The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-06
THE GOLDEN ROSE.


Every year the pope sends a golden
rose, as a special mark of distinction.
either to crowned head or to town
or church, and the ceremony of blessin 2
Tue IL rose mas long been an imposing event.
IL cannot be ascertafned definitely when
TINS ceremony was first observed by the
roman Catholic church. 1t is maintai1-
ca that the custom arose during the pom
llHcate OF Pope Leo TX, who was born
IN 1907, in the castle of Egisheim. in Al
SAGE, and was elected to the chair Of
ST. Peter in 104S. Some historians con-
Sluer 1t OF much earlier origin. When
curing the Middle Ages, the pope resided
IN the Lateran, he was wont to ride after
the ceremony in a gorgeous procession.
ana, accompanied by the entire college
~ earoi az TO the Basilica of the Holy
cross or Jerusalem, and he held the sym
poilcal IoWer in his hand all the way,
IN the Basilica the pope delivered an ad-
oress 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
III III, me Lateran, still carrying the mysti-
cal Hover. If a royal prince happened
70 nave taken part in the procession. ii
was incumbent upon him TO approach The
pope on his arrival in the Lateran and
70 nold MS stlrrup and thus assist him
TO q1smount. Then, as reward for his
rose. ~
Although the ceremony as observed
10 De OF yore, yet it still preserves its
chlef rites. The pontiff blesses the
Golden Rose" in the Parament hall, and
ne wears a pink chasuble and the white
mltre, winch 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
the pontiff has himself previously chosen
from among the Jewels. The ceremony
or blessing the Golden Rose takes
pace on the fourth Sunday in Lent, and
then the pope sees it for the first time;
ne takes it in his hands to look at it:
then he kneels and begins the ceremony
with prayer. The address subsequently
de1vered was drawn up by Pope Leo TX.
IN 10SO. After the prescribed prayers have
been said the pope annoints the rose with
the holy oil, and, in accordance with an
sclent- custom, scatters over it strongly
scented powder. The moment for cele-
brating high mass having arrived the
pope enters the chapel, and carries the
rose. Here he hands the flower to an at
tendant, who places it upon the altar 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 imi-
atation of the natural color of the flower
AZ a later date 1t was made out of gold,
and in its center a ruby or sapphire used
to be inserted The Golden Rose of to-
daysc costs about R400, and it has a stem.
leaves and buds wrought In gold The
stem rests in q silver gilt vase, on which
are engraved the coat of arms of the nope
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
annointing. oil and the sweet scent are
symbols of the majesty of the risen Saw
ior In recent years the Golden Rose
or to their consorts, as have attra cte1
the attention of the pope by their good
works In the cause OF charity.-London
Globe.