Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-03-20
NUMBER 18.
THE POPE's FUNERAL.
Imposing Scenes in the Great Cathe.
dral of st. Peter.

n THE POPE'S FUNERAL.
" Imposing Scenes in the Great Cath
4 . dral Of st. Peter.
- Rome Correspondence London Times,
Manning goes by with dignified ste
his face little bent down. Howa
passes with head erect and that dignifi,
bearing which enables him to wear
robes with such grace. Some of the C
lege have their handkerchiefs to the
eyes, and one old cardinal is sobbing.
The choir now bursts forth with
solemn funeral chant, and issues fro
the chapel followed by the cardinal arcl
priest of st. Peters, Borromeo. the cha]
ter of the Ephesus, Monsignor Folicald
archbishop of Ephesus, officiating, an
the body Of Plus is borne shoulder hig
by the Noble Guard. The processio
turns to the left, passes before tn
bronze statue of feter, sweeps slowl
round in front of the confession, an
passes down the other side to the chape
of the choir. All people knecl AS tn
dead pope passes; and as choristers Civ
forth their solemn notes, the pick of tn
workmen in the cavity above is heart
with regular stroke, far more significan
and full of meaning than any passing
bell could give. The religious ceremon
les within the chapel being completed
some of the Noble Guard advance to the
sides of the couch, and, taking the edges
Of the crimson velvet coverlet woven
with gold, on which the body is lying,
lift it reverently, dressed as it is in the
pontifcal robes, and wearing the mitre,
into the coffin.
Monsignor Ricci, maggiordomo to the
dead pope, receives from the hands of
MonsignOr Cataldi first rich velvet bag
embroidered with gold, containing thir-
ty-one gold, thirty-one silver, and thirty
one bronze medals, one for each year Of
Pio's pontificate, the thirty-second not
having been completed, and then tube
containing roll of parchment, on
which eulogium and life of the de-
ceased pontit! has been written by Mon
signor Mercurelli, which he places in
turn at the feet of the corpse. Monsig-
nor Cataldi covers the face with veil of
white silk and the body with one of
crimson, and then all laymen, minor &c.
clesiastics and cardinals, alike stretch
forward to take a last look; then the at
tendants step forward with the lid, and
all that remains of Plus is hidden from
sight. Nothing is now heard but the
first carpenter forcing the screws of the
cypress lid down, then the kissing of the
solder fusing the leaden cover. Again
the monsignors gather round the coffin,
and this time affix the seals OF two of
the corners. That Of the Cardinal Cam
erlengo is placed by Monsignor Cataldi,
but Monsignor Ricci will not depute any
other. He comes forward himself, places
one, and sits down in fit of weeping.
They have to wait some seconds until he
can impress the second. The fifth seal,
that of Cardinal Borromeo, is imprinted
on the side by his secretary; the sixth,
that of the chapter Of st. Peters, by the
archivist, Signor Wenzel.
The pens of the proto notary apostolic
the chancellor of the apostolic chamber
and the notary of the Chapter of st.
Peters are heard writing the process ver-
bdur. They are read in loud voice.
The lead coffin is placed in that polished
elm, and Monsignor Cataldi, in the
names of the Cardinal Camerlengo and
the sacred college, formally consigns the
care of the coffin and its contents to the
Chapter of st. Peters. The coffin is now
placed on platform with wheels, the
cardinals descend from their stalls and
surround it, and as the choristers chant
the Benedictus it is slowly moved from
the chapel. Monsignor Folicaldi, who
was dapifero to Plus TX. when he entered
the last conclave as Cardinal Mastai, pro-
nounces the last absolution, the tackle is
fixed, and slowly the coffin is raised aloft
and slipped into the hole, for niche it
cannot be called. There is moments
pause, and then the head of the church
during the sede racdnte is surrounded by
the prelates of the apostolic chamber,
and attended by two palafrenieri, with
scarlet liveries, and four Swiss guards,
with halberds, returns to the apartments
of the vatican which he has inhabited
since the death of Plus TX. and which he
will continue to occupy until the elec.
tion of his successor.
Meanwhile the masons are busy brick
ing up the wall where the coffin has been
placed. Four cardinals linger to look on,
while the Noble Guard and the Swiss keep
watch around. The great majority Of
those invited gradually depart, and at
10 o'clock the sarcoph4gus, shaped in
front with cushion and tiara upon it,
is hoisted up and fixed in its place. On
it are inscribed the capitals, Plus IX.,
p. NJ"