Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-01-27
LAIDTO REST
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LA1DTO REST
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The body was placed on the slloul-
ders of the red coated ushers and the
solemn procession moved with slow
and measured step. headed by a giant
lieutenatn OF the gendermerie with
drawn sword. Behind him were his
stalwart gendarmes. six deep. An
escort of Palatine guards followed d
and then the Swiss guards. The
priests of the Basilica took up a po-
sition behind these and after them
came another group Of Swiss guards
bearing uplifted swords and halberds.
Immediately behind the body came
the major..eleemosynary. accompanied
by Saeristan ZaIhpini ana following
them was Prince Ruspoli. grand mas
ter OF the apostolic household, the
MARQUIS Sachetti. MAJOR -fofagef: the
Marquis francesca, and Colonel Dir
schbuhl, commander of the Swiss
Guards, preceding a corps OF the No.
Bile Guards.
Next came the major prelates In
flowing robes of black and purple.
then members Of the Ancient Order
of the Sword and Cape in quaint
medieval costumes with ruffied coll
lars. CATERS and buckled slippers:
then the high officers of the armed
forces Of the Vatican ir the order OF
their precedence.
AJns1 h In, vxan - In En-
cred College. bishops archbishops
and diplomats had entered the Chapel
of the Choir. with its high stalls ris-
ing along both sides of the Altar. As
they entered they took UP their po-
sitions according to their rank.
The strains of the "Miserere" were
heard as the procession approached
the chapel, and the cardinal arch
priest, Merry del Val. and the car
dnal camerlengo. Gasparri. tool; their
places near the casket which was to
receive the body.
AS the strains Of the "Miserere"
ended. the pontiffs body was carried
in. andthe anthem "Exaltabunt Doni-
ino" was again sung. followed by tho
chanting of ain Pafadisum."
Then the solemn ceremony os abso-
luton took place and the choir sang
the anthem "Ingrediar." followed by
"Sicut Cervus." While the last an
them was being sung. the body was
deposited in the cypress coffin and the
major domo of the vatican. Monsignor
sanz de Samper, covered the face Of
the Pope with veil OF white SILK. and
placed in the coffin the medals Struck
during the pontificate of Benedict ar9
purses of coins, in accordance with
custom.
Cardinal Cagliero. archbishop Of
Frascati and the first cardinal created
by Benedict, covered the body with a
large red veil fringed with gold and
placed at the feet brass cylinder
upon which vas inscribed a succint
history of th6 life and pontihcate Ut
the late Pope.
Finally absolution was given. the
coffin was sealed by the cardinal CAM
erlengo and the arch priest with RIB
bons of violet silk; and the cover was
screwed on. The burial act was then
read and formal transfer Of the body
made by the Sacred College to the
chapter of the basilica, this being duly
registered. The coffin was thereupon
sealed with the apostolic palace SEAL
then with those of the basilica1 chan-
ter. the arch priest and canerlengn
The cypress coffin in which the body
rested was placed in lead casket.
the ends Of which were Immediately
soldered and both were deposited IN
hardwood casket upon which the same
seals were affixed as on the first.
This was surmounted by a wood
en- cross also by the Pope's coat OF
arms, with tiara, and the brief Latin
inscription 1.-THE body OF Benedict the
Fifteenth, supreme pohtiff, who lived
CT years, occupied the throne OF st.
Peter seven years and died January
twenty-second, Nineteen Twenty
two"
After the ceremony in the chapel
of the choir the procession reformed
and proceeded to a position before
the high pontifical altar Immediately
under the spacious dome. The Car
dinals this time followed in the pro-
cession and took places along the
rail leading to the crypt. The body,
now encased in it's casket, was car
ried to a platform specially con-
structed TO rlowering into the crypt.
Chains We're adjusted and the casket
was slowly swung into the tomb
without further ceremony except the
distant singing Of the choir in the
chapel, Which echoed down the aislcs.
AS the casket was dropped lower, the
cardinals showed deep grief and all
drew nearer to the entrance to the
crypt. Then when the ceremony was
over they moved silently to the JUL
ian chapel. AS finally placed Bene-
diets body lies alongside that OF
riux X. just before the statue Of
Queen Christina OF Sweden.