The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-12-09

! to the centre of the Basilica. to the front o..
| St. Peters Confession. There o canon Bishop
pronouuces the solemn Benediction. These
services completed, they oarry the corpse to
| the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament; they lay
10 Within the iron chancel, which is after " AT
iocked, yet in such O wise that the feet resting
on the front railing, an opportunity is given
the faithful to print on them O kiss OF love aud
flial reverence,
Thus are the remains allowed TO lie for
three days Ou the evening of the third the
cardinals who have been raised to the Sacred
College by the defonct Poutiff repair to the
chapel to assist at the sad duty of a lest dis
posal, the which is performed in the follow
ing manner:
The body is transferred to the Chapters
chapel the absolution is pronounced by an
archbishop or bishop. and ali usual prayers
with accompanying ceremonies are concluded;
wood, into which the majordomo deposits
medals of gold, silver, and copper, coined
during his Holiness's reign, and in number
dinsl nephew, if any such be there or the sur
viving oldest appointed by the deceased or,
finally by Monsignor Master of the Chamber,
the face 10 covered with q white linen, and
winding sheet of crimson cloth laid over the
whole corpse. The mournful duty is then
performed Of laying down the lid, screwiug it
on the bowels and sealing it; and thus @
lead, in which the family coat OF arms and ap-
propriate epitapbs and inscriptions are in
CLOSED, 10 also sealed with the signets of the
C8rQlnSl C8Werl6nRO anu OF bn0 mDJor0OmO.
Bsth cofius arc then incased in q third of
wood. Thus arranged, the ooffins are placed
unosr the great dome Of the Basilioa under
st. Peters Confession.
fered every day in the many chapele of the
Basilics, but solemn one 10 nung the first day
by the Cardinal Dean, and on the following
days BY othare, according to rank tho sacred
college assisting. At the close of each solemn
macs the prescribed absolutions are performed.
During the last three days the ceremonies
are even more imposing, inaspuoh as the
priests assisted by four eminentissinai, each in
turn sprinkling the body with holy water, and
incensing it, in strict compliance with the Ro-
On the last day, the chosen Prelate recites
the concluding prayer in fanere, and thus are
the expiatory offices brought to q close.
The grandeur of these last rites is of ne
turs that can be realized only by such as have
had the mournfal privilege of witnessing
them
THE MANNER OF ELHcTING POPE.
On the third day after the Poutiff's demise,
the cardinals, dressed in dark purple, repair to
the dressing hall in the Vatican Basilioa. The
first general meeting (cOngregasione) is to be
held After the recital of prescribed prayers
the Pontifcal Constitutions are read. by
and the laws for the administration of the
government have been framed the first
(Ubi periculam) issued at the council of Lyons
"a. 1870, by Gregory <; the last (Apostoli-
1751), six in all. At this point the Fisher
mans Ring, and other signets and seals.
W hereof we have spoken above, are present
ed. Monsignor Prodstary delivers into the
cardinals hands a casket, wherein sundry pc.
titions are inclosed and which is intrusted to
the care of two of the Prelates in waiting,
also another bog containing briefs; the gov:
ernor of Rome is confirmed in his office, and
two among the most distinguished prelates are
chosen, one to recite the prayer in funere on
the last day of the Dovendialia, and another to
0ffa Ia Io oTs1 DDafs
Lastly, three entiRentiSsimi are by secret ballot
appointed to superintend the construction Of
the oonclave.
In q second congregation, assembled In the
vestry, the several superior officers or magts-
trates of the city and of the Papal States are
confirmed, the conserrateri Il e., the m sgistrates
mitted to an audience, and the cardinals
chosen to superintend the construction of
cells to be occupied during the conclave. re-
port on what arrangements they have made.
The choice of q confessor, for the time of the
conclave. forms the subject of deliberation
in third meeting, held slso in the vestry.
At fourth, two physicians are appointed.
In the fifth, an apothecsry, two bar bers, and
is a after of serious consideration, for they
must bs impervious to bribery.
Four more coagregasioni are held, and in
them matters are arranged for the best order
and expedition of business.
Thus in the sizth, the youngest cardinal dea-
con assigns by ballot to every eleotor the cell
no ID TO occupy curing Cno 5eselOn anu Tue re-
quisite masters of ceremonies are appointed
Their number is limited to six.
In the terenth, the necessity Of third at
tendant on such cardinals IS may need it ia
considered. A committee also of one more
cardinals is appointed to select the thirty-fve
who are required for the menial
services of the conclave.
In the eighth, the availability Of conclavsts
is examined: Conclavists are called such
prelates of lower grade whom cardinals are
allowed to choose for attendance on their
persons. subject however, to the approval of
the committees.
In the ninth, three cardinals are appointed
to regulate the sanitary department. of the
conoave.
In the tenth, q master mason and carpenter
are selected. At this meeting suoh cardinals |
who are not in orders, and yet have right to |
vote, present their claims" After whicn am |
bassadors of foreign powers, and other person |
ages, are admitted to visit the eninentissimi !
The usual purport of their addresees turns |
upon the necessity Of q speedy and judioious |
election of the worthiest member.
On the day after all the meetings have been
brought to Q close, o solemn mass is offered by |
the cardinal dean, and an oration de eligcndo |
'umno Pontifoe is delivered by the appointed |