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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868 Excerpt:... and when the Pope, after reading the Introit, saying the Kyrie, and entoning the Gloria in excelsis, took his seat on the throne prepared for him, it was delightful to behold the rays of an nnclonded sun greeting him through the lofty windows of St. Peter's. For, let it be ever remembered--and if I had only recorded this one fact, I should not have written this book in vain--that, although the rain fell in torrents for days before the 8th of December, and for days after it, yet, on the day itself, from the earliest dawn of morning until twelve o'clock at night, not one drop of rain fell in Borne. After the gospel had been sung in Latin and in Greek, his Holiness stood np at the throne, to perform one of the most solemn and important acts which a Chief Pontiff can ever be called upon to perform. Amidst the profound attention of the vast assembly present, he began to read, in a clear voice, the decree of the Immaculate Conception. Having read the prefatory parts, and arrived at the decree itself, his Holiness, who was ever remarkable for his tender devotion to the Holy Virgin, overpowered as if by the sense of the favour which God was conferring on him, in vouchsafing that he should be the instrument of rendering such an honour to this most beloved Mother, burst into tears. Ho went on to read with a faltering voice, which betrayed the deepest emotion, the word declaramus, but for some minutes could proceed no farther. The effect on the vast auditory may be more easily conceived than expressed. It may bo safely said, there were but few present who were not profoundly moved, and many wept like children. The Pope, having recovered from his emotion, finished the reading of the decree, and almost immediately after, the booming of the cannon of Fort St. Angelo beg...