The morning times., 1895-12-01
ALtINz n Z1~E
=
Il

Long before any of the secular powers ia.
1 nous today had sprung into existence the
Roman court had grown wise With the ex.
| pericnce of centuries. 1t was the m ost splep.
did among the splendors of the Byzantine
empire. and from the earliest ages IL has
| proudly Doasted the puresl democracy tbat
| the world has ever known. T:e pontiri-
cal throne has always been accessible to
the son of the peasant as well as the prince
Of noble blood.
In all ages it has been a great institu
ton. Ii IL has not been an altogether per-
| feet and blameless organization. it is
/ wise TO remember that religion. after all,
has natural side, and 1t is neither truth
fui nor wise to claim absolute good n any
thing that depends even partially on human
direction.
Considered in its strict est sense the
Roman court is composed OF the sovereign
pontirf, the sacred college OF cardinals, q
few ecclesiastical tribunals, iega,es, vicar.
and administrators.
COLLEGE OF CARDINALS
The college OF cardinals occupies prom
iDent place in public attention just now.
The consisiory Of Friday and the pub
lie function TO be held tomorrow are features
tbtt tHe stCuldF WORTH REGARDS
with interest. The ceremonies in which
the princes OF The church participate now
in consistory are quite tame compared
to The earlier duties OF the sacred col
lege.
We find the word cardinal occurring in
the earliest church writings, but their
duties are not plainly defined until the
second Roman council, held under Pope
Sylvester in y. ID. 324. According 10 this
reading. which, however is rejected by
some theoiogians the, cardinals consli-
tuieI court for the trial OF their ecclesi-
aStical equals and Interiors, as, for In
stance, the decision OF the council tells
them:
Let not a bishop be condemned unless
by serenty-two witnesses; let not a cardi-
Dal-priest be coDdenined unless by sixty
four witness; let not a sardinal-deacon of
the church OF Rome be coDdemDed unless by
tweDty-seren Witnesses.
But whatever meaning may have attached
to the word cardinal In early times. it is
assnredly true that for many centuries
past and al the present time the college
of cardinals in the senate of clerics,
whose office Is to assist 70 the government
of the church, and in cascfof vacancy in the
see OF Rome, to assume control OF affairs
and 10 order papal election. These duties
are performed as a body, and not by any in
diyidual cardinal
ThepreseDt gathering of the college. called
coDsistory. has most ancient lineage in
church celebrations. The first head of
the church. st. Peter, called together n is
senate, consistently, and st. Jerome. one
oftneearliest fathers ofthc Christian Church.
mentions a. consistory held in Antioch In
the second century.
TWO KINDS OF CoNSISTORIES.
a consistory is either ordinary and secret
or solemn and public. In the solemn public
gathering, of which one conyenes to-
morrow, but little business is transacted.
1t is a stately ceremonial during which
the reception of kings and princess or tEeir
ambassadors occurs, and the red hat is given
to newly created cardinals. A nunciO, or
a legate returning from his mission, is also
soleInnly received ON these occasions.
The ceremonies Of the papal court are
most elaborate, and 4 public consistory
usually gather. not only the cardinals. but
also large numbers OF prelates and princes,
and the aristocracy of Rome and the ad-
jacent cities. The quiet dignity and vener-
able aspect of this august assembly has been
the subject of admiration and wonder to
all spectators in all times.
The forms and ceremonies for creat ting a
cardinal are very interesting. Tie Roman
pontiff calls a secret consistory such as the
one held on Friday. He then addresses hts |
assembled counsellors .'You shall have |
brethren" He here mentions the names of
those he wishes to honor and asks the opin- |
ion of the college. AS a sign or assent each |
cardinal uncovers his head aud bows rev. |
erently. The decree concerning the promo |
ton OF the new cardinals is then dra wn up |
and at once published out of consistory.
lf the newly appointed dignitaries are in |
Rome they proceed in their usual clerical |
attire, and without any ceremony to the |
Vatican, where one of the popc's household |
receives and presents them. The pontifr !
at once invests them with the red cap or |
biretum. From that time they go into re-
tirement and do not again make any public |
appearance until the consistory in which |
they receive the insignia.
LII the new cardinal is absent from the l.
Eternal City noble Roman guard is dis |
patched with the red bretum and ,biglietto, |
or official creation to the orders, and ON |
delivering these to the prelate he demands, |
In the name of the holy father, solemn
oath that he win proceed to Rome within |
the year, aud that ii he fails to keep this
oath he will submit TO deprivation of the
This part of the program seems to settle
the length of Cardinal Satollis stay In |
America.
CoNFERRING THE INSIGNIA.
The public consistory confers the in
sig MIA on the new members of tue college,
All the cardinals assemble In the great con-
sistoral hall of the Vatican, the sovereign
pontiff presiding, .clothedsin his full canon
cal robes aud wearing the sacred inter.
He calls each candidate. by name, and they
,ome forward aud bow profoundly, first 70
the pope and then to- each member of the |
College. The poutiff makes brief address
on the office and greatness of the cardi-
nalate. The newly choseD here approach,
aud. kneeling, kiss first the feet, then the
hands and lastly the mouth of the pope.
After this they receive IN turn a kiss of
peace from each cardipal present.
This being finished. the pontiff confers
he red hat on each, and says, impressively:
For the praise of Almighty God and the
of the Holy See receive the red
lat, an emblem of the singular dignity of
he cardinalate, by which is signified that
ven to the death and shedding of the blood,
nclusively for the exaltatinn of our holy
aith, FOR the peace and quiet of Christian
eopie, for the increase and preservation
If the Holy Roman Church, you are to |
how yourself intrepid, in the name of the
'atiier and OF the Son and of the Holy
ihost. Amen"
An interesting fact to know in this con-
lection is that, Notwithstanding this ornate
ituai, all that is really necessary for the
reation of cardinal is the will and word
Il the sovereign pontiff sufficiently ex-
ressed. These ceremonies are merly
natter OF detail to lend poinp to the occa-
ion.
The present college contains some of the
most notable men of our times. Besides |
Is great head. Leo XIII, whose lonely and
psteflions LIE has impressed the world
Q profoundly, the cardinal SECRETARY of
tate. Rampolla, is one of the strongest
ien OF the day. Rampolla's policy is ifon- I