Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-12
ROME,
The New CardinaI-Tbe Ceremony of
IuYeslifure.

The New CardinaI-Tbe Ceremony of
InVesIlture.
A letter from Rome, dated March 14th,
says:
This city was yesterday in full fete. An
extraordinary movement of gilded car
riages filled with Cardinals and Prelates,
was observable in the streets; liyeries
trimmed with gold and silver glittered in
the sun a crowd of spectators on foot and
in vehicles, moved past the Piazzo San
Pietro, attracted by double object, namely,
that there was a secret consistory at the
Vatican, where the Pope was to pronounce
an allocution before making some new Car
dinals, and he was afterward to 20 to the
Cathedral and perform his devotions. In
the evening there was a public reception
at the houses of the new princes of the
Church; the palaces of the Roman arris-
tocracy were illuminated the streets were
thronged with numerous equipages, carry
ing persons eager to pay their respects to
the newly nominated dignitaries and
finally, the people focked around the priv
ileged dwellings, where bands of music
were playing. The receptions were most
brilliant, but the most numerous assembly
was remarked at the French embassy to
congratulate Cardinal Bonaparte.
The following ia the ceremony of invest
iture Before their introduction to the
public Consistory the new Cardinals take
an oath in the Sixtine Chapel in presence
of the dignitaries of the Sacred College.
The oath is a very long one, and COM
mences az follows:
81 (Lucien Bonaparte,) Cardinal of the
Holy Roman Church, promise and swear
that henceforth, as long as live, shall
be faithful and obedient to st. Peter, to the
Holy Apostolic Church of Rome, to our
most blessed Lord Plus TX, and to his sue
cessors economically and legitimately elected;
never to advise, consent TO, or support any
thing against the majesty of the Pontiicate,
or the persons of the pontiffs; never to re-
veal, knowingly or designedly, to their in
Jury or dishonor, the sacrets which they
may have confded to me themselves, or by
their nuncios, or by letter; to aid them in
preserving, defending, and recovering
against all, and, as far as my position allows,
the Roman papacy and sovereign rights of
st. Peter, ETC."
After taking the oath the new Cardinals
are COuuuClcu W blo L OpC, VIM 10 oOabCu
on his throne dressed in full pontiicials.
He places the red hat on the head of each
Cardinal with these words: Receive this
red hat, the sign of the eminent dignity of
the cardinalate, which obliges you to de.
vote yourself to the good of the Church of
the Faithful, even to death and the she'd
ding of your blood" All present, with the
exception Of the Pope, then proceeded to
the Sixtine Chapel TO chant the TIE Deum.
They return to the consistory, when the
Pope closes the mouth of each Cardinal,
using these words I'VE close your mouth
that you may not be able to give your
opinion in consistories, congregations and
other cardinalitial ceremonies" After
pronouncing this formula the Pope opens
a secret consistory, and when this is over
he unlocks the mouth of each of the new
Cardinals with these words; eve open
your mouth in the assemblies, in the coun-
ellis, in the election Of the Sovereign Pom
tiff, and in all the consistorial or extracon-
sistorial acts peculiar to Cardinals, and
which it belongs to them to perform"
This symbolical ceremony, which confers
on the Cardinal the active and the passive
voice, is followed by the bestowal of the
ring and title. The ring is gold with a
sapphire stone-the emblem of the high
priesthood and of sovereignty Cardi-
mails being the heirs presumptive of the
Sovereign Pohtif. The title is that of a
church in Rome TO which every Cardinal,
not of the Episcopal order, is assigned.