San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-23
AMERICAN PRIEST DESCRIBES
CEREMONIES ATTENDANT UPON
ELEVATION TO CARDINALSHIP
Catholic University Professor Relates Details OF
Marvelously Impressive Ceremonials at Consistory.
Medieval Pomp and Costuming Add Color to
Decentralization of Mundelen and Hays
to Take Place in St. Peters.

4 ClOStu, tNO VI Tue pOHt ItiS
staff leave the Vatican and call
upon the newly created cardinals at
their places of residence in Rome.
There the two cardinals will be found
in waiting, surrounded by group Of
friends. They present each new car
dinal with letter. The recipient
hands il to his closet friend present,
someone especially selected for this
distinction. The friend opens the let
ter and reads to the cardinal. The
letter is signed by Gasparri, pom
| tifical secretary of state, who is
pleased to inform the recipient that
the holy father has appointed him as
cardinal and will be ready to receive
him the following afternoon for the
first ceremony of inyestiture. The mes
sengers of the pope, deliver per-
sonallg a speech of generalization. The
new cardinals respond with iull APP
probation of the honors bestowed
upon them.
From the time OF the notification
until Tuesday afternoon the new car
dinals will be engaged in receiving
friends, from the clergy, diplomats,
ana OtuCts.
Tuesday afternoon when the two
new cardinals go to the Vatican TO
receive their birettas, the cenmany
will take place in one of the small
chapels. There will be present the
holy father. the two new prelates.
and invited friends to the number OF
$50 or 200-all the chapel will ac-
commodate. The only other cardinal
present at this ceremony is the secre.
tary of state.
Go Before Pope.
Ushered into the presence OF the
Pope. the two new cardinals kneel at
| the foot of the throne and the Pontiff
personally places the red ecclesiastical
cap upon each bowed head. 1t ~ mis-
will then to deliver a second allocution
which will deal in this case especially
in the affairs of the United States.
This speech from the papal throne is
awaited with keen interest by Amer
lean Catholics. The Holy Father will
bless the two cardinals and make brief
reference to their work for the church
and their worthiness to take their
places in the sacred college. The
response TO such an address always is
made by the eldest in the Episcopy, in
this case Archbishop Mundelein of
Chicago, who was consecrated in
1909. Archbishop Hayes was conse-
grated in 1914.
The biretta. placed upon the head
Of each new cardinal is a red square
cap similar to the black cap ordinari-
ly worn by priests. The biretta should
in nowise be confused with the 'red
hat"
Following the ceremony Of the bret.
ia, there will be n hiatus of one day
and on Thursday comes the solemn con-
sistory in st. Peters. This is the
big event, open to the public, and is
attended by all the cardinals, arch
bishops and bishops in Rome, by men,
bers of the diplomatic corps accredited
to the Vatican and by all of the Vati-
can. All the officials present wear
the high uniforms and vestments of
their offices and the scene is one of
medieval splendor. 1t is reported in
this country that the vestments of the
new cardinals themselves will cost in
the neighborhood OF $4,000.
Pope Ascends Throne.
After the main company is assembl-
ed in st. Peters the two new cardinals
remain in waiting in the Sistine
chapel. The pope is borne into st.
Peters in the great pontifical chair
on the shoulders of eight palafrenieri
(something like the Swiss guards).
The pope ascends the trone. The
other cardinals then retire to the Sis
tine chapel and escort their two new
brothers before the pontiff. One after
the other the two new cardinals kneel
and with renewed blessings and much
Latin ritual there follows the imposi-
ton Of the red hat. In this cere-
monial the pope is assisted by the mas
ter of ceremonies, for the red hat is
a complicated affair. 1t is a low
crowned, broad-brimmed round hat,
with two cords falling away one on
either side. Each cord bears fifteen
tassels, in a pyramid form, at its ex-
tremity. This ceremony concluded,
the new cardinals arise and greet and
kiss each Of the cardinals present, by
all of whom they are congratulated.
The pope, returning TO the great
chair, is borne out of the auditorium,
the cardinals return to the Sistine
chapel where they close the ceremony
with the singing of the TIE Deum. In
the afternoon the Vatican messengers
deliver the red hats to the cardinal
residences.