Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/86

Rh themselves with divers ecclesiastical ceremonies, evidently without any devotion at all. But there was supplication in the music; the music was beautiful and replete with heartfelt prayer. A pious and inspired spirit had breathed its soul into it, and I prayed in unison with it. The cathedral is handsome and light, although not large. It contains some pictures, which gave me pleasure. One of these represents the spirits in Purgatory; above the flames float the Madonna and Child glancing down with compassionate eyes. Some of the souls becoming aware of them are captivated by their beauty, and whilst they gaze upon them, with involuntary prayer, they are raised out of the flames, without themselves being conscious of it.

Another picture represents the holy Virgin standing upon the globe. Her glance is in heaven, her prayers, her whole soul lives there, and without apparent intention she treads upon the serpent, which glides away over the earth. These pictures are evidently the work of an age of profound spiritual inspiration.

The bones of Columbus rest in the cathedral. A white marble tablet in the wall near the chancel, points out the spot. This tablet presents also his head in bas-relief, below which are some symbols of a very common character, and below these again, a poor, ill-constructed inscription, abounding in platitude, the purport of which is that his dust reposes here, but his fame shall live for many centuries.

One day when I visited the church in company with Mr. V., we were attended by a youth who seemed to be one of the young neophytes. When he heard that Mr. V. had been at Jerusalem he was delighted, and so anxious to hear about the holy grave and the holy places near the city, and then was so zealous to show us every remarkable thing about the church, that it was a pleasure to see him. This youth had evidently, as yet, an uncorrupted mind and a firm faith.