Once every year it
is brought out into the public square, while all the criminals from
the state prison stand in line. By a move of her head she is supposed
to point out the one whom she thinks should be given his liberty.
From Goldsmith's "Rome" we learn that the vestal virgins possessed
the power to pardon any criminal whom they met on the road to
execution. Thus does Romanism follow paganism. With the Virgin is
often the image of St. Peter. The followers of this saint affirm that
they are always warned, three days before they die, to prepare for
death. St. Peter comes in person and knocks on the wall beside their
bed.
As the virgin, Diana, was the guardian of Ephesus, so the Virgin Mary
protects Argentina.
The Bishop of Tucuman, in a recent speech, said: "Argentina is now
safe against possible invasion. The newly-crowned Lady of the
Miracles defends the north, and the Lady of Lujan guards the
south."
A writer in The Times of Argentina naively asks: "If these can
safely defy and defeat all comers, is there any further necessity for
public expenditure in military matters?"
South America groans under the weight of a mediaeval religion which
has little to do with spiritual life. In Spain and Portugal, perhaps
the two most deluded of European lands, I have seen great darkness,
but even there the priest is often good, and at least puts on a
veneer of piety.
