Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-12-30
Aged Pontiff Applied Golden
Mallet to the Holy Door
With Much Force.
Enormous Crowds Gathered
Near the Basilica-Grew
Pale at the Last.
ALL ROME'S CHURCH BELLS RANG.

The Pope, at IL O'Clock Sunday,
solemnly inaugurated the Holy Year by
performing the beautiful and impressive
ceremony of opening the Holy Door Of
St. Peters Cathedral.
The ceremony took place in the hand
somely decorated vestibule in the pres
ence of the Papal officers, the members
of the Diplomatic Corps, leading repre-
sentatives of the Roman nobility and a
number of specially invited guests.
After DOMINIC the Pontifical robes the
Pope, borne on the Sedia Gestateria and
escorted by the Papal Guards, proceeded
with the Cardinals and the Court to the
Sistine Chapel, in the Vatican palace,
where were gathered representatives OF
the Roman religious orders and clergy.
After a brief prayer before the Holy
Sacrament, which was there exposed,
Leo intoned the "Veni Creator" and
then again assembled the Sedia Costa
toria. Preceded by clergy and friars
who bore lighted candles, the Pope pro-
ceeded to the vestibule of the basilica,
priests lining the halls and staircases en-
route.
In the vestibule the Papal throne had
been erected. The Supreme Pontiff as
cended the throne, which was immedi-
ately surrounded by Cardinals and digni-
taries.
Suddenly heavy bell doomed. Leo
: rose and walked toward the Holy Door
preceded by the Grand Plenipotentiary,
Cardinal Mgr. Serafno Vannutelli, Pre-
feet of the Congregation of Bishops and
Regulars, met him and handed to him
~ azils.ie golden naallst. eigsnl eg 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 previously been cut
with a saw.
A few moments of solemn silence fol
lowed, the Pope and the Papal digni-
taries in their state robes being grouped
before the door, Then the latter swung
back and the officials of St. Peters laved
the thresholds and doorposts with holy
water, while Leo intoned the psalm
"Iubilate Deo," which was taken up by
the Pontifcal Choir.
The Pope, having again covered his
head and holding in his right hand a
crucifx and in his left lighted candle,
knelt at the threshold amid the strains
of "Te Deum." Rising, he stepped alone
within the portals of the vast and empty
basilica. The cardinals and others fol-
lowed.
At this moment all the church bells in
Rome rang out. Leo stopped before the
altar of Michael Angelo, where the
janitors Of the Holy Door for the com
ing year kissed his feet. He addressed q
few words to them on the importance Of
the ceremony and then proceeded to the
altar, where sacrament was offered, fol.
lowed by short prayer. Then, adj
vancing on the Sedia Gestatoria to the
high altar, he pronounced a solemn
benediction, according plenary indul-
gences.
By l:l5 p. m. he had returned to his
private apartment, having performed the
ceremonies with great apparent satisfac-
ton 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 con-
siderable force.
Profound silence was maintained
throughout the ceremony, save when the
Pope gave his blessing, which evoked
} loud "Vivas."
The weather was fine and an enormous
concourse assembled in the precincts Of
the basilica. Order was preserved inside
by the Ponti6cal Guards and outside by
the royal carbineers and the police.
nThe new year will be inaugurated Sun
day with midnight mass at all the Catho-
lie churches in this diocese. The services
will be solemn and impressive, those de-
string being granted the privilege OF
receiving holy communion. Special must
cal programmes, similar to those rendered
Christmas, have been arranged for this
occasion. This is the FIRST time for many
years that midnight mass has been cele-
brated in Kentucky.