The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-15


cardinalate. These robes, which, by their color,
recall to the mind of his Eminence that he is
bound. II occasion arise, to lag down his life for
the faith or for the least of the privileges CT the
Apostolic See consist Of the cassock, like that
of an ordinary priest, except that it is scarlet
Tor, as the Romans call It, the imperial purple)
over which is worn rochet adorned with rich
lace and over this again the cappa magma Tor
great cloak which is a cape Of white fur having
attached to it train reaching about six yards in
length or the same color the cassock. The
cardinals have three distinct sets of robes which
they wear according TO the time of the year
There is the winter costume OF cloth and the
summer one OF silk These are both scarlet, but
the latter is considerably lighter in hue than the
former, and, lastly, there is one whole set in
purple, which is worn by cardinals in Lent Ad-
vent and the other mourning occasions. on which
the bishops wear black. All the year round,
however. the cardinals wear the scarlet stock
lngs, red morocco shoes with gold buckles, the
scarlet sknll-cap (yuchetto) and beretta, and the
heavy gold tassels on their sash. Over the
cappa the gold pectoral cross is worn, suspended
round the neck by gold and scarlet cord, fast
ened with tasseis behind. This cross in many
instances is most richly jeweled, especially with
rubles. and 1t is not uncommon for the friends OF
a cardinal-elect to present him with the pectopal
cross and the ring, which he wears in common
with archbishops, bishops and some of the mon
seigneurS.
The Cardinal having come in will ascend his
throne. over which the Noble Guard. in full uni
form, and with drawn swords, will keep guard.
When his Eminence has taken his seat all the
archbishops, bishops prelates and clergy. secu
lar and regular, will approach and kneeling,
kiss the hand of him who represents the majesty
OF Rome. Then the Carninal will rise give the
indulgence of hundred days. which it is their
privilege to publish, and with outstretched hand
bless all in the cathedral with the apostolic ben
ediction sent by the Pope for this purpose.
This over, the new Cardinal will proceed to
his residence, blessing the kneeling throngs as
he goes, first on the one side and then on the
other. AT his house he will receive the congrat-
ulations of his friends, and there will probably
be banquet served, at which he will preside,
the apostolic commission sitting on either hand
of him.
Not long after this his Eminence Cardinal Glib
bons will have to set out for Rome to receive
from the Pope himself the cardinals hat and to
deliver in his hands the oaths of his fidelity. He
will bring with him probably at least two of the
priests of his diocese, chaplain and secretary.
Arrived at the Eternal City, he will probably be
the guest either of the Propaganda or, more
likely still, of the American College.
In this city it will be necessary for him to
have state coach and several liveried servants,
for the etiquette of the Roman court, which is
very strict, forbids cardinals to walk while with
in the city walls. Immediately on his arrival he
will receive an audience of the Pope, and will
afterward visit the Cardinal Secretary Of State.
Then, on the appointed day, his Eminence and
his suite will repair to the Vatican, and ascending
the Scala Regia, will be received by the proper
officials and conducted to the throneroom The
scene in the pontifcal throne-room will be a
brilliant one. The Holy Father, vested in the
pure white, which is the mark of his office. will
be seated on the throne On either hand will
be assembled all the cardinals, vested in their
scarlet robes, who are resident in Rome and
who generally number about thirty-fve or
forty, and any visiting cardinals who may
chance to be in the city at the time. The new
cardinal, having approached the Holy Father,
with Bonded knee will proceed to the foot of his
throne, and there, kneeling, the hat will be
placed his head after he has taken the
profession of the Catholic faith, dec
laration of fidelity to the Holy See, even
to the shedding of blood if necessary, and pro
testation that the dignity of the cardinalate
shall never be allowed to diminish in the hands
of the new cardinal. Then somewhat curious
ceremony is performed. Cardinal Gibbons's
mouth will be solemnly closed and the Pope will
bid him know how to keep silence where silence
is needed, and then his mouth will be opened
and he will be hidden to open his mouth and
mind in council to the Holy Father and the
sacred college. This ceremony over, there will
be coEe!s~c held, in which the Pope will de-
liver an allocuti0n, in which he will welcome the
newcomer to the sacred college, dwell upon his
pleasure IN seeing representative of the young
est and most vigorous of the church's children,
the great American nation, among them once
more, recall the solemnity of the occasion, and
the dignity Of the Office He will then EN- brace
him and give him the kiss of peace after which
each of the cardinals will approach and do the
same. The Pope will then name Cardinal GiD-
bons to several Offices in the Roman court and
as member of some of the congregations.
Lastly his Eminence will return thanks to the
Pope for the dignity to which he has been raised
in Latin speech. He will. doubtless express
his profound sense Of his own unworthiuess
nf md IN
brother cardinals should he do any thing
which should not meet with their entire ap-
prevail.
The red hat, which is the insignia Of the Car
dinals Office, is a low-crowued. very wide
brimmed hat of red silk with tassels of gold and
scarlet to the number of fifteen on either side,
hanging down from the inside Of the crown, and
it is worn on this occasion only, but is borne
before the Cardinal on few other occasions in
his life, and Is placed at the foot of his bier at
his obsequies After his death it is suspended
from the roof of his church.
The conclave.oyer, Cardinal Gibbons will re
turn to his apartments, whore the next few days
will be spent In receiving Populations and the
congratulations of the ambassadors accredited to
the Holy See. and innumerable addresses will be
read to him, and his ingenuity will be somewhat
put to the test to find something new to say in
his reply to each. Then petitioners will crowd
his ante-chamber with requests-some that he
will use his influence to forward the canonization
OF SOUl0 particular SAINT, OLu6rS GnaG ne Will o.
tain from the Holy See this privilege or that for
the petitioner.
Then the last act in the prolonged ceremony
will be reached when he will go ordained to take
possession Of his titular church. The parish
churches of Rome are what are called 'tituars"
that is to say, they give the titles to the car
dinas, and it is the priest of some church in
Rome that a man is cardinal and hence it is
that they always spoken of as cardinals of
the Holy Roman Church. Archbishop Gibbons
hn nal ,sr bot
which of the churches will give him his title.
The late Cardinal McCloskey took his from the
great Dominican Church of st. Maria Minerva
Whichever it is, the Cardinal will take possession
of it. and then having fully entered into all the
privileges of his new Office he will turn his face
once more toward his distant home All along
his road he will be met with congratulations,
welcomes and addresses, and he will receive
autograph letters from all the Catholic kings
and rulers; not the least curious of which will be