The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-28
GIVEN BY MANY POPES
fHE OFFERING OF THE GOLDEN
ROSE AND WHAT IT IMPLIES.

| hOo6 AMI WhAI ~ ImPIieC.
It L. . Costly Present Which the Popea
Sometimes Send to Great Women-Ths
| Ceremony Il An Impressive One-Soms
of the Royal Recipients.
From a continental contemporary We
translate the following interesting article:
A good deal has been said lately about
the Golden Rose" The news, published
| by several French papers, was incorrect,
| but it has called attention to the origin Of
one of the most ancient ponti6cal decera-
tions.
| In early times the Golden Rose was Of
| fered by the pontiffs to the projects OF
Rome, after having been carried to the
Church of Santa Croce. Later on it was
given to the most famous sanctuaYles, to
Catholic sovereigns, to queens. princes and
princesses, famous generals and great per
sonages devoted to the church.
As none of the roses offered to the BASIL
icas is extant it is impossible to ascertain
the model then in use. 1t is only known
tnat it was merely single flower in red
enamel, to initiate the roses natural color.
was placed in the middle of the rose, Civ
ing deep red luster to the flower. limo
cent XI had a superb golden rose made,
weighing s pounds 10 ounces, and adorned
with several sapphires The rose offered
by Clement Al to the queen and dauphin
of France was valued at upward Of ESQ.
1t weighed eight pounds of gold, and had
magnificent sapphire in -he middle.
Nowadays the Golden Rose costs about
e400. i is placed On a branch with leaves
and several flowers. planted in vase of
silver gilt, with the papal arms in relief
and an inscription.
The explanation given of the symbolism
is this: ''The rose symbolizes by its gold
the Almighty Lord of all things; by the
splendor and richness of the metal, the
eternal light wherein the Godhead dwells;
by the perfume and balsam put inside by
the pope, the glory and resurrection of
Christ"
THE CEREMONY.
The rite of benediction is exceedingly
solemn. The holy father, arrayed in his
sacerdotal vestments, reads the formula
OF benediction from book held by one of
the bishops assistant at the pontiical
throne. Two other bishops stand at his
sides with lighted candles. The exalted
dignitaries of the papal court surround the
pontiif and bear the~thurible, holy water
vessel, and the vases of balsam and per-
fumes. One Of the Camerieri segreti par
tlclpantl, kneellng down, presents the
golden rose, which has been hitherto stand
ing on credence between two lighted
wax candles. The pope, reciting the pray
ers, blesses the incense. balsam and per
fumes, which are presented to him one
after another by cardinal. Having placed
them inside the flower he blesses the lat
ter itself.
The rose is also presented with great
ceremony by an ALLOCATE specially de-
puted by the holy father. During the mass
the rose is placed ON the altar, and after
the lite Missa est the ablegase reads aloud
the brief of the holy father and presents
this brief to the recipient who rises and
places his or her hand on the vase az If to
take it. The ALLOCATE then repeats the fol-
lowing formula: Take from our hands
the rose which we give to thee by special
intrusted to US by the holy
father, Pope n. May this rose signify to
thee the joy of the church militant and
for the rose, the most beauti-
full of flowers, symbolizes the crown of eter-
nal glory"
If the recipient be a king or queen the
ALLOCATE adds: MAY your majesty accept
this gift, and with it the divine grace which
the holy father implores for you in its full
ness and entirety from God, who reigns
for ever and ever. Amen.n
The sovereign having kissed the rose,
the Ablegate announces to all present
that the pope grants plenary indulgence
TO all the members of the royal or imperial
family.
ROYAL RECIPIENTS
To the above interesting details we may
add few more, gathered chiefly from a
bull Of Benedict XIV on this subject It
appears that some writers attributed the
irst origin of the rose to St. Leo TX, but
5he learned Benedict proves that the Gus
lom was still more ancient, though he de-
'lares the origin cannot be discovered The
most ancient gift of the rose, after the time
when it used to be given to the projects of
Rome, is that made by Urban II in 1895 to
tulk, Count of Anglers, after the council of
Tours. The first lady to receive it was
queen Joanna of Naples IN 1868 from the
asst named pope, who also gave one to the |
,asilica of St. Peter.
1t would be impossible to repeat the LONG
ist of recipients (Which may be seen in |
doronD. We may select just few Mar
in V. gave it to the republic of Florence |
1919; Eugenius " in 1444 to Henry VI |
King of England; Nicholas to the EN-
'ress Eleanor Q452); Innocent VIII in 1886 /
o King James III of Scotland; Alexander
II to Queen Isabella of Spain, 1893, and
text year TO the Sanctuary of Our Lady of |
Hal, in Flanders; Julius II to Henry VIII |
f England, who received it yet twice
gain, from Leo X and Clement VII
1920. Paul III sent it TO Queen Cathe-
inc de Medici; Julius III Q555) to Queen
larry of England; Gregory XII in 1854 to
he Sanctuary of Loreto, as also Sixtus V
Once more the rose came to England in !
525, sent by Urban VIII to Queen Hen
letta. About this time it became usual
D bestow II on queens and princesses.
'enice, or its doges, received the rose
bout SIX times, the last time from Greg
ry XVI in 1888 Plus TX gave it to his
oddaughter, Maria PA, daughter of King
lctor Emmanuel afterward Queen of
ortugal, and in Is49 TO the Queen of the
wo Sicilies, whose daughter he baptized
t Gaeta-London Tablet.