ples was filled in a few minutes. The Pontifical
troops were on guard inside. The foreign ambassadors, the royal family of
Naples, and other distinguished persons filled the tribunes; and the
French infantry was massed on St. Peter's place. The church was
appropriately decorated with paintings representing scenes in the lives of
the martyrs and illustrious confessors. The thousands of lights which
shone around added splendor to the scene. At seven o'clock the great
procession began to move. First came a troop of orphans, then appeared the
students of the ecclesiastical seminaries. These were followed by
religious communities and the secular clergy. Bishops came next, and
archbishops, patriarchs and cardinals. Then appeared the Supreme Pastor,
preceded by the banners of the saints that were to be canonized. All
besides was now forgot, as the Holy Father was borne slowly along, seated
on the _sedia gestatoria_, which was carried by twelve attendants in
scarlet cloaks. The Tiara added dignity to the noble figure of the
Pontiff. In his left hand, which was veiled with white silk, embroidered
with gold, he held a lighted wax taper, while his right was left free to
bless the people as he passed along. The correspondent of the London
_Times_, who was a Protestant, says: "Looking over the sea of heads placed
between me and the procession, I observed that all knelt before Pius IX.,
the meek and the good, for it is only justice so to speak of him. The
chanters of the Vatican chanted in angelic tones: _Tu es Petrus_, and
these tones, softened rather than weakened by distance, pervaded the whole
edifice like spirits. At intervals, another group chanted: _Ave Maris
Stella_, and thus the Pope was borne, through the thousands of Christians
who had come from every country on which the sun shines, to the high altar
behind the tomb of the apostles."

In the midst of so much pomp and glory, Pius IX. was humble and collected,
referring all to Him of whom he was only the representative on earth. At
the same time, his soul overflowed with happiness when he saw that there
was still so much faith in Israel. The Sovereign Pontiff now took his seat
upon the Papal throne, and having received the obedience of the cardinals
and bishops, he was approached by the consistorial advocate, who thrice
petitioned him to permit the names of the glorious martyrs and confessors
to be inscribed on the diptychs of the saints, which the church recognizes
and hold