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The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

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l80 HISTORY OF THE POPES.<br />

ascertain for himself if everything was in good order for <strong>the</strong><br />

administration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sacraments, and for <strong>the</strong> worthy celebra-<br />

tion <strong>of</strong> divine worship. <strong>The</strong> baptismal font did not satisfy<br />

him, and he gave orders for a better one to be made, more<br />

in keeping with <strong>the</strong> dignity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> noblest temple <strong>of</strong> God on<br />

earth. In <strong>the</strong> sacristy he examined <strong>the</strong> rehqiiaries, <strong>the</strong><br />

chalices, <strong>the</strong> sacred vessels and <strong>the</strong> vestments. After that,<br />

all laj^men were excluded, <strong>the</strong> canons and o<strong>the</strong>r priests,<br />

including <strong>the</strong> bishops, knelt down, and <strong>the</strong> Cardinals formed<br />

a semi-circle on <strong>the</strong> right <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pope, who <strong>the</strong>n delivered<br />

a long discourse on <strong>the</strong> things necessary for <strong>the</strong> sacerdotal<br />

life, and <strong>the</strong> due performance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> divine worship.^ After<br />

<strong>the</strong> visitation, <strong>the</strong> Pope turned to <strong>the</strong> Archpriest <strong>of</strong> St. Peter's<br />

Cardinal Farnese, and said to him that he hoped he would<br />

find all <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r churches in as good a condition."^ On July<br />

1st, 1566, he visited <strong>the</strong> church and hospital <strong>of</strong> S. Spirito,<br />

and here again he satisfied himself minutely as to <strong>the</strong> custody<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Blessed Sacrament, <strong>the</strong> baptismal font, <strong>the</strong> chrism,<br />

<strong>the</strong> sacred vestments, <strong>the</strong> sacristy and <strong>the</strong> sacristans. He<br />

<strong>the</strong>n went to see <strong>the</strong> sick in <strong>the</strong> hospital, " doing everything<br />

with all possible charity and love."^ He also personally<br />

^ *[" Die dominica XII. mail (1566) bora 17 . . . ivit ad<br />

ecclesiam S*' Petri] . . . ordinavit quod fieret fens [baptismalis]<br />

pulchrior, prout dicebat requirere nobilitatem et ecellentiam<br />

ecclesiae, quam dixit esse primam totius orbis. Vidit postea<br />

sacellum, reliquias sanctorum, caUces, vasa sacra et omnia super<br />

magna credentia parata, etc. Deinde sedens super sede ibidem<br />

parata, emissis extra sacellum omnibus laicis, fecit longum<br />

sermonem canonicis et aUis presbiteris, omnibus genuflexis etiam<br />

episcopis, et male dice quoad episcopos ipsos, cardinaUbus in<br />

circulum a dextro latere sedentibus ; et sermo fuit circa mores<br />

ipsorum et modum deserviendi m ecclesia et multa dixit da<br />

dignitate sacerdotali " (Firmanus, *Diarium, p. 87. Papal<br />

Secret Archives). Cf. *Cusano, May 18, 1566, State Archives,<br />

Vienna, *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> May 18, 1566, Urb. 1040, p.<br />

229b, and *report in Cod. Vatic. 5514, p. 1-15, Vatican Library.<br />

- * Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> May 18, 1566, ibid.<br />

3 * Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> July 6, 1566, Urb. 1040, p. 251 seq.,<br />

Vatican Library : " il che tutto con tanta carita e amore quanto<br />

dir si possa."

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