The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-06-22
THE GOLDEN ROSE.

An Imposing Ceremony Performed By
 the Pope.
 Every year the pope sends a golden
 rose, as special mark of distinction
 either to crowned head or to a town
 or church. and the ceremony of bless
 ing the rose has long been an impos-
 ing event. It cannot be ascertained
 definitely when this ceremony was first
 observed by the Roman Catholic
 church It Is maintained that the GUS
 tom arose during the pontificate of
 Pope Leo TX. who was born In 1902. in
 the Castle of Egisheim, in Alsace, and
 was elected to the chair of St. Peter in lo4S. Some historians consider it to be
 of much earlier origin. When, during
 the Middle Ages. the pope resided in
 the Lateran, he was wont to ride after { the ceremony in gorgeous procession, and, accompanied by the entire College of Cardinals, to the Basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem, and he held the symbolical flower in his hand all the way. In the Basilica the pope de- livered an address upon the mystical meaning Of the rose as portrayed by its beauty color and perfume, and then the High Mass was celebrated. When | the mass was at an end the pope re- turned to his palace in the Latereau, still carrying the mystical flower. If a royal prince happened to have taken part in the procession, it was incum- bent upon him to approach the pope on his arrival in the Lateran and to hold his stirrup and thus assist him to dis mount. Then, as a reward for his kind lyr 1 1,n It, Atx rose.
 Although the ceremony as observed nowadays is not so imposing as 1t used to be of yore, yet 1t still preserves it's chief rites. The pontiff blesses the Gold en Rose" in the Parament Hall, and he wears pink chasuble and the white mitre, which contains no precious stones Every New Years day the jeweller of the Papal Court receives the order to make the rose and the popes master of the household gives him the precious stones which are to adorn it. and which the pontiff has himself pre- viously chosen from among his jewels. The ceremony of blessing the Golden Rose takes place on the fourth Sun day in Lent, and then the pope sees~it for the first time; he takes it in his hands to look 1t it; then he kneels and begins the cernony with prayer. The address subsequently delivered was drawn up by Pope TX in 1050. After the prescribed prayers have been said the pope anoints the rose with the holy oil, and, in accordance with ancient custom, scatters over it strongly scented powder. The moent for cele- brating High Mass having then arrived the pope enters the chapel, and car ries the rose. Here he hands the flower to an attendant, who places it upon the altar on bouquet or golden roses. When the mass is finished the rose.is handed to the pope, and accompanied by his suite he returns to the Para ment Hall, where he mentions by name the person who is to receive the Gold mn Rose" as a gift.
 In former times the "rose" was made | in red enamel, as this was the best im- tation of the natural color of the flower. At later date it was made out of | gold, and in it's center a ruby or sap phire used to be inserted. The Golden | Rose" of to-day costs about 9400, and | it has a stem, leaves and buds wrought | in gold The stem rests in a silver gilt | vase, on which are engraved the coat l of arms of the pope and the name of ] the person for whom the gift is intend- ed The three mystical meanings sym bolzed by the Golden Rose" are as follows: The gold signifies the AL | mighty, the splendor and costliness of | the metal typify the eternal light which the Godhead, and the anoint- ng oil and the sweet scent are symbols If the majesty of the risen Saviour In recent years the Golden Rose'' has been given to such Christian rulers, or 70 their consorts, as have attracted the 1 attention of the pope by their good works in the cause of charity.-From he London Globe.