sailed from the ports of
France, Spain and Italy, invoking Mary the Star of the Sea--_Ave Maris
Stella_--whilst masses of people responded from the shore; the hearts of
all were with them. There was high festival at Rome from Ascension Day to
Whitsuntide. All thoughts of politics were dismissed; the grand religious
celebration absorbing all attention. As often as Pius IX. appeared in
public, he was honored with an ovation. On one occasion, in particular,
there was a great demonstration by the clergy and the artillerymen of the
French army, on the day before Pentecost Sunday. The Bishop of Tulle, Mgr.
Berteaud, Mgr. Dupanloup of Orleans, and other bishops, addressed immense
crowds, and produced religious emotion in which unbelievers could not help
participating. It is not recorded that Pius IX. had preached in public
since the beginning of his Pontificate. He now, on the 6th of June,
delivered the word of God in the Sistine Chapel, speaking first in Latin
and afterwards in French. His audience consisted of four thousand priests,
as many as could be assembled within the spacious edifice. All were deeply
moved, and only refrained through reverence from giving vent to their
feelings. As soon as the Holy Father had announced the apostolic
benediction, one of the priests happily intoned the liturgical prayer:
"_Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Pio_." "Let us pray for our Pontiff Pius."
All present, as if with one voice, responded: "The Lord preserve him and
give him life, and make him blessed upon earth, and deliver him not to the
will of his enemies." One may have some idea how the Catholic mind was
impressed, from the words of M. Louis Veuillot: "We traversed our beloved
Rome with filial affection. And if the thought occurred to us that there
existed a design to rob us of it, our feeling was one of anger rather than
of fear. We passed from sanctuary to sanctuary, inquiring as to the places
where Pius IX. would appear, in order to pay profoundest reverence to the
Holy Pontiff. 'No, no,' exclaimed a bishop, as he came from the presence
of the Holy Father, 'it is not true, it is not possible! Do not believe
that there are Victor Emmanuels, Garibaldis, Ratazzis! Such a man cannot
have enemies!' "

On Pentecost Sunday, June 8th, 1862, it was known that the Basilica of St.
Peter would be open at five o'clock in the morning. All night the
neighboring streets were crowded, and when the gates were thrown open that
greatest of earth's tem