Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-03-20
GIVEN BY MANY POPES.
THE OFFERING OF THE GOLDEN
ROSE AND WHAT 1T IMPLIES.

Isvy u.x nr,. CO.
on '"0 'oy"' "eoip'on's'
From a continental contemnororv vve
translate the following fnteresting article.
A good deal has been said lately about
the "Colden Rose" The news. nublished
by several French nopera was Incorrect
but it. has called attention TO the origin of
one Of the most ancient pontifcal dccora-
tons.
In carly the Golden Rose was Of
fcrcd by the pontiffs to the nrefocts of
Rome. after having been carried to the
Church OF Santa Croce Later on it was
given to the most famous snnctuaries ia
Catholic sovcreiyns Fl, otieens ,rincosand
nrincpsses fu,oous oonarals ond ,,root nor
sonnues devoted to the church
Asnone OF the roses offered IN tba basil
icas is cytsnt it is i,nnns4ibln 70 ASCERTAIN
the model then in use. itiso,ly known
that il WIS merely n SINGLE flower in rcd
enamel. to initiate the rosf.. natural color
Aftervard. in.laad Of enamel a LARGE rnbv
WIS placed in the middle Of the rosc oiv-
in a deep red luster tn tho flower limo
cont XI had a suporb Golden rose made
weighing pounds 10 ounces. and adorned
with several sarphiras. The rose offered
by Clement XI totbc cuoeu and daunbin
of France wa, valued n; inward of p39O
1t weighed eight pounds Of unld. and had
Il narniiic, mt sapphire in the middle
Nogadav, tia. Goidcu Rose cost. ebout
600 IL il placed on a branch with leaves
and several flowers. planted in a vase of
silver u1lt with the papaI arms in relief
and an inscription.
The cAplqnation given of the sy1nbolism
is this: "Thc rose svmbolizes by its gold
the Almightly Lord of all thirGs. bv the
splendor aud richness of the metal, the
eternal light wherein the Godhead dvells.
by the perfume and balsam mt inside nv
the pope, the glory and resurrection Of
Christ"
THE CEREMONY.
The rite of benediction is exceedingly
solemn. The holy father, arrayed in his
sdccrlotal yc5tments, reads the formula
of beuedction from u book held by one Of
the bishops assistant at the pontifcal
throne. Two other bishops stand at his
sides with lighted candles. The exalted
diQuitGries of Tho papal court surround the
pontiu and bear the thurible, holy water
vessel, and the vases of balsam and per-
fumes One Of the Came,icri segreti par
ticipanti, kuceling down, presents the
golden rose, which has been hitherto stand
ing on y credence between two lighted
wax candles The pope, reciting the pray
crs, Llcssos the incense, balsam and por
funrs which are presented TO him one
after another by a cardinal Havine placed
them inside the flower he blesses the lat
Ter itself.
The rose is also presented with Great
ceremony BY an Allocate sreclaiiy de-
puted bv the holy father. Duri-.u ll,' mass
The rose is placed on the altar. and after
the lie Miss, est the allocate reads aloud
the brief of the holy father and presents
this brief to the rec.0icat. who rises and
places his or her hand on the va,. n, if TO
take it. The ableQate then repeats the fol.
lowing formula: Take from our hands
the rose which we give to thee bv spcc;oI
commission intrusted To rs bv fbn bolv
hoe the iov Of the churcb militant AMI
triumphant; for the rose, the most brauti-
full Of flowers, sym boli1as the crown Of eter-