mistress of the vatican.pdf - End Time Deception

Mistress of the Vatican
which were bricked up during regular years, were opened by the cardinal
who was archpriest of the basilica. In front of cheering crowds, the
cardinal tapped on the bricks with a ceremonial hammer. The bricks
had already been loosened by masons, who were standing behind them.
When the masons heard the tapping, they pulled down the bricks, creating
a thunderous drama.
Embedded in each holy door was a chest of gold medals minted to
celebrate the previous jubilee and struck with the image of the last Holy
Year pope. This box was to be given to the door-opening cardinal. The
medals were highly coveted and extremely valuable. As soon as the cardinal
had taken his chest of holy medals and the masons had carted off
the rubble, the crowds of excited pilgrims would race through the door
to be the first to claim the indulgence.
On the afternoon of December 24, 1649, four cavalcades wound their
way to the four basilicas. Penitents beat their breasts and whipped themselves
as they walked. Some of the pious crept forward on their knees.
Most pilgrims walked, some barefoot, while the better-off rode on mules
or horses. The majority were Catholic, though each procession included
several Protestants and a handful of Muslims and Jews who just wanted
to see a good show.
Olimpia was itching to get her hands on the holy medals. Luckily, the
archpriest of Saint John Lateran, Cardinal Girolamo Colonna, was a friend
of hers. He opened the door with due dignity and took the heavy chest of
Urban VIII’s 1625 jubilee medals. Without opening it, he gave it to a soldier,
who wrapped it in his cloak and took it posthaste to Olimpia.
Cardinal Francesco Barberini, the archpriest of Saint Peter’s, would
not open his holy door, as that honor was saved for the pope. But as
archpriest, Francesco was entitled to the medals. Since Olimpia had recalled
his family from exile and returned most of their property to
them, he agreed to give her his medals. He instructed the masons to
have a wheelbarrow placed behind the holy door so that the moment
the masonry collapsed, the box of medals would fall into the wheelbarrow,
which would be covered with a canvas and carted off to Olimpia.
But it was not carted off quickly enough, as it was noticed by many of
the faithful, including Giacinto Gigli, who recorded it in his diary.
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