San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-23
By ROBERT r. SMALL

Copyright by The San Antonio Light.
Washington, ID. C., March 22.-The
elevation of Archbishops Mundclein OF
Chicago and Hayes of New York, to
| the cardinalate, with ceremonies run.
ming from Monday to Thursday OF
next week in Rome, marks the first
time in history that the American
episcopate of the Roman Church has
been honored with a dual bestowal
of the red hat.
The ceremonials of investiture, there
fore, take on a new significance. Little
or nothing is known in this country
Of the ceremony itself, for compare
lively few American Catholics have
ever witnessed an elevation and there
is little literature on the subject out
side of the church works written in
Latin.
Father Bernardini of the Catholic
University here, nephew of Cardinal
Gasparri, pontifical secretary of
state, is an exception to the rule.
Father Bernardini has been present
at the Vatican on numerous occasions
when cardinals have been created and
has attended a number of the public
consistories where the final ceremonies
are held. He describes the public
ceremonies as extremely simple in the
acts performed, but marvelously i'm
pressive in the medieval pomp and
costuming which surround them. The
public elevation Of Archbishops Mum
delein and Hayes is TO be unusually
impressive from the fact that it takes
place in the great hall of st. Peters,
where a special throne already has
been erected for the pope.
Four Parts TO Ceremonies.
The ceremonies Ill Rome may be
divided into four parts.
The first is the creation of the new
cardinals. This takes place Monday
morning. As yet the two archbishops,
waiting in Rome. have no official no.
tfication of their selection.
The second ceremonial is the re-
eeiving of the two newly-created ear
dinals in semi-private audience and
the bestowal upon them of the red
biretta, or small ecclesiastical cap.
The third ceremonial is the public
elevation and the bestowal OF the
socalled red hat" which is really a
symbol Of office and is never intended
to be worn. In fact, it would be
virtually impossible for a cardinal TO
wear the hat"
The fourth ceremonial is once more
in secret consistory. At the begin
ming of this consistory takes place the
ceremony known as the Opening OF
the mouth" symbolizing the duties OF
the new cardinals to keep the secrets
Of their offices and to give wise
counsel to the pope. The ring is
also bestowed upon the new cardinals.
This generally is of small value, US
ually set with a sapphire and bearing
on the inside Of the bezel, the arms OF
the pope comforting it. Cardinals
are not required habitaully to wear the
ring bestowed, and most Of them pre-.
fer one of their own.
The schedule of events in Rome Is
as follows:
Monday, March "a: Secret con-
sistory for the creation of the two
American cardinals.
Tuesday, March Is: Pope Plus re-
ceives the new cardinals and after they
have taken the oath of office bestows
upon them the biretta.
Thursday, March 81: Public evn-
sistory at st. Peters and imposition
of the red hats.
Pope to Deliver Allocution.
The date for the fourth ceremany,
the first secret consistory TO be at
tende'' By the new cardinals, has not
been announced.
The secret consistory Of Monday is
described as a vestige Of ancient cere-
mony which has become at this time
more or less q matter of form. At
this ceremony the cardinals-elect are
not present. 1t is q meeting OF the
cardinals who are present in Rome.
Other cardinals are invited but are not
required to attend. The only cere-
mony at which all the cardinals are
obligated to be present is the one for
the. election of a new pope.
At Mondays consistory, the Pope
| will deliver an allocution treating on
the state of the world and including
The church's relations to diplomatic and
political affairs. Although delivered
In secret, the allocution afterwards is
published.
Following the allocution comes the
announcement by the pope that he has
chosen Archbishops Mundelein and
Hayes for elevation to the cardina-
late.
His power to do this has become
absolute, but merely as a matter of
form he asks the college if there is
objection. Without even so much as
hesitation for a reply, the pope pro-
ceeds almost in the same breath TO
announce: There being none. the
cardinals, therefore are elected
Tue form Of the election has been
handed down through the centuries
and is a relic Of the time when OBJ
!Jectlons might be and often were. Of
Tered by the existing colleges. At times
tue OBJECTIONS were so strong that
nominations were withdrawn. Nothing
OF that sort has happened, however,
ior several hundred years. The poDe
alone may pass upon the choice OF his
"ounsellors
! As soon as the secret consistory Is