S ERRAND.

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The Vicar of Christ arose, lifted up the light of his countenance, raised his aged hands to heaven, and appeared clothed with more than earthly majesty. His right hand, after unbarring the treasury of God's graces, descends laden with the benediction of heaven, and, with the triple sign of salvation, he imparts it to his people. Instantly that benediction springs forth from the "Loggia" on its flight, like a winged courier, and is borne on strong pinions that convey it with more rapidity even than the measureless wire does the electric spark. Contrast the progress of a telegram despatched to a distant country with the rapidity with which that benediction speeds its way to the ends of the earth, and the progress of the telegram when contrasted with it will be regarded as a tardy gait indeed. Away it goes on mercy's errand, -its copious diffusiveness envelopes the whole world as a speck! and its language is intelligible in every tongue! Standing on that "Loggia", the Pontiff-King, greater than Moses-looking towards the Eternal City, towards the extended Campagna, and the everlasting hills in the distance-he directs that benediction to go Urbi et orbi— to the city and to the universe. Instantly it flies, obedient to the command-no lane in that city so narrow -no staircase or garret so tortuous or inaccessible-no cellar so deep-no palace so gorgeous and extensive, into which that blessing does not enter, and offer its sacred salutation! That blessed gleam of the Sun of Righteousness radiates to every clime, and country, and people to which the compass points-it travels to where the east is reddened by the rising sun, and thence to the back of the western hills, and from the oppressive heats of the tropics to where the blood becomes gelid in the freezing regions of the north, vivifying, consoling, strengthening all be

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A WELCOME GUEST TO MILLIONS.

neath the influence of its genial ray. It conveys a balsam to cure the wounded heart-it refreshes the weary and the heavy laden—it dries up the trickling tears of the afflicted, and administers a cordial to invigorate the sick and languishing-it penetrates the darksome dungeon, and imparts a che ring ray to the desponding captive-it is a staff to support the tottering pilgrim and the labours of the distant missionary-it is a genial ray, that unfolds the blossoms of all our hopes of God's mercies, and of a blessed im nortality, and is received as a welcome guest into the hearts of 200,000,000 of Catholics dispersed into every quarter of the habitable globe!

Each of the Cardinal Deacons reads a paper, one in Latin, the other in Italian, intimating to the overwhelming crowds that to all those present who were in the state of grace, who were truly contrite for their sins, and whose souls were animated with good dispositions, and prayed for the welfare of the Church and for the intentions of of the Holy Father, the Pope granted a plenary indulgence. The papers were then let fly from a cambric handkerchief, and as they whirled in the air, all those in the direction in which they were falling raised their hands in eager expectation of catching them, anxious to possess so interesting a record of this memorable event. Some imagine that the indulgence is conferred on those only, who, irrespective of the interior dispositions of their souls, are fortunate enough accidentally to catch those papers. This supposition is entirely erroneous. After the benediction the Pope retired amidst a thrilling chorus of military bands, booming bells, and thundering volleys of artillery, and the countless crowds began to disperse. But though wide the opening estuary out of the piazza, the flood took an hour to flow through, and as the pave