The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-25
Opened the Holy Door Of 81. Peters
Cathedral.
BORNE ON THE SEDIA GESTAT0RIA
With a Golden Hammer He Struck
Three Blows Upon the Closed
Portal and Entered the
EmptyBasilica

Rome, December 24.-The pope solemnly
inaugurated the holy year by performing
the impressive ceremony of opening the
holy door of st. Peters cathedral at II
o'clock this morning. The ceremony was
performed in the vestibule, which was
handsomely decorated in the presence of
the papal officers, the members of the
diplomatic corps, leading representa- tifes of
the Roman nobility and a number of
specially invited guests.
After donning the pontifcial robes, the
pope, borne on the sedia gestatoria and es-
corted by the papel guards proceeded with
the cardinals and the court to the Sistine
chapel, in the vatican palace, where were
gathered representatives, of the Roman re-
ligious orders and clergy. After brief
prayer before the holy sacrament, which
was there exposed, Leo intoned the Veni
Creator and then again ascended the sedia
gestatoria. Preceded by clergy and friars,
who bore lighted candles, the pope proceed
ed to the vestfbule of the Basilica, priests
lining the halls and staircases en- route.
Impressive Ceremony
In the vestibule the papal throne had
been erected. The supreme pontif ascend
ed the throne, which was Immediately sur
rounded by cardinals and dignitaries. Sud
denly a heavy bell doomed. The pope rose
and walked toward the holy door. Cardi-
nal Monsignor Serafino Van Nutelli, prefect
of the congregation of the bishops and reg
ulars, met him and handed him an artistic
golden mallet given by the Italian bishops.
Leo. wearing the mitre, uttered the verses
of the liturgy and struck three blows with
the hammer on the door, which had pre-
viously been cut with a saw.
A few moments of solemn silence follow
ed, the pope and the papal dignitares in
their state robes being grouped before the
door. Then the latter swung back and the
officials of st. Peters laved the threshold
and door posts with holy water, while Leo
opened the psalm, "Jubilate Deo," which
was taken up by the pontifcal choir The
pope, having again covered his head and
holding in his right hand crucifiX and in
his left a lighted candle, knelt at the
threshold amid the strains of the "Te De-
um."
Rising to his feet. he stepped alone %v4s--4
in the portals of the vast and empty pa
silica. The cardinals and others followed.
The Roman Bells Chimed
At this moment all the church bells in
Rome rang out. Leo stopped before the al
tar of Michael Angelo, where the janitors
of the holy door for the coming year. kissed
his feet. He addressed a few words to
them on. the Importance of the ceremony,
and then proceeded to the altar, where the
sacrament was offered, followed by a short
prayer. Then advancing on the sedia ges-
tatoria to the high altar he pronounced a
solemn benedicton, according to the plen-
ary indulgences.
BY Ills he had returned to his private
apartments, having performed the cere-
monies with great apparent satisfaction.
He was smiling throughout but grew pale
and showed signs of fatigue toward the
end. Nevertheless, he gave the three blows
upon the door with considerable force.
Profound silence was maintained through
out the ceremony save when the pope gave
his blessings, which evoked loud "vvas."
The weather was fine and an enormous
concourse assembled in the precincts of the
basilca Order was preserved inside by the
pontificial guards and outside b5 the royal
carbiners and the police.