NOTICES OP PERU. 



321 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Influence of priests over society — Perpetual light— Priests rule families — Con- 

 fession — Penances — Money paid for expiation of sin— Novenas— Superstition 

 — Preaching-r— Bulas de Cruzada — Character of the clergy- — Notions about 

 religious toleration — Supremacy of the Pope — Cartas Peruanas." 



Jn spite of the low state of morals in Lima, the influence of 

 religion, or rather of, its priests over society, is very great. 

 WJiatever the, ^^sacerdote santo," says, is looked upon with 

 great veneration. They exercise, their power, however, with 

 a great deal of lenity, and seldom interdict any of the pleasures 

 or pastimes of the people. Notwithstanding thi§ influence, the 

 number of intrinsically pious Catholics is very limited, though 

 all, are very observant of the /orTTZ^ of religion. The priests 

 ar^ very careful in giving currency to superstitious notions, par- 

 ticularly in cases where pecuniary profit is to be derived. The 

 importance of endowing chapels and chaplains, is very gene- 

 rally inculcated. . > 



In the eastern part of the city, there is a small crucifix stand- 

 ing in little niche in the wall of a corner house, before which 

 a light has been kept burning for many years. Around the 

 niche are nailed small boojis, said to contain the history of an 

 individual who was murdered near the spot, and who left a very 

 respectable estate. As hq died without the sacrament and con- 

 fession, a portion of his property was allotted to pay for daily 

 masses, to free his soul from the pangs of purgatory, which is 

 hel,d up by the clergy as, a terror to the ignorant, to prevent 

 them from omitting any of the forms of the church. Indeed, 

 it would seem, as that eccentric tyrant of Paraguay, Dr. Fran- 

 cia, once said, ''the priests teach the people to be mindful of 

 the devil, and forgetful of God Almighty.'^* . ^ 



The priests managed, through the means of the confessional 



* JEssai Historique sur la Revolution du Paraguay, pour Rengger et Long- 

 champ. 



41 



