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Show Legend of a Sweet Anthem. Those whose hearts are lifted up with joy as their hear the pure voices of children singing "Regina Coell, Alleluia" Alle-luia" at the Easter tide will be glad to know the legend of the first singing of this weet anthem. When the Groat Gregory was Pope five hundred years after Our Iiord had arisen from the grave sorrow and dismay of heart fell on the city of Rome. Yet the glad Easter days were at hand. The plague had come and was stalking boldly through the streets. Instead of glad Alleluia were heard only the hoarse voices of the carriers. "Bring out your dead!" The big-hearted big-hearted Pope mourned with the people peo-ple and sought help where alone it could be found in such dire distress. He ordered a general procession of priests and people; in the midst should be borne the wondrous picture of the Blessed Virgin which all tradition tradi-tion declared had been painted by St. Luke. Slowly the ranks formed and moved on to the Church of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. Behind the sacred painting followed the Holy Father of all the faithful in fervent prayer. As he advanced the air was felt to grow lighter, the pestilence was already disappearing. They had come to the bridge which crosses the Tiber to the Batlcan. Suddenly above the picture was heard the heavenly concert con-cert of the angels a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, as on that first Christmas night. But now they were singing in the broad light of day. "Rejoice! rejoice! thou Queen of Hea ven, Alleluia, , For He that thee for Son was given. Alleluia. As he promised is arisen, Alleluia." Then the angelic voices were still and the people, with new hopes in their hearts, stood wistfully gazing into the sky whence they had heard the heavenly strains. But behold the great Pontiff's voice broke upon their ears: "Mother, pray for us to God, Alleluia!" This was the Easter anthem an-them of our Lady completed. Lifting his eyes to heavtn they saw above I the great fortress of the Emperor I Adrian the destroying angel, wiping ' his bloody sword and replacing it into its sheath. Hence forward unto the i present day, the pagen emperor's 1 tombs bears the name of Fort St. An- ' gelo. j |