Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-12-06
Pope To Grown Virgin.

beautifully decorated with red ana wnite
siken haDgings, also in view of the sol
emn canonizatioDs of new saints, which
are to take place December IL.
A large painting of the Virgin has
been placed over the window back OF the
main altar. and many electric lights have
been placed in the church to add solemn
ity to the occasion.
Plus X himself will officiste at the
solemn pontifcal mass, assisted by all
the cardinals and bishops present in
Rome. Atthe celebration of the solemn
ceremony will be worn the magnificent
set of white aud gold vestments present.
ed to the late Plus TX on the occasion
of bis golden jubilee by the Catholic
ladies of France. These vestments have
been used only once before, and are said
to be the most valuable in the posses
sion of the church, not 50 much because
of the workmanship or expensive ma
terial, but for the reason that they are
in number sufficient to supply all the
numerous personages who, according
to the rubrics, have to take part In the
celebration of the mass when the Pope
pontihcates.
Admission to the church will be by
ticket only, several special tribunes hay-
ing been erected for the use of the men,
bers of the diplomatic corps, the aris-
tocracy and the Pope's relatives. Every
bishop and cardinal attending will be
dressed in full pontifcal vestments and
mitre, and the spectacle will be one oil
the most gorgeous ever witnessed.
After the Mass the Pope is to crown
the image of the Virgin with the pre-
cious diamond crown, which has been es-
pecialIy made for the occasion. jewels
were contributed by Catholics from all
over the world, especially by the sodali'
ties of the Children Of Mary, the Pope
himself presenting the largest and most
valuable diamonds, taking them from
several rings and tiaras left by the late
Pope.
The crown, which is said to be worth
several hundred thousand dollars, is Of
solid gold and contains II diamond stars
eiablematic of the biblical description
of the Virgin. 1t was made by the
pontifcal jeweler, who spent several
months on the work. After The image
of the Virgin has been crowned by the
Pope solemn fe Deum will be sung,
the whole congregation joining in the
responses with the special choir. The
music throughout the function will be
under the charge of the Able Perosi and
strictly GregOrian, to comply with the
personal wishes of the Pope.
Several American bishops will be pre-
sent at the solemn celebration. On
Monday, December II, solemn
consstory is to be held in the Vatican
for the purpose of succeeding to the can
onization of two new saints. Contrary
to the general custom at consstorles, all
the bishops present in Rome will be al
lowed to attend dressed in pontifical vest
nent and will also be permitted to give
their vote as to the deslrabillty oil the
proposed canonization.
The two new saints are the Blessed
Gerardo MsjelIa, a member of the Re-
demptorist Order, and the Blessed Ales'
sapdro Saul, Barnabite monk. The
heavy expenses of the canoDization have
been betrayed by the religious orders to
which the saints belonged during their
lives. The costs of the canonization OF
new saint are generally great, not only
because of the lengthy process which is
required from the congregation OF Kites,
but also because of the customs connect
ed with the solemn proclamation by the
Pope and the ceremonies which take
place on such an occasion. Each Of the
cardinals composing the congregation
aud many other prelates are entitled to
life-sise oil painting of the new saint
and a.magnifcently bound copy OF his
life. of which a special edition has been
made. The expenses of music, decora'
ton and attendance in the church have
also to be betrayed by the two religious
orders. which will thus be subjected tt
only one-half of the ordinary costs, the
canonization being a duplex one.
i
The Pope yesterday morning held
consistory for the canonization ofblesset
Gerardo Majelea and Blessed Alessandrc
SAUL, one of the chief events in th'
golden. jubilee celebration OF the proc
lamation of the dogma OF the Immaculate
Conception.
The Pontiff in procession to th'
hall of the consistory, where there wa
an imposing gathering of high prelates,
said to be the largest since the fall of th'
temporal power OF the POpes. The pub
lie was not admitted. Pope Plus, wear
ing his full pontihcal robes, seated
himself on the thone. He then recite'
IN sonorous voice the prayer for th
occasion c and proceeded to expoun'
the reasons which induced him to sane
,;on the canonization of the new saints
inviting the Sacred College to give thel
views. which each ofthe cardinals read II
lain The Cardinals were followed o.
",r;orcbs l,r archbishops and bishops,
including those from the United State
and Canada. After this the Pope pro
ceeded to St. Peters, where IN
solemn rites of the cononization "e'
performed. c ~,