Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-20
THE GOLDEN ROSE.
Something About This Great
ly Coveted Honor.
CEREMONY OF PRESENTATION.

\ Gift to Those Who Have Served
Well the Cause of the Church
and of Civilization.
It was announced in the papers little
while ago that the Papal Nuncio at Rio
de Janeiro had been commissioned by
Pope Leo XIII to present the Golden
Rose, on Michaelmss Day, to the Prin-
cess Regent of Brazil, in token OF the
Pope's satisfaction for the recent aboli-
ton of slavery throughout the vast Bra
lillian Empire. The Golden Rose, in the
form in which since the days Of Sixtus
Nv, it has been presented to sovereigns,
princes, generals, cathedral chapters,
famous shrines, or cities, meriting from
the successor of st. Peter this mark OF
his favor, is not single flower. 1t
is q golden branch, to which
thorns are appended, covered with
leaves, buds and flowers, the
topmost rose being the largest,
the whole deity wrought in pure gold.
Within the principal rose is placed
small receptacle, usually cup with lid
over it. in which, when blessing the
Golden Rose. the Pope places balm and
musk. The flower, or rather the branch,
il planted in vase, of which the shape
and design vary according to the fancy
of the august donor, but which always
has engraved on its pedestal the arms
and name of the Pope who blessed and
bestowed the Golden Rose which it con-
tains, As the flower is blessed, but not
necessarily bestowed, annually, it not
seldom happens that the Pope who first
blessed it is not the same Pope
who gives it away. If no worthy
recipient is found for it, the Golden
Rose may remain from year to year in
the treasury of the Papal chapel. In
1849 it unfortunately was there when the
agents of the Roman Catholic Republic
despoiled the treasury and stole the
Golden Rose. Its intrinsic value de-
pends greatly on the financial resources
Of the Pope who happens to order its
making. Probably economical reasons
obliged later Popes to dispense with the
splendid ruby that was attached as q
bud to the chief Rose, and with the
other precious stones with which the
branch was laden. Similarly the vase,
once of gold, has now come to be of sill
yer gilt. The Jesuit Baldassani states
that in 1850 800 gold scudi were used in
making the Rose. Alexander VII. had
two made-one to the value Of 1900,
the other 800 gold scudi, while
Pope Clement TX. sent a Golden Rose
valued at 1000 gold scudi and weighing
eight pounds, to the Queen of France
The artist received EGO sterling for his
skill in making this Golden Rose, which
was most delicately wrought. Within
the principal flower a splendid sapphire
was sci. innocent XI. had d Ross made
of great weight, worth 1,400 scudi, OF
crowns. An old newspaper of Rome
gives description of the Golden Rose
presented to The Queen of Naples by Plus
TX. in 1S49. The vase of silver gilt was
ornamented with oak leaves and armoria
bearings. The design of the vase was
suggested by one in porcelain giver
now in the Vatican library
measured eight inches by four. The
was no less than eighteen inches. Sucl
is the Papal gift of to-day. In earlier
times the Golden Rose might vary ir
form, but it seems always then to have
consisted of single rose made of gold
colored to initiate the natural flower
emblem of all that is beautiful, pure ant
loving, the queen of the flowers, the ia
vorite of painters and poets, meet gift o
Pope to those who have served wei
the cause of the Church and of civiliza
ton in the State. The giving of tht
Golden Rose is always done with solemn
ceremonial. If the person to whom the
flower is to be offered is in Rome
then the Pope in person usual,
presents it; if the Rose is confer
red on some one out of Rome
then an ablegate, nuncio, dele
gate or prelate appointed for the purpose
is chosen to offer it. The Pope ordin
arily sends q brief with the gift, as, fo
instance, did Callixtus I'LL, who, in hi
letter to King Charles VII. of France
remarked: 'Non muneris estimand,
est qusntitas sed altioris lsignifcationi
qualitas interpretanda." The ceremon,
Of conferring the Golden Rose is simila
to that used when during the latter day
of Plus TX. g exile at Gaeta, that Pontif
gave it to the Queen of Naples. o.
September 2, 1S49, at 10 o'clock tn
Papal ablegste celebrated Mass in tn
royal chapel in presence of tn
royal family of Naples. On tn
altar stood the vase with the Colder
Rose. After the lite naissa est, all pres
ent being seated, the priest read brie
from the Pope appointing the ablegate t.
offer the Rose in the name of His Holi
ness. Count Ludolf, Ambassador from
Naples to the Holy See, then read sec
ond brief from the Pope to the Queen
The ablegate, taking the vase and Colder
Rose from the altar, offered then
70 Her Majesty, saying: "Accip
Rosam de manibus nostris, quan
ex speciali commissions in Chris
to PATHS ct Domini nostri Phi
Divina Providentia Pape TX. nobis facti
tibi tradimus, per guam designatu1
gaudium utriusque Hierusalem, scilice
triumphantis ct militantis Ecclesi@ pei
guam omnibus Christi fidelibus
manifestatur flos lille speciossimus
qui est gaudium ct corona Sane
forum omnium. Suscipiat Ma
jestss Tua, qu@ secundum eacu.
lum nobilis, potens, ct multa VIRTUE
predita es, ut amplius multa virtute a
Christie Domino, nobiliteris, tanquam
Rosa plantata super rivos aquarium mul-
tarum, guam gratiam OK sua inest Trinus
ct Unus in e@cula s@culorum. Amen"