The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-24 00:00:00

CHRISTMAS AT ROME.

I When the Pope celebrates Divine Service on
Christmas-day, the great or middle doors of St.
i Peter's are thrown open at ten, and the grand
procession, preceded by a beadle carrying the
papal cross, and two others bearing lighted
torches, advances slowly in two long lines
between two ranks of soldiers up the nave. This
majestic procession is closed by the Pontiff him-
self; seated in a chair of state, supported by 20
valets, half concealed in the drapery that falls in
loose folds from the throne : he is crowned with
his tiara, and bestows his benediction on the
crowds that kneel on all sides as he is borne
along. When arrived at the foot of the altar he
descends, resigns his tiara, kneels, and as-
suming the common mitre, seats himself
in the episcopal chair on the right of
the altar, and joins in the psalms and
prayers that precede the solemn service. To-
wards the conclusion of these preparatory devo-
tions, his immediate attendants form a circle
around him, clothe him in his pontifical robes,
and place the tiara on his head, after which, ac-
companied by two deacons and two sub-deacons,
he advances to the foot of the altar, and, bowing
reverently, makes the usual confession. He
then proceeds in great pomp through the chancel,
and ascends the pontifical throne, while the
choir sings the Introitus, or psalm of entrance,
the Kyrie Eleison and Gloria in Excelsis, when
the Pontiff lays aside his tiara, and after having
saluted the congregation in the usual form, the
Lord be with you, reads the collect, the epistle,
and verses from the psalms, intermingled with
hallelujahs. The Pontiff then rises, gives his
benediction to the two deacons, who kneel, with
the book of gospels at his feet, and, resigning
his tiara, stands while the gospel is sung in Latin
and Greek. When the Nicene Creed, and the
psalm following it are over, he descends
trona his throne ; and, approaching the
altar with the same attendants, and the same
pomp as in the commencement of the service,
receives and offers up his usual oblations, fumes
the altar with frankincense from a golden censer,
and then washes his hands, a ceremony imply-
ing
purity of mind and body. He then turns to
the people, and in an humble and affectionate ad-
dress begs their prayers, and shortly after com-
mences that sublime form of adoration and
praise, called " The Preface," because it is an
introduction to the most solemn part of the Li-
turgy, and he chaunts in a tone supposed to be
borrowed from the ancient tragic declamation,
and very noble and impressive. The last words,
" Holy, holy, holy," &c , are uttered in a pos-
ture of deep adoration, and sung by the choir in
notes of deep and solemn intonation. All mu-
sic then ceases, and an awful silence reigns
around, while in a low tone the Pontiff recites
that most ancient and venerable invocation which
precedes the consecration. After saluting the
people in the ancient form, the Pope returns to
his throne, and then offers up his devotions on his
knees at the foot of the altar, and, borne along in
the same state as when he entered, passes down the
nave of the church, and ascends by the Scala
Regia to the grand gallery in the middle of the
front of St. Peter's. His immediate attendants
surround his person ; the rest of the procession
draws up on each side ; the immense area and
colonnade before the church are lined with
troops and crowded with thousands of spectators;
all eyes are fixed on the gallery ; the chaunt of
the choir is heard at a distance ; the blaze of
numberless torches plays round the columns ;
and the Pontiff appears elevated on his chair of
state under the middle arch. Instantly the
whole multitude below fall on their knees; the
cannons of St. Angelo give a general discharge,
while rising slowly from his throne, he lifts his
hands to heaven, stretches forth his arm, and
thrice gives his benediction to the crowd, to the
city, and to all mankind : a solemn pause fol-
lows, another discharge is heard, the crowd rises,
and the pomp gradually disappears.

CHRISTMAS IN THE SCILLY ISLANDS•

In these islands they have a custom of sing-
ing carols on a Christmas-day at church, to which
the congregation make contribution by dropping
money into a hat carried about the church when
the performance is over.