The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-03-04
THE DEAN or THE SACRED COLLAGE.

| Though Cardinal Patrizi was more than
stx years younger than his Holiness Pope
| Plus TX. he was not de stined to see the
close of the latter'a already unequaled pom
tihcate. Had he done 80, had he survived
the holy Father, 80 as 10 take part in the
next Pspal Conclave, bis paramount poai.
ton aR Dean of the Sacred College would
have been thus indicated During the
scrutiny of the votes of the CODclave in the
peerless Sistine Chapel, the floor of the
sanctuary (Which there occupies one |
half Of the sacred edi6ce) 10 raised to q |
leveS with the dais on which the Pontif-s
throne is placed-a throne that, upon the
occasion OF this solemn act of scrutiny in
conelave, Ia removed, no Pope being then
in existence, the time being that of an in
terregnum. Around the walls of the
sanctuary, thus brought to level with the
iOotstool of the throne where the Papa Re
is ordinarily seated, are ragged from sixty
to seventy thTOnes-the thrones not only
Of the Cardinals taking part in the Con l
cIave. bat of ell the membera Of the Sacred
College, whether preset or not, all of them c
being sovereigns, as each is Q possible Pope t
iuriog the vacancy of the Chief See in I
Raised above each throne is b
canopy OF baldaquio, the drapery of G
which IS green in the Instance of those who t
,ave been raised to the cardinalitial h
lignity by the Pope then recently deceased &
II a moments notice all the canopies can, II
pom the touching of a silken cord, bs a'
wept out of view upon the instant the st
ew Rope has been selected, leaviog, of
ourSe, the canopy or baldaquin over his nj
hroDe untouched. m
immediately in front of each throne and p,
Glow the baldaquin, is little table COW je,
req, "a the case may be, with a cloth of th
rcen or purple, upon the front of which in
inscribed the Cardinals name with, be- tic
;" 1t, his shicid hsraldically emblazoned. A CO
ack leather portfolio or blottiDg book cet
n au afs.H, ssfI a
bic before the throne and under the in
'!daquin. Ia the place OF honor-under vel
q hfst baldsqniD, on the Gospel de of bee
q SanctuaTy-is seated upnn his throne shs
q Dean of the Sacred College. The the
at are ranged ia sequence after him ac- he
riding to the order of their creation 9th
: cardinal bishops, the Cardinal priests inc
tho Cardinal Deacons Until tue OBJ. to
g Of the Conciave is accomplished, will
I'll the new Pope has been selected, the
an of the Sacred College of Cardinals
esides. He occupies the throne of
Shest dignity, the throne which is his are
right Of seniority. He it 10 who first an
Ia IN the electoral Schedule-Ego ex
Cardinal. Eligo in
mmon Poutifcem. appendipa fro
the lAst or isth fold of the schedule q al
mber and motto by way of distinction.
In the Dean Of the Sacred College who, cre
\ electoral. scheduie, holding it between tes
ger and thumb, asceods TO the high tn'
ar where he places 1t on the gold eFi
INA, which Tests upon the chAlice, into
'ch afterwards, lifting mp the patina l1t p
the purPoac, he ehrOWs his seated and 90 90
ded schedule. IL 10 the Dean Who rings eS' ts'
'oIi placed on the little table in front of .ns m
throne for that purpose, to bid the req
rdinaIs qnit che chapel ct the close of rel rel
'h scrutiny. lac