The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-05

including those for the preliminary stage of
Qualification. In the first instance, commits
sioners appointed by the pope to insti-
tute preliminary inquiries. Their report is
submitted to special tribunal of clerics,
who decide # the candidate is worthy of tho
first degree of hierarchical rank, which is
called Qualification. A second tribunal, after
a considerable interval-in the case Of the
latest canonized saint, Rita de Cascia, over
2I0 years-then considers the question of the
admittance Of the saint to full canonization.
At this trial the candidates interests are
looked after by an official, who is styled the
del advocatus, who Is opposed by the pro-
motur fide, popularity known as the diaboi
adVocatus. Probably many persons who use
the phrase are unaware that the familiar
expression "deyil's advocate owes it's origin
to & Roman Catholic ceremony.
After the decision of this tribunal in the
candidates favor, the final ratification by
the pope is alone required for the admittance
of the saint into the Roman Catholic cal
endar. -.s....s...
| Since the reformation the admittance Of
fresh saints into the calendar is 9 compare
lively rare event. One reason for the pauctty
OF claimants for canonization is said to be
the enormous cost Of the procedure A curl
Gus example of this is to be found in the Bor-
| romeo family OF Milan. 1t was found that
the cost Of obtaining the bull of canonization
for the famous saint. Charles Borromeo was
so great that the family refrained from press
ing the claims of another sanity parsonage
, a cousin Of St. Charles, on account of the
! expense. Then 1t must be remembered that in
less creduOus and superstitious age more
searching examination into the antecedents
| and alleged miracles of saints Is now insisted
| upon. 1t is also said that the lamentations
which have been granted by the Vatican have
| to some extent been Influenced by motives of
public interest and church policy The can
onization of the Jesuit martyrs in Japan, the
| victims of the religious persecution early in
the seventeenth century, for instance, was
| said to be prompted by a desire to encourage
| the zeal of the church at a time when the
| temporal power was threatened F~
| An immediate practical result of canoniza-
| ton Is that the saints bones become of
| enormous value as relics. Fortunate, indeed
is the church or religious foundation which
| could attract hosts of pilgrims by exhibiting
on the anniversary of particular saint a
small fragment Of his bones, or even a toe
nail or a single hair. Even the value of rel
les Of q monarch like Louis TX. was greatly
enhanced when they could be venerated as
those Of St. Louis. In fact, these relics were
scrambled for by soveregns, the great abbeys
and cathedrals in q most indecent fashion.
The rare ceremony of canonization in St
Peters, with it's splendid and imposing ritual
is calculated to impress even the most un
compromising Protestant. Regarded merely
as great religious pageant it is only sur,
passed by the gorgeous and imposing ceremo
MES on the enthronement Of new pope
The whole nave Of the cathedral is filled with
} specially invited audience. A special thron,
(sedia gestatora) is erected for the pope be
hind the high altar, and he enters thu
church, preceded by an apparently intermna
BILE procession of ecclesiastical digntares il
} full canonicals, from cardinals, archbishop
and bishops to conons, priests and monks
representing every order. the famous silve
trumpets sound blast, and the anthem "Tl
es Petrus" Is sung. AS soon as his holmes
) is seated on the throne beneath the huge bal
dacchino Of silver cloth, the cardinal vica
Of Rome twice formally demands that tn
name Of the saint-designate may be added t
the catalogue of the saints Twice the pop
, replies that the will Of God should first b
sought by prayer. Whereu2on solemn titanic
are chanted. Finally the pope reads the bu
/ Of canonization, which DEGREES that the ser
T want Of God in question shall be inscribed l
! the canon sanctorum, and that his memor
9 shall be celebrated throughout the church Q
4 q given day. Then the Te Deum is sunt
: and the pealng Of bells from every church i
3 Rome announces to all the faithful in til
I eternal city the admission of new saint t
q the Roman Catholic calendar. A mass i
honor of the new saint celebrated By til
! pope himself, concludes the ceremony.