The Sun.
London, England, 1826-01-20 00:00:00

THE JUBILEE AT ROME.

The JUBILIE YIAR, with all its boons and :;ii
privations, at Rocca, terminated on the 24th of,
December; and the Romans, after twelve months
of prayers, processions, and indulgences, are nu.
orally anxious for a little recreation. To grant
this, however, there seems to be some degree of
reluctance in their rulers ; for, instead of allow.
ing the theatres to be opened at the usual time,
immediately after Christ inns, no intimation of
such concession has hitherto been published.
Thr closing of what is called the holy gate at
it. Peter's took place in the afternoon of Christ.
nuts Ave, with the following ceremonies :—" Af-
ter vespers bad been sung in the Sistine Ch,.
pel, the Pope, attended by the cardinals, &c.,
descended by a private staircase into the
church, where he WA ti received by the Chapter,
and prayed before the reliques and Sacra.
He next gave out the anthem, Cunt
ju-
canditaie exhibitis, which was stmg by his choris-
ters while the grand procession, preceding his
liolinesa bearing a candle, marched into the par-

tiro. Here he ascended the throne which had
been prepared for him, and the assistants took
their•respective places, The two steps of granite
leading to the holy gate had been previously
removed, and two of wood substituted.
.S'ever2l
trays containing bricks, mortar, and st-iirco, des-
tined for-the appearance of walling up the sacred.
aperture, had been placed near the step:. The
other requisites, such us aprons, trowels, &c. were
disposed upon tables. Every thing being ready,
the two wooden steps, were taken away, tise
Pope quitted his throne, with mitre on head and
candle in hand, in order to bless the bricks and
mortar. This being performed, one of the masters
of the ceremonies girt on him an apron. Kneeling
upon upon a cushion placed in front of the doorway
he received a trowel from a Cardinal, took with it
some mortar, which lie spread upon the threshold,
recitingat the same lima form of prayer. Upon this
heplaced in the centreand at the sides three bricks,
which were gilt, and embossed with his arms nod
those of the cathedral. During this and subse-
quent operations the choir sung the hymn
" Gw/estis urbs Jerusalem." Next came the Car-
; dinal Chief Penitentiary, who also placed his
bricks and mortar. his Eminence was followed
in a like process by the four senior Penitentiaries
(Confessors) belonging to the church. It will be
sufficiently evident that the most workmnulike
arrnogement of about 18 bricks could not close
this entrance into the church ; but, in order to
effect the semblance of completion, the work-
men lowered over the aperture a canvas painted'
to represent a gate. The Pope, upon re-
turning to his throne, resigned the apron,
and washed his hands, the ewer being preseoted
by the Duke of Gravena,' and the towel by the
senior Cardinal in priest's orders. His Holiness
then rend the text of the above hymn. All the
candles that had been borne by those who had
composed the procession were now extinguished;
the Pope gave out the To Deum, which was per-
formed by the choristers ; and the solemnity con-
eluded with a publication by two Cardinals of a
plenary indulgence in favour of all present. Si•
miler ceremonies were performed at the churches
of St. John of Lateran, St. Mary •the Garter„
and St. Mary In Tritstevere, where the Jubilee
gates were shut by Cardinals especially ale.
gated to those offices." • •