The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-03-05
THE GIFT OF THE GOLDEN Rosn
Curious Ceremonies which Attend the Re
stownI OF the Fope's Highest Honor.

celebrate the Episcopal Golden Jubilee Of Leo
NIL, and contingents have been arriving
for some time past from every Catholic copn-
try. As usual the Irish are very strongly rep.
resented: yet 1t was no uncomfortable party
that met at Charing Cross the other day to
start for Italy under the presidency and lead
ership OF the Duke OF Norfolk. who is ever to
the fore in oil matters relating to his religion.
Inc pilgrims did not seem discouraged or de-
tered by having to undertake their journey
on what was emphatically tho most stormy
and unpleasant day Of the whole season.
Whether his Holiness will be able to 10
through all the ceremonies OF his jubilee,
however much the fatigue may have been min.
imized for him.. is questioned with some anx-
fety by those who surround him. The Pope, al
though not ailing from any particular disease.
and comparatively in fair health. has grown
exceedingly weak OF late. even taking into oon.
eideratlon his more than eighty-two years OF
life. He seems to be slowly fading away, and
his voice and eyes reveal the melancholy fact.
Ldk NJ. Ferdinand de Lesseps. he Is overtaken
by long spells OF heavy somnolence in the
midst Of q conversation or the ordinary ocou-
pations OF the day. but unlike the great
Frenchman." who. when reused. frequently
iapses into a state Of semi-delirium. Leo Kill
awakes perfectly clear and lucid in thought
and speech. Tho repeated recurrence Of faint
ing fits Is also an alarming symptom.
Among tho ceremonies which the Pope has
announced In his programme for the ensuing
year. 1t Is said that he proposes to confer the
Golden Rose" on tho Archduohess Margaret
Elizabeth. the niece Of the Emperor OF Austria,
who lately welded the Prince Louis Albert,
heir ~presumptive tothe crown Of Wurtembsrg.
she was before her marriage the Abboss Of
the secular Convent Of Hrsdsohtn. near
Prague. a dignity which does not entail the
nr0nonnCfnn nf INV hfoA{nD~ ov. n~~n-~-A-
Inhabitants Of the convent from tho outar
world for any longer period than they choose.
TIL Pontiacal distinction Of the Golden Rose
Is conferred at intervals Of generally one year
upon the Queen or Princess who has best msr-
tied the approval OF the Holy Bee for services
rendered to the Church BY pious deeds or VII.
tuous example. 10 has always been Q source
Of regret to the Queen Of Italy-an ardent
Catholic-that she was not so honored Ana
there Is little doubt that Il has panied the
Pope to withhold this mark Of great estssm
from one for whom he has sincere personal
regard. and that he deplores the reasons OF
State and the political exiHencies that prevsnA
him from presenting Queen Marguerite Win
his Golde Rose. The last recipient Vss Tie
\ Queen Of Portugal
Plus X once said that the" ross~ Wss no
good marx given By the Pope to the poyal
Princess who had been best behaved dur1n9
the year Although often talked about, tho
Golden Rose Is variously described - an or
der. a ribbon or . brevet. IL L. virtually
neither. It consists Of q costly present made
By the Holy Sea The total expenses II entails
are calculated at no less than a2.OO0 not .
small sum for q sovereign whose budget ID
chiefly supplied By the Peters pence.
The jewellers shop whence the ~rose"
comes has for moro than 300 years stood IN
the shadow Of the Basilica Of St. Peten The
maker receives 10000 lire for his artistic
work. which. considering its excellence, is not
exorbitant The stem Of tho rose is Of mas
slve gold and measures forty inches in height
The chalice OF the flower is Of delicate mosaic.
on which is chased the name OF tho reignins
Pontif. the date of the presentation. and the
titles of the recipient. The golden leaves Of
the rose are powdered with diamond dust to
initiate the early morning dew. Tho whole IL
enclosed in q magnificent white satin case
studded with silver rosebuds.
The etiquette OF presentation DEGREES that
the Pope's gift should be carried by two Papal
Ambassadors to its destination: they are 50.
!ected from the Oldest and most illustrious
Roman nobility. and receive 1900 lire each
for travelling expenses.
The statutes of tho ceremonial Of prssenta-
ton are very curious and explicit They say:
l. That O court carriage Garlanded with
white roses. natural or artificial. shall await
the Pope's ENJOYS at tho station OF arrival.
2. In the courtyard OF the palace, as they
enter it. the troops shall present arms and the
drums beat.
8. The elder Of the ENJOYS. who has BROUGHT
IN the white case on his head. shall deposit It
In the saloon appointed on a table covered with
. white linen cloth.
4. The court will Immediately resort to the
chapel OF the palace and hear O solemn mass.
the Matr0po1ftap pJohon o60.t~- A.
close OF the service the Queen or Princess
honored!by the gift OF tho Golden Rose shall
take her place under a dais erected In the
state apartment. having the Bishop at her
SIDE. The younger envoy then proceeds to read
ALOUD q letter from the Pope. while his COL
league. after waving the rose aloft three
times. delivers 1t into the Bishops hands.
The Queen. falling on her knees before tho
prelate. bends low. and the emblem Is placed BY
him upon her heart while he says: "Ecce Rosa
Aystica donum Sanctissimi Paris." To which
she makes response: Dec GraHas" Tho
choristers Of the chapel forthwith intone the
IT. Dp'm. At the termination OF tho anthem
the King. advancing in his turn. invests both
Ambassadors with the insignia Of the ma
tional order ard the ceremony is over.
Whom Queen Isabella, being then still on the
throne Of spain. received the Golden Rose
from Plus TX. she was compelled to perform
this last act herself.
The Ambassadors generally carry back to
the Vatican an autograph letter Of the Queen
or Princess and her portrait, In a rich golden
frame embossed with roses. The PontiAcal
letter read by the ENJOYS enumerates at full
length the virtues and merits that have en-
titled the recipient to so high q favor.
1t remains to be seen whether the mossiA
chalice nj the next rose" will still beai
tho name of Leo Kill or whether It will
be Inscribed with that OF his SUCCESSOR.
The present Pope has celebrated more than
one memorable anniversary. His sacerIotal
Silver Jubilee occurred I'm 1Sj2-3. and his
ore six years later az PerugIa. In
lSSS. IN %"r Years Day he :aEntcfed ST.
Peter, received by the representatives OF ali
tho Euroi can courts assembled TO consratu-
iato hin on his sacerdotGl Golden jubilee. Tho
maGnihrcnco. IT that solemn and imposing
ny WIN, long ROMAN rs nm historical
cp'sO"'al IN" history 80 the church of EOne.
ana n" wlG were present can ever forget