A BULL DEVOURED.

When Urban the Fifth excommunicated the Visconti as the perpetual disturbers of Italy, the Pope's declaration of war was conveyed to Bernado Visconti by two Legates, in the shape of a Bull of Excommunication. Bernado received it with apparent composure, and himself honoured the Legates by escorting them through Milan, as far as one of the bridges of that city. When they reached this spot, he suddenly stopped, and turning to them, desired they would take their choice, whether they would eat or drink before they quitted him. The Legates were mute with surprise at this abrupt address. "Be assured," continued the tyrant, with tremendous oaths, "that we do not separate before you have eaten or drank in such a manner as that you shall have cause to remember me." The Legates cast their eyes around them; they saw themselves encompassed by the guards of the tyrants, and a hostile multitude-and observed the river beneath them; and one of them at length answered that "he would rather eat than ask for drink, when there was so much water." " Good," returned Bernado, "here then are the Bulls of Excommunication which you have brought to me; and I swear unto you that shall not quit this bridge before you have eaten, in my presence, the parchment on which they are written, the leaden seals attached to them, and the silken strings by which they hang." It was in vain that the Legates earnestly protested against the outrage, in their double capacity,

you

as ambassadors and priests. They were obliged to make the strange trial of their digestion before the tyrant.

PLANTING THE CROSS.

On Sunday, October 22, 1826, the procession for planting the cross by the Missionaries took place at Marseilles, and was attended by all the authorities, as well as crowds of the inhabitants: between 12,000 and 14,000 men, we are told, formed the division, appointed to guard the sacred symbol. A hundred and fifty soldiers insisted on carrying it for two stations. It was followed by the clergy, headed by the Bishop, by the Admiral of the Port, by the Prefect of the Department, by the Generals of the land service, and by the Chiefs of all the corps, civil and military. The procession was opened and closed by detachments of the troops of the garrison. Bands belonging to the different regiments struck up their most exhilarating music, a great variety of colours were displayed, the enthusiasm of the superstitious mob was carried to the highest pitch, and the exclamations of "Long live the Cross, long live Jesus, long live his Religion," were repeated with such vehemence and tran. sport, as even to drown the sounds of the military instruments.-From the Times.

POPISH CEREMONIES AT LOUGHDERGH. Every pilgrim strips off his shoes, stockings, and hat, before he enters the chapel (some before they come into the yard), and must fancy that he is entering the holy island of Loughdergh; which, as the station-book says, is holy, in imitation of Mount Sinai. On entering the chapel-door, he prostrates himself, kisses the ground, and must imagine that he receives the prior's blessing, who is at Loughdergh; then crossing himself on the forehead, mouth, &c., he kneels before the cross and repeats three paters, three aves, and a gloria patri, and a creed; after kissing the ground he rises, leans his shoulders against the cross, and goes through a ceremony called "the taking up of the cross," bawling out three times, "I renounce the world, the devil, and the flesh;" then he kisses it, in imitation of the angel's cleansing the lips of the prophet Isaiah, with a burning coal! then he repeats three paters, three ave Marias, &c., to obtain from God the three most necessary things for rendering his station acceptable" 1st, the fear of God, by which our sins are expelled; 2nd, humility, by which our prayers penetrate the very clouds; and, 3rd, patience, by which we possess our souls. Then, after kissing the ground and the cross, he walks seven times round the chapel-floor, in honour of the seven times the priests went round the walls of Jericho! repeating a decade each time, in satisfaction for the sins committed during the seven days of the week."-Station-book of Loughdergh. After this he crosses himself again, bows

as often as he passes by the altar; especially if the consecrated wafer be placed on it to be adored by the pilgrims. Then he goes to one of the small circles, and walks round it outside, until he has said five paters, five ave Maria's, a gloria patri, and a creed, " in honour of the five bleeding wounds of our Saviour;" then he struggles round the inside of it, until he finishes as many more paters, &c. " to atone for the sins committed by the five senses;" and then repeats the same number on his knees inside and outside; then, after kissing the ground, he goes through the same repetitions and gesticulations at each of the two other smaller circles. After that, he walks round the great circle of St. Patrick, outside, until he has repeated seven decades (i. e. seven paters, seventy ave Maria's, seven gloria patri's, and one creed!)" in satisfaction for the seven deadly sins;" then kneeling at the entrance of the circle, and kissing the ground with more than ordinary devotion, he faces the altar and cross, and after paying them the usual honours, he repeats five decades standing. Then he salutes the cross, altar, &c., goes round the inside of the circle on his knees, and repeats seven decades; then he proceeds to the three small circles on the opposite side, and goes round them almost in the same manner, repeating the same number of decades, and performing the same ceremonies of bowing, kissing the ground, &c. Then he goes to a place marked, "in imitation of a stone dedicated to the Virgin Mary," in Loughdergh, which is a considerable distance from the shore, called in Irish "Clogh Wirrhe," and must fancy, as he passes

to it, that he is at Loughdergh, wading through the water, and going to "drown his sins in it, as Moses did his enemies in the Red Sea;" then he repeats three paters and three ave Maria's, &c., in honour of the Holy Trinity, that his station may be acceptable to God, through the intercessions of all the saints, to whom the various circles are dedicated. Then he goes to the altar, kisses the steps of it, if the crowd permit him to come so near it; he then retires to some private corner, and repeats fifteen decades, and finishes what is called a station, which he repeats three times a day during his pilgrimage. This unprofitable drudgery is continued for three, six, and by some, nine days, and one night. in prison, living on a single meal of bread and water each day, the prison-day excepted, on which they can neither eat, nor drink, nor sleep! To make their situation as comfortable as that of the parent station, they must fancy that the water of a neighbouring spring is changed into wine.-From the Dublin Warder of 1827.

THE CRYING VIRGIN.

The images of "Our Lady," in Catholic countries, are multiplied in the cathedrals and churches to an incredible amount, and are as decked out in finery as the best spangled dolls in Bartholomew fair. There is an anecdote of a crying Virgin Mary at Atocha, which is made of wood, yet is seen melting into tears at the pathetic parts of a sermon annually preached before her every Good