The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-26
HOLY DOOR OPENING
History of an Ancient Papal
Ceremonial.
SEVENTY-FOUR YEARS AGO
1t Was Celebrated for the Last
Time, Till Now.
SEVENTY-FOUR YEARS AGO

the Tribune says, anticipatively, under
date of December 10:
Preparation for the opening of the
Holy Doorway in st. Peters cathedral
by Pope Leo XIII, which will take place
on the day before Christmas. will begin
on December IS, the Tuesday preceding,
when stone portals that have remained
undisturbed since they were sealed by
| Pope Leo XII, in 1925, viii be removed.
In their place will be erected light frames
of wood and iron, which at the hour OF
vespers on Christmas eve will swing IN
ward, responsive to the knock OF the
present venerable pontiff, who will rap
at the doorway with golden mallet.
Through this doorway, into the great
cathedral of st. Peters, from time to
time during the next year, devout Catho-
hes will pass, and after observing some
minor ceremonies and formalities will be
granted plenary indulgences, such as are
to be gained only on special occasions.
! According to the papal bull issued by
Pope Leo XIII, the indulgence can only
be gained by those pilgrims who come IN
person to Rome and pass through the sa-
cred door.
At various times in the past this plen-
airy Indulgence has been extended to Wis
itors at other shrines in other countries,
but for this holy year the decree restricts
the power to Rome alone.
The coincidence of this holy year with
the end of the century and the beginning
Of another has raised the belief in many
that some relationship exists between
these circumstances, while in reality it is
the faculty Of the pontiff to proclaim the
intervals by which the holy years shall
be divided. And now, while Rome is pre-
pairing to solemnize with elaborate fes-
tivities the industry of the world at the
beginning of the century, from the Eter-
nal city the voice of Leo XIII. summons
the faithful to reunite themselves for the
solemnities of the holy year in a grand
and universal jubilee, when the greater
fovars and indulgences will be granted.
The last holy year-when, however, the
ceremony of the opening of the holy door
way was not performed-was proclaimed
in 1875 by the preceding pontiff-Pius TX
and many remember still the great as
sembly of foreigners, which was marked
by the arrival in Rome Of the information
al Populations from Italy, Austria, Hun
gary, Russia, the United States and Aus
tralia, directed by Prince Hugo of Vinde-
chraez.
The holy year, or jubilee, derives its
origin from the Catholic church institut-
ed by Moses, when the elect people every
fiftieth year were called to sanctify them
selves with works of piety The first
holy year was proclaimed in 1860, by Pope
Boniface VIII.
The pontiff did not then live in the Vat
lean, but at the patriarchal palace of st.
John in Lateran, and it was from the
pOntifical residence that the famous bull
was issued whereby he assigned the basil
lea of st. Peter as the goal of reunion
for the pilgrimage. To the appeal of the
pontiff there was immediate response.
with great enthusiasm, and to Rome be-
gan to flock in thousands the devotees
from France, Spain, England and Ger
many. It was estimated that about 1000
!
occasion, and among them were such il
lustrious persons as Carlo Martello, the
King of Hungary, and Charles of Valois,
brother to Philip the Fair, in company
with his wife, Catherine, niece to the
| brigantine. Emperor Baldovine, besides
his sons and a suite of about 500 French
knights.
On the same occasion from the city Of
Florence an embassy was sent by Boni-
face VIII, in which Dante Alighieri took
part.
In the first holy year many sick were
healed of their infirmities There were so
many pilgrims that the city found a de-
fciency Of food and was forced to send
in great haste for corn in large quantities
from the neighboring cities and even
from so great a distance as Sicily.
Rome was then enclosed by a wall
broken here and there by towers. The
church Of St. Peters was far different
from what it is now, being entered BY
means of small marble steps thar the
( faithful ascended, kneeling and kissing
( them one by one. Ingress 10 the church
was through five large doors. OF which
( that in the middle was called the silver
I doorway and was almost always closed.
/ since it was destined for honarchs; in
/ more recent years anothN was called
/ holy" and reserved for j-iNlee years.
Il was Pope Alexander " Of the Bor-
gia house who. after having personally
/ directed researches for the purpose Of
/ discovering the position or the holy door
/ way which had been opened on the fourth
Jubilee OF Boniface TX, not succeeding in
his attempt. ordered a new one 10 be
made: and that this might afterwards Be
: recognized he adorned il with marble and
. sculpture
/ The rite OF fixing in the basilica q
doorway and defeating it 10 the holy
/ year. for opening only on such occasions.
/ was established then BY the pope. and
+ the one who was by him delegated FOR
the task points out that this was de-
clared as the record of the jubilee estab-
Hshed n the time OF Moses. when audi
/ ence OF the people was held ard iudg-
( ment pronounced At the tribunal portals
( From the drst opening Il he holy door
wav historians have handed down kong
and highly colored descriptions There
! has been preserved also rhe precise pray
/ e. that Alexander VI sang while h 5s'at
w.fh the golden hammer C0on the thia
/ vii closing the doorway.
The opsrin OF the holy doorway. ac-
I corsinz 20 the ancient rite. wsu 70 per-
4 formed in the afternoon q the exc q
{ Christmas. and the pope VII perform Il
+ dressed in MS sacred r7sr@s but without
the tara since be Discharges oziy relsE-
f3us and spiritual functions RcS pos@sss-
+ iur IKE character &C temporal sove--
. @fEr