The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-23
THE GOLDEN ROSE.
An Imposing Ceremony Performed
by the Pope.
From the London Globe.

From the London Globe.
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 blessing the
rose has long been an imposing event.
1t cannot be escertaineof definitely when
this ceremony was first observed by the
Roman Catholic Church 1t is maintain
ed that the custom arose during the pom
tihcate OF Pope Leo TX, who was born
in 1902 in the Castle of Egisheim, in Al
SAGE, and was elected to the chair of
st. Peter in 1913. Some historians consid-
er it to be of much earlier origin When,
during the Middle Ages, the Pope resided
in the Lateran, he was wont to ride aft
er the ceremony in gorgeous procession,
and, accompanied by the entire College
OF Cardinals, 10 the Dasiiic5. os the Holy
Cross of Jerusalem, and he held the sym
bolical flower in his hand all the way.
In the Basilica the Pope delivered an ad-
dress Upon the mystical meaning of the
rose. as portrayed by it's beauty, color
and perfume, and then the High Mass
was celebrated. When the mass was at
an end the Pope returned to his palace in
the Lateran. still carrying the mystical
flower. If a royal prince happened to
have taken part in the procession. it was
incumbent upon him to approach the
Pope on his arrival in the Lateran and
to hold his stirrup and thus assist him
to dismount. Then, as a reward for his
kindly attention, the Pope gave him the
rose.
Although the ceremony as observed
nowadays Is not so imposing as it used
to be Of yore, yet it still preserves its
chief rites. The Pontiff biesses the Gold
en- Rose In the Parament Hall, and he
wears a pink chasuble and the white
mitre, which contains no precious stones.
Every New Years Day the jeweler of
the Papal Court receives the order to
make the rose, and the Pope's master
of the household gives him the precious
stones which are to adorn it, and which
the Pontiff has himself previously chosen
from among his jewels. The ceremony
OF blessing the Golden Rose" takes
place on the fourth Sunday in Lent, and
then the Pope sees It for the first time;
he takes it in his hands to look at f.:
then he kneels and begins the ceremony
with prayer. The address subsequently,
delivered was drawn up by Pope Leo TX
in 1850. After the prescribed prayers
have been said the Pope anoints the rose
with the holy oil. and, in accordance with
ancient custom, scatters over II a strong
~ scented powder. The moment for cele-
brating High Mass having been arrived,
the Pope enters the chapel, and carries
the rose. Here he hands the flower to
an attendant. who places It upon the al
tar on a bouquet of golden roses. When
the mass is finished the rose is handed to
the Pope, and accompanied by his suite
he returns to the Parament Hall. where
he mentions by name the person who is
to receive the Golden Rose" as a gift.
In former times the rose" was made IN
red enamel, as this was the best imitation
OF the natural color OF the flower. At a
later date It was made out Of gold, and
IN its center ruby or sapphire used
10 be Inserted. The Golden Rose" OF
to-day costs about f40O and It has a stem,
leaves and buds wrought IN gold. The
stem rests in a siver-glt vase, on which
are engraved the coat or arms of the
Pope and the name of the person for
whom the gift Is intended. The
three mystical meanings symbolized by
the Golden Rose" are as follows The
gold signifies the Almighty, the splendor
and costliness OF the metal typify the
eternal light which surrounds the Cod
head, and the amounting oil and the sweet
scent are symbols of the majesty OF the
risen Saviour. In recent years the Gold
en- Rose" has been given TO such Chris
tan rulers or to their consorts. as have
attracted the attention OF the PoDe by
their good works IN the cause Of charity.