Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-05
THE FINAL CEREMONY Ar ROME
Another Notable Ceremonial at the
Comforting Of the Red Hat.
from the Mem York World


hat to Cardinal Gibbons will take place
in Rome within the next year, at public
consistory. 1t is called public because
bishops preates and am bassadors attend
it. The day preceding the one appointed
for the public cOnsistOry the chlet OF the
/ College Of Apostolic Cursores, 10 full Off
cial costume, bearing in his hands the
| traditional thorn, repairs TO the respec-
! tive residences of the newly created car
| dlnals, to whom he intimate, In the regu-
lar Latin formula, the pubic onnsiSsorY
set tor the day following, Leaving with
their Eminences the printed circular
| from the Project of POntitcal CeremO-
| MES. Similar copies are at the same
! time served by the other apostolic cur
sores upon the entire Sacred College, the
! priests and all entitled to a place IN the
/ assembly.
THE CARDINALS RING.
This is one of the most brilliant scenes
! conceivable. Surrounded by the men,
| bers Of the Papal Court, the Holy Father
sits on his massive throne, at the far end
OF the Sala Regia, with his golden mItre
! upon his mead. Long rows OF benches are
| placed on each side of him, upon which
sit the members of the Sacred College in
their full cardinalatial costume. On the
steps before their Eminences sit their
chaplains, whose duty 1t is to mold the
| scarlet berettas on their knees and TO
| gather up or carry as many as may be
necessary of the cardinals trains. 1t is
! a spectacle growing at every step in in
! terest. The magnificent frescOes on the
walls, the gracefully arched roof, the
! costly paVements and the elaborate
| decorations on all sides take one
back to the days of the medieval
splendor. The diversity of costume
strikes one with curiosity and astOnish-
ment, and wherever the eye wanders it is
sure to light upon something both artistic
and picturesque. There is seated on his
throne the arbitrator Of the Roman
Catholic world-a gentle, yenerable-look-
/ lng old man, with features d5nOung the
full growth Of mental vigor. There are
the Cardinals, with brilliant robes and
| graceful trains, all OF them men OF learn
ing, OF enthusiasm for their religion and
devoted to Intellectual pursuits. Contrast
| them with the bright steel armOr of the
| swiss guards upon party-cOlOre1 dou blet
and hose, the officers suits being richly
| damascened IN gold, and you Will be able
| to form picture of the reality.
Prelates OF every rank and robed in
| every variety of costume throng the hall
and confer additional lustre to the scene.
| The ceremonies open by what is called
the "OUedIence." This is peculiar act
OF homage due to the Pope from the Cardi-
nals, and consists in gong up publicly
one by one in stately procession, with
caDpG magma OF royal ermine and out
| spread trailing scarlet robe, to kiss the
ring of the Fisherman after making a pro-
| found inclination to the POrtif sitting on
his throne. Alter the protested Cardinals
come the newly-elect, who have first
taken, in the SistIne Chapel, the oath of
allegiance prescribed by the apostolic
constitutions, in the presence of the Pope,
To-, a 81
religious orders. They enter the cOnsls-
tOrial hail in procession and kiss the hands
and feet of His Holiness, after which they
exchange the accOlade or ecclesiastical
embrace, with their eminent colleagues,
beginning with the senior member Of the
Sacred College and ending with the last
promoted. During these proceedings Que
| of the consistOrial advocates pleads the
cause of the Identification or canOniZation
of some person eminent for sanctity. The
new Cardinals then return to the pOntif-
cal throne and the Pope places the red nat
on the head of each one, saying as he does
so, in Latin: Receive, for the glory of
Almighty God and the adOrnment of the
Holy Apostolic See, this red hat, the sign
OF the unequalled dignity Of the cardinal
ate, by which 1t ls declared that even to
death by the shedding of thy blood thou
shouldst show myself intrepid for the ex-
altation Of the blessed faith, for the peace
and tranquility of the Christian people,
for the increase and prosperity of the
Holy Roman Church. In the name of the
Father and of the Son and OF the
Holy Ghost Amen" The hat is only
placed by the Pope on the Cardinals
head. He then lifts it up and hands it
to the Project of Papal Ceremonies,
In the evening 1t is carried in
great state, by the Master of the Pontf-
cal Wardrobe, to the residence OF the
new Cardinal, accompanied by two other
prelates and i've servants IN rich liVeries.
After the giving of the hat, the Pope rises,
and, imparting the apostolic benediction
10 all present, retires to his apartments.
The members of the sacred College in the
meantime proceed to The Sistine chapel,
led by the Papal choir chanting the Te
Deum. The Cardinal Dean recites a
PRAYER over the new members, who there
upon are embraced by the cardinals pres
ent, and welcomed into the ranks of the
sacred senate. After the public cOnsistory
IA secret consistOry takes place, in which
the following remarkable ceremonies are
observed: The Pontid addresses the new
members like this: "We seal your lips, so
that ye may not be able to speak your
opinion either IN cOnsistOries or in other
ecclesiastic8l functions" The business
otstne meeting is then transac1ed, and
at the end the Junior cardinal deacon
.
making the sign Of the cross over them,
opens tneIr lips again By saying: ave
open your lips 30 that IN cunsstOries,
congregations and other ecclesiastical
functions ye may be a0le to speak your
opinion, IA the name Of the Father and
Of the Son and OF the Holy Ghost.
Amen" This ceremony is of great an
tiqulty, for it is mentioned IN the
thirteenth century by Cardinal Gaetani.
some have surmised that the intention OF
such a rite was to give the newly
created Cardinals a kind of novitiate
before receiving what is STYLED In canon
law the active and passive life-i e., the
right OF electiug and Of being elected to
the Pontiiicate. 1t may, however, have
been INTENDED to impress upon them the
necessity Of prudence and mOdesty Of
speech in such august assemblies.
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