Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-05-20
About Popes.

About Popes.
VI ,.n a Pope dies there are some
peculiar ceremonies. For instance,
as soon as it is known in his palace
that he is dead, a man enters the
room whore his body lies and raps on
his head three times with a silver
mallet, calling his name three times !;
then, having waited for reply, hich
he knew beforehand would not come,
he announces formally that the Pope
is dead, as if the rapping on his skull
were the final proof. Then the great
bell OF the Capitol is tolled, and every
body knows by that what has taken
place then there is o funeral Of nine
days, in which time the city seems
given over to noise and disorder, as
If it was without any one to govern
it. Meanwhile, watched day and
night by guard, be lies on sump-
tuous bier, with tapers blazing around
him and crowds of people come and
kiss the toe Of his slipper, and look at
him in his splendid robes, and at last
be is laid away in the vault, and the
cardinals begin the struggle for sue
cessor.
The choice is always from their
own number; and consequently every
ono aspires to the Office; and deep is
the scheming as soon as there is q
probability that it will become va
cant. Each is entitled to cast one
vote, and his right cannot be taken
from him. Even if he is a criminal,
he may be taken from prison to vote.
The Pope must be an Italian by birth;
no man from any other nation has
occupied the place for nearly three
hundred and fifty years.
At the ceremony Of inaugurating a
new Pope, one of the customs is to
put q bunch of tow on the end Of a
staff and burn it just before his eyes,
and while it is swiftly blazing and
vanishing, the voice of the official
who holds it solemnly says to him,
"St. Peter, sic transit gloria mundi,"
to remind him that all things are vain
and perishable.
1t used to be necessary that the
horse ridden by the Pope on state oc.
casions should be grey and when he
mounted it must be from a stool with
three steps, and if any royal person
were present, he should hold the stir
rup, and walk beside the horse, lead
ing him.
The first who dared to set himself
above sovereigns was Leo Ill, who
was friend to Charlemagne and at
some grand festival where the French
nobility and Roman clergy were pre-
sent in all their glory, Leo came for
ward, and to the surprise Of every
one, placed a magnificent crown on
the head of that prince and aaointed
him.
After this the Popea took part in
politics, made wars and treaties, for
bide marriages, and communicated
whoever displeased them, They med
dled in the affairs Of nearly every
court in Europe, aud made Lhem-
selves a terror. The excommunica-
ton Of sovereign was felt to lie a
most dreadful calamity, and no won
der; for while he was in this state,
the church bells were not rung, sacra-
ment was not administered, affairs
and pictures were covered with black
cloth, statues of saints were taken
down and laid on beds Of cnders and
ashes, and there was a general APP
pearance of desolation and mourning.
Sometimes the Pope granted what
was called "dispensatioD," if the Of
fender would build church, or pay
a heavy fine and in this way vast
amount of wealth was gained by this
great potentate. A mans estate was
liable at any moment to be forfeited
if he gave offence in any way. 1t
was so in all Catholic countries
There were frequent contests before
property and rights were given up
but the one man at the head of the
Roman Church usually prevailed
for his secret agents were everyw here
and men were superstitious and fear
full. More than one king asked bis
forgiveness, going barefoot and on
his knees even, to sue for il.
The number of Popes, according tc
the r mish calendal, from Saint
Peter to Plus | Y is two hundred anc
fifty eight. Not many of them have
been known by their true names
thus Nicholas Breakspeare. an Eng
lishman, and the last who was of for
eigh birth, is known in the list az
Adrian " Immediately after his
election, the Pope takes new name
the first one who did this is supposed
TO have been ashamed of his own
which was Osporco (hog's hesh) anC
his successors, without similar reason
followed his example.
Peter has not been q name chosen
because none wished to assume thai
of the first, the vicar, as they say
whom the Master appointed. There
have been sixteen called Gregory
Clement, fourteen Benedict, four.
teen, Innocent. thirteen, Leo, twelve
Plus, nine The present Pope, Plui
TX. has occupied the place Longer
than any other.-"Hjrkland." u
Christian Weekly
EEThe Milwaukee Sentinel say
that "gradually the Liberals are com