The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-03-16
CLOSING THE HOLY DOOR.
Impressive and Elaborate Ceremo-
niaI That Follows the Closing
Century In Rome.

Many eeremonials took place In
Rome in connection with the close Of
the nineteenth century. but none was
either more interesting or imposing
than that incidental TO the closing of
the holy door al st. Peters cathedral
The last year of the century is jubilee
year in the Catholic church, rs all
Catholics and many Protestanis are
aware. Therefore 1900 was marked
by many ceremonies In connection
with the period. The opening of the
holy door took place over year ago,
and the ceremonial OF closing WAS OBJ
served last Christmas eve. Owing TO
the delicate state OF the present
pope's health the building in which
the opening and closing ceremonies
took place had been heated to the
temperature of Leo Mills private
apartments to avoid any possibility
Of his holiness taking chill. says
London paper.
The ceremony of opening the holy
door is declared TO be symholieal of
the fact that the church Is open to
thorough and sincere conversion.
When the pope opens the door the
three knocks which he gives 10 il rep
resent the three continents Europe
Africa and Asia--to which the pope
offers the treasures which he Is the
medium fer dispensing, The three
strokes also are looked upon as SYM
hhI kuf 10 ttsht
causes To the faithful of heaven. earth
and purgatory. The pope, who is
seated on n raised throne In front OF
the large door in the middle of the
grand poriieo. remains stationary for
a brief while until the prince of the
throne presents a golden hammer TO
his holiness, which the latter takes in
his right hand and, rising from his
throne, goes and knocks at the holy
door. His clergy follow him, each
with n candle in his hand. Ills holi-
ness, after knocking three times at
the door, says in Latin: "0pen to me
these doors of jnsticel" Then the
choir adds: This is the door of the
Eternal One. and the just will enter
sons knock down the wall which in
closes the holy door, the wall being
so lightly put together, however, that
its four sides are held together but
slightly, the stones of which 1t is COM
posed not being cemented. Thus, no
sooner has the pope knocked at the
holy door than il falls without any
resistance. The debris of the wall Is
distributed among the worshipers,
who hasten TO gather IL in order to
put it among their precious relics.
While this is taking place the pope
reseats himself on the throne, but
after the demolition is completed the
penitentiaries of st. Peter take tbeii
brooms, clean the floor, remove IN,
pieces OF brick and mortar from the
passage--whieh are not looked upor
ns material TO be held in light esteem
since relics are made OF them-and
wash the holdings and all round the
door with holy water This work be.
ing finished his holiness once more
descends from his throne, singing the
anthem which opens with the words
'Iaec dies guam feeit Dominus.n etc
which the choir continues TO sing aft.
or him. Arriving at the holy door
the pope recites some prayers, takes
the cross. kneels before the door, in.
tones the TIE Deum, and, rising again
while singing, passes through the
holy door, his clergy following him.
| Everybody who can goes into st. Pc
ter's to witness this superb ceremony
or to take part in the vespers at the
papal chapel. After the yespers the
cardinals take off their robes and put
on their red capes. accompany the
pope TO the door Of his private apart
ments and then retire. After the
morning mass on Christmas day his
holiness goes TO the lodge of the bene-
diction. where he blesses the faith
full in the form which is only used on
the occasion OF the jubilee
The closing of the door is a very
similar ceremony to the opening. The
greatest solemnity is observed, and
thousands of privileged pilgrims flock
10 the cathedral to be witnesses of
what, except in rare instances. occurs
but once in a lifetime. His holiness
lays the first brick for the closing of
the door, all the cardinals, monsignors
and other dignitaries in Rome being
witnesses of the operation. The bricks
used for this purpose are about double
the ordinary size, being covered with
a thin layer Of plate-in some cases
of silver and in others of gold. They
bear in relief the papal arms and the
inscription: LEO XIII. Pont. Max
Aperuit ct clausit."