The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-25
Used n Golden Trowel I'm Cementfnp
the Three GiIded Bricks
Laid in the Doorway.
IMMENSE THR0NG PRESENT
CEREMONY WITNESSED BY ABOUT
EIGHTY THOUSAND PERSONS.
What Is Being Done at n st. Peters
burg School of Applied Arts
Great Progress in Russia.

ROME, Dec. A-The Pope to-day per-
formed the ceremony of closing the holy
door of st. Peters Cathedral, with the
gorgeous forms usual to great functions
of this kind. There was a great gathering
of the princes of the church, who partici-
pated in the ceremony. which was wit
messed by enormous crowds. The closing
of the holy door took place with the ut
most pomp, his Holiness descending to st.
Peters Cathedral at IL a m, and the cere-
monies lasted until D. m. The Pope then
returned to his apartments apparently not
fatigued. He intoned the TIE Deum in a
resonant voice. and throughout gave evil
dence of being in excellent health and spir-
it's. He used the artistic, golden trowel
subscribed for by the Catholics of the
world, in mortaring the three gilded bricks
which he placed, as first layer. on the
threshold Of st. Peters door. The whole
pontifcial court participated in the cere-
monies.
The spectacle inside the vast basilica was
superb. The pillars Of the central nave
were draped with gold embroidered scarlet
cloth. and the porch under which the func-
ton took place was transformed into
of the holy door was erected the pontifical
throne. covered with red and gold. On the
right hand of the door stood tribunes for
royal personages. princes, Knights of NAL
ia, prelates, representatives Of the Roman
nobility and other distinguished persons.
Inside the church every inch Of space was
occupied by the throng. which gathered
early in the morning. strong detach-
ment Of troops, stationed in the square in
front Of the cathedral, controlled the in
coming crowds, who literally raced to Sc
cure the best positions.
The Pope left his apartments at 11:45 a.
m, borne in the sacred chair and preceded
by clergy with lighted candles, bishops,
archbishops and cardinals and escorted by
the Pontifical Noble Guards. On his ar
rival at the portal Of st. Peters he alight-
ed and entered the church through the holy
door. AS he appeared on the threshold the
solemn and silvery tones of trumpet
echoed through the edifice. The chapter OF
the Vatican met him and presented to him
holy water, which he sprinlxled upon the
aggregation. Applause being forbidden. a
religious silence was observed which
heightened the grandeur and impressive
ness of the moment. Borne now on the
sedia gestatoria to the high altar, he
stepped to the ground and knelt before the
most precious relics Of the Catholic Church,
which were displayed on the altar Then
the procession reformed and proceeded to
the Chapel of the Sacrament, where the
Pontiff again knelt for some time, while
the choir Of the Sistine Chapel chanted
psalms.
ba wa IN ha hnl lv
door. where he alighted from the sedia ges-
tatoria and waited until the entire process
sion had passed out through the or, he
leaving the church last and wa : to the
throne. where he seated himseh number
of sacred songs were sung by the Papal
choir, after which Leo rose and blessed all
the material employed in closing the door.
Then he descended from the throne, knelt
before the dome and laid with the golden
trowel a layer Of cement, on which he
placed three gilt bricks bearing commence
rative inscriptions. Beside the bricks he
placed casket containing gold, silver and
bronze medals and bearing the head of Leo
and inscriptions recording the opening and
closing of the holy door.
The Pope having ascended the throne,
Cardinal Bishop Serafino vannuteli and
four other cardinals performed a similar
ceremony of laying cement and three
bricks. after which the masons employed
by the Vatican closed the doorway with
canvas screen. painted to represent marble,
with cross in the center.
The candles borne by the clergy were ex-
tinguished. the TIE Deum was sung and
the Pontiff, having given solemn benedic-
ton, was Immediately carried back to his
apartments.
1t is estimated that eighty thousand per-
sons were spectators of the ceremony.