The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-25
CLOSESTHE HOLYDOOR
Pope 0ffieiates at a Gorgeous
Ceremony.
SEEN BY VAST THR0NG
PoNTIFF LAYS THREE GOLD
BRICKS IN SOLEMN STATE.

Rosae. Dec. 4-The pope today per-
formed the ceremony Of closing the holy
doeT OF st. Peters cathedral with the
gorgeous forms usual TO great functions
- mus kind tt was a magnificent spec
tacle. There was a great gathering Of
tie princes Of the church. who partici-
batea N the ceremony, which was wit
Messed By enormous crowds.
.-e lntoned the TIE Deum in a resonant
voice and throughout gave evidence of
being IN excellent health and spirits He
USED the artistic golden trowel, sup
ScIlDed Tor by the Catholics of the world.
N seo. tar-nE the gilded bricks which he
piaced as a first layer on the threshold of
St Peters door
Enters Through Holy Door.
The pope left his apartments at II: Is
d, M 9oTne IN the sacred chair and pre-
csue9 oy clergy with lighted candles,
archnlSh ps, Ii hops and cardinals and es-
eorted by the pontifcal ncbie guards on
ms arrival at the portal Of St. Peters he
allghted and entered the church through
the h0ly door. As he appeared on the
threshold the tones OF the trumpet echoed
thror-A the edtfice. The chapter of the
Natican met him and presented to him
ioiy water, which he spr;nkled on the
congregation. Applause being forbidden,
. religious silence was observed which
AelShtehed the grandeur and Impressive
ness of the moment
Borne now on the Sedia Gestatoria to
the high altar he stepped to the ground
attd 6tfet before the most precious relics
OF the Catholic church which were dis
ptdyed on the altar Then the procession
Isloctsteu and proceeded TO the chapel of
me sacrament, where the p0utin again
mt ior some time, while the choir of
the Sistine chapel chanted psalms The
pope was then borne to the holy door,
where he alighted from the Sedia Costa
torla and waited until the entire process
SION. had passed out through the door. he
ieaNing the church last and walking to
the throne, where he seated himself A
number of sacred songs were sung by
the papal choir, after which Leo rose and
blessed all the material employed in clos
ing the door.
Lays the Three Bricks.
EseE he descended from the throne.
knelt before the dome and laid the gold
en- trowel a laver Of cement on which he
placed three gilt bricks, bearing commem-
OratlVe inscriptions Beside the bricks he
placed casket containing gold. silver
ana bronze medals and bearing the head
of Leo and Inscriptions recording the
o2enin= and closing of the holy door.
e5 Ine pope ri having sscended the throne
great oenitentiary, and four other cardi-
Pals performed a similar ceremony of
Iay!ng cement and three bricks, after
Whtch the masOns employed by the Vati-
can closed the doorway with a canvass
screen. painted to represent marble, with
a cross in the center
The candles borne by the clergy were
eXtingulshed, the TIE Deum was sung and
the pOntim. having given solemn bene-
3ictlon' was Immediately carried back to
his apartments.
tt is estimated S0000 persons were spec
tatOrS of the ceremony.
The ceremony Of the closing Of the
holy door signifies the termination of
the Jubilee year. Tho door was opened
year ago with imposing ceremonies.
1t Will now remain closed for twenty
five years, when it Will be reopened
for another jubilee year