The true northerner., 1899-12-27
HOLY DOOR OPENED.
Pope Leo Performs "a Rare Ceremo
at st. Peters Cathedrai
In Rome.

Rome. Dee. 25.-The pope soleik brm-
inaugurated the holy year by peri Ining
,ng the impressive ceremony of opdkHra at
the holy door of ST. Peters cathedA cere-
IL o'clock Sunday morning. TheV ibule,
mony was performed In the yes Ttd, in
which was handsomely decoratB RS, the
the presence of the papal otficekE lead
members of the diplomatic corp lan no
ing representatives of the Ron invited
bility and number of speciality
guests. al robes
After donning the pontificI estatoria
the pope, borne ON the Soda G irds, pro-
and escorted by the papal gu8 the court
ceeded With the cardinals and Ntican pal
TO the Sistno chapel, in the ~ epresenta-
ace where were gathered N orders and
tives of the Roman religious before the
clergy. After "A brief prayeTIH there eN-
holy sacrament, which wa mi Creator,
posed, Leo intoned the NJ Soda Ges-
and then again ascended til " and friars,
tatoria. Preceded by clersfthe pope pro-
who bore lighted candles. the Basilica,
ceeded to the vestibule OF md staircases
priests lining the halls a&ule the papal
en- route. In the vestilI The supreme
throne had been erected Rone. which was
pontiff ascended the thr4d by cardinals
Immediately surroundeI
and dignitaries. \ doomed. The
Suddenly a heavy be ftoward the holy
pope rose and walked A grand peniten-
door. preceded by thI. Serafno VAN
tiary Cardinal MgIi the congrega-
nuteli. prefect Of ieguars, met him
tion of bishops and I.ustic golden NAL
and handed him an fian bishops. Leo,
let given by the ltaI tered the verses of
wearing the miter, N 1ruck three blows
the Liturgy and slon the door, which
with the hammer 4 cut with saw.
had previously beeff solemn silence fol-
A few moments cfnd the papal digni-
lowed the pope n robes being grouped
taries in their statJhen the latter swung
before the door. IalS of ST. Peters laved
back. and the offic1 door posts with holy
the threshold anJo opened the psalm
water, while LeHhich was taken up by
"Jubilate Deo," Ioir. The pope, having
the pontifcal ellis head and holding in
again covered n crucfiX and in his left
his right hand n. knelt at the threshold
lighted candIns of the "Te Deum."
amid the stra feet he stepped alone
Rising TO his fails of the vast and empty
within the porj cardinals and others fol-
Basilica. ThJ
owed. jment all the church bells
At this mJg out. Leo stopped before
in Rome RANT Michael Angelo, where the
the altar of fhe holy door for the coming
ianitors of n his feet. He addressed
wear kissedE0 item on the Importance
few words hony, and then proceeded 10
of the cere Where the sacrament was Of
the altar. bwed by short prayer. Then
fered. follf on the Sedia Gestatoria TO
advancinglItar he pronounced solemn
the high ion, according TO the plenary
benedictFes.
indulgenhuarter past one he had re-
BY a 20 his private apartments, hav-
turned formed the ceremonies with
inc peJpparent satisfaction. He was
great a throughout, but grew pale and
smilind signs of fatigue toward the end.
showedb9ess he gave the three blows
NevertIht door with considerable force.
upon found silence was maintained
ProRhout the ceremony, save when
tbrolbbe gave his blessing, which evoked
tbenLWivas." The weather was fine and
E.mudbrsrmous concourse assembled in
suffers fcir cts of the Bisilica. Order was
IN Ned ins;Se by the pontifical
quarts and outside by the royal carbi-
neers and the police. y