The Irish standard., 1903-08-15

choir, whose voices were heard out
side in the piazza of st. Peters. Car
dinal Rampolla advanced with dignity,
knelt and kissed the foot of the pom
tiff. He then presented in firm
voice the wishes and greetings of the
chapter Of st. Peters, which he said
"offer an act of obedience to your
holiness and wish you a prosperous
and glorious pontificate."
The cardinal recalled that the bodies
of the first pope and of st. Paul rest
in the basilica, which fact, he said,
was of good augury for the work of
the new head of the Catholic Church.
The pontiff was visibly touched and
answering in trembling voice, warm
ly thanked the chapter for their we'll
wishes Good Wishes" he said, ''are
extremely precious The procession
then reformed and proceeded to the
door of the basilica, through which
Plus cast an almost te1Tor-stricken
glance, whispering to DR.. Lapponi,
"Shall I ever be able to go through
with it,"
The people in the basilica had mean
time become impatient, and when the
cleaning cross which preceded the
cortege was seen it was greeted with
great applause. On the appearance Of
the pontiff himself it seemed as though
the people would seek to carry him
in their arms so great was their en-
thusiasm. Cries of Plus our pope,
our father" and Long live Plus X"
were raised, Notwithstanding the large
placards posted all over the basilica
saying: Vaccinations are forbidden"
Leaflets to the same effect were dis
tributed among the crowd. The cries
continued until the pontiff was COM
PEELED to rise and bless the multitude,
and at the same time he made sign
for more reverential behavior. Silence
was obtained when the choir an
nounced it's entrance with the resound
ing notes of the "Ecce Sacerdos Mag
nus" which were accompanied by the
sweet notes of the silver trumpets. A
quaint ceremony was then carried out.
The master Of the ceremonies knelt
three times before the pontiff, each
time lighting a handful of hemp
which surmounted silver torch, and
as the flame flashed and then died out
he chanted "pater sancte, sic transit
gloria mundi' (oly father, thus
passeth away the glory of the world.
The procession then proceeded. the
pope's face meanwhile Illuminated by
smile. At the chapel Of the sacra-
ment there was another halt. and his
holiness left the Sedia geStatora and
prayed at the altar. On re-enterng
the chair he was carried to the chapel
of st. Gregory, where he officiated at
a mass, being assisted by Cardinals
Macchi, Di Pietro, Segna and Nannu-
tell. Then all the cardinals dOnned
their silver copcs and white mitrcs
and the pope was borne to the throne
amid renewed vaccinations and wav-
ing of handkerchiefs. fans and hats.
The scene presented OH his mounting
the throne formed a magnificent pic
ture to which no pen could do JUS
tice. The central figure was the ven
cradle pontiff seated on the throne
Two lines of cardinals clad in silver
and scarlet reached to the high altar
with it's burden of burning candles
and sacred vessels, while around stood
the papal guards, the pontfical court
monks and officials. The cathedral
was Illuminated with twinkling lights.
while the marble columns and walls
rendered the color scheme more vivid
Overhead was the most magnificent
dome in the world, up to which floated
the harmony of the music From the
throne Plus Y. surrounded by his
suite, walked to the high altar stand
ing over the crypt of St Peter, into
which meanwhile Cardinal Macchi,
descended to pray. The altar was sur
mounted by a baldacchno supported
by four historic bronze pillars taken
from the Parthenon. The appearance
of the pope in that elevated position
called forth another burst of enthu-
siasm. The pope then blessed the
altar, and after saying the ''indulgcrl-
TAM the maniplc, a symbol of the
cord with which Christ was hound on
His capture, was placed, with great
ceremony, upon the pope's arm. At
the same time prayers for the corona
tion were recited by Cardinals Van.
nuteli, Moccnni Agliarl and SntOlli
Returning from the crypt. Carlina
Macchi placed upon the shoulders of
the pope the pontifcal pallium ana at
tached it with three golden jewelcd
pins, saying: ....-.
"Receive this sacred pallium as a
symbol Of the fullness of the ponti
fical Office in honor of Almighty God
the most glorious Virgin Mary. His
mother, the blessed apostles, st. Peter
and st. Paul, and the holy Roman
Catholic Church." Mass was then celc
brated with great pomp and ceremony
the voice of the pope becoming grad
lally more firm and sonorous until il
was even audible in the most distant
corner of the immense church. Follow