The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-17
THE GOLDEN ROSE.
The Costly Present Which the Popes
Sometimes Send to Great Women.
From the London Tablet

pVOHI ULS LOHuOH IuOteI.
From a continental contemporary we
translate the following interesting article:
A good deal has been said lately about the
Golden Rose" chiefly on account Of the re-
port that the pope intended to confer the
distinction this year on Nine. Carnot. The
news published by several French papers,
was incorrect; but 1t has called attention to
the origin of one of the most ancient pom
tifical decorations.
In early times the Golden Rose was offered
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 sanctuaries, to Catholic SOW
ereigns, to queens, princes and princesses,
famous generals and great personages de-
voted to the church.
As none of the roses offered to the BASIL
licas are extant, it is impossible to ascertain
the model then in use. 1t is only known that
it was merely single flower in red enamel,
to initiate the roses natural color. After
ward, instead of enamel, large ruby was
placed in the middle of the rose, giving a
deep red luster to the flower. Innocent XII.
had a superb golden rose made, weighing 8
pounds 10 ounces, and adorned with several
sapphires. The rose offered by Clement XI.
to the Queen and Dauphin of France was
valued at upward of $500. 1t weighed
eight pounds of gold, and had a magnif-
cent sapphire in the middle.
Nowadays the Golden Rose costs about
e400. 1t is placed on a branch with leaves
and several flowers, planted in a avase of
silver gilt, with the papal arms in relief and
an inscription.
The explanation given of the symbolism
is this: 1.-THE rose symbclizes by its Gold
the Almighty Lord Of all things; by the
| splendor and richness Of the metal, the eter-
| nal light wherein the Godhead dwells; by
the perfume and balsam put inside by tn 9
pope, the glory and resurrection Of Christ.
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 pontif and
bear the thurible, holy water vessel, and
| the vases of balsam and perfumes. One OF
the CGnlerieTi segreti pdrtictpGntt, kneel-
ing down, presents the golden rose, which
has been hitherto standing ON credence
between two lighted wax candles. The
pope, reciting the prayers, blesses the in
cense, balsan and perfumes, which are pre-
sented to him one after another by cardi-
nal. Having placed them inside the flower
he blessed the latter itself.
The rose is also presented with great
ceremony by an Ablegate especially deputed
by the Holy Father. During the mass the
rose is placed on the altar, and after the
tie MtSso est the Ablegate 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 as il to take 1t.
| The Ablgale then repeats the following for
| mula: 'FTake from our hands the rose
which we give to thee by special commits
sion intrusted to us by che Holy Father,
Pope N. May this rose signify to thee the
| Joy of the church militant and triumphant;
| for the rose. the most beautiful of flowers,
symbolizes the crown of eternal glory"
If the recipient be a king or queen, the
| Ablegate adds: "May your majesty accept
| which the holy father implores for you in
its fullness and entirety from him who
| reigns for ever and ever. Amen"
The sovereign having kissed the rose, the
Ablegate announces to all present that the
pope grants plenary indulgence to all tho
members of the royal or imperial family.
To the above interesting details we may
add few more, gathered CHIEFLY from bull
of Benedict XIV, on this subject. 1t ap-
pears that some writer's attributed the first
origin Of the rose to st. Leo TX. but the
learned Benedict proves that the custom was
still more ancient, though he declares 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 1896 to Fulk
| Count of Anglers, after the council OF Tours.
The first lady to receive it was Queen
Joanna of Naples. in 1868, from the last
named pope, who also gave one to the oas-
llca of ST. Peter.
It would be impossible to repeat the long
| list of recipients (which may be seen In
Moroni). We may select just few. Martin
| v. gave it to the republic of Florence Q419) !,
| Eugenius Nv. In 1444 to Henry VI, king OF
England; Nicholas V. to the Empress Flea
nor Q452 Innocent VIII. IN 1896 to King
James III. Of Scotland; Alexander VI to
| Queen Isabella of Spain, 1893, and next year
| to the Sanctuary of Our Lady OF Eal, in
Flanders Julius II. to Henry Will Of Eng
land, who received it yot twice again, from
Leo x. and Clement VII. Q524. Paul III.
sent 1t to Queen Catherine de Medici; Julius
III. Q555) to Queen Mary of England; ;
| Gregory Kill in 1884 to the Sanctuary Of
Loreto, as also Sixtus V.
Once more the Rose came TO England in
| 1926, sent by Urban WILL to Queen Hen
rietta About this time 1t became usual to
bestow it upon queens and princesses. Venice,
or its doges, received the rose about six
times, the last time from Gregory XVI in
| 1888. Plus TX. gave it to his goddaugbf Ter,
Maria Pia, daughter Of King Victor Em-
manuel, afterward queen of Portugal, and
| in 1S49 to the queen of the Two SiciEes,
whose daughter he baptized at Gaeta.
e l..