HOLY YEAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1925, Page 1

HOLY YEAR.

ST. PETER’S CEREMONY

IMPRESSIVE SCENES

ROME, December 26

The ceremony of the opening of the doors of St Peter’s for the Jubilee Year was carried out with great splendour and solemnity yesterday by the Pope in the presence of numerous cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops, and all the Diplomatic representatives accredited.to the Holy Sec. The whole Catholic world may be said to have looked forward with mystic faith, and devotion to this ceremony, which inaugurates a year of special prayers, indulgences, and religious practices. Since the twelfth century it has been the practice of the Papacy and the Catholic Churc-h to set aside every twentv-fivo years one year of special and intense religious exercises, to pray for peace among contending nations, for Divine mercy on mankind, for an end to wars and strifes, for the return of the reign of justice, and for indulgence and remission of sins. 'Hie Holy Year is, therefore, one of the highest importance to the Catholic clergy and the faithful, and its beginning is marked by the great religious ceremony in Rome, consisting of the solemn opening of. the doors of St. Peter’s, previously closed and walled up, and a similar ceremony in three other ancient basilicas in Rome, St. John Late ran, Santa Maria, Maggiorc, and St. Paul’s. Thousands of the faithful crowded to St Peter’s early yesterday me; uing, and by ten o’clock the vast squat e was filled. The front of St Peter’s was closed, and the sacred doors were waiting to be opened after three calls from, the Supreme Pontiff. The, gc.deu hammer with which lie was to strike the central door three times during the ceremony was an artistic work, and was presented by the bishops of the entire Catholic world. At 10..>0 the Pope put on the sacred mitie and vestments and the procession started from his private rooms in the \ atieaii, proceeding to the Sistine Chapel and thence to the Atrium of St Peter’s, where a throne was waiting for the Pontiff.

The Atrium had been converted into a ceremonial hall. At one end was the Papal throne, with smaller thrones for the two assistant cardinals; on the right aiul left were scats fr.r the cardinals. archbishops, and the Papal Court, for the Italian Royal Family, for foreign princes and diplomatic e.a voys, and for a select number of pilgrim’s. The Swiss Guards and Papal noble guards were on service, as on grand occasions. Among leading foreign personages present were Qu r en Greece. Prince Christopher <- f Greece with his daughters, Princesses Alice, Irene. Marguerite, and Theodora.' and Princess Josephine and Stephanie of Belgium. OPENING OF THE DOOR.

As the Pope entered the Atrium, the hymn “ Yeni, Creator,” was sung, and among the surprises was the presence again of the celebrated Maestro Perosi, the director of U e Sistine choir, who has evidently made his peace with the Church and directed the responses. After the singing of the hymn, at 11.2.1 the Pope rose from his throne and proceeded to the sacred door, where the golden hammer was presented In him. On small tables -were prepared twelve silver tia\s, with linen, and a silver basin with Holy water. The Pope struck one blow on the silver cross on the door and pronounced the words: “ Aperite in ill i. port re justithe.” The Sistine choir replied in the words ol the anthem, and the Pope then struck the door a second and a third time, breaking tiic cross at the third blow, whereupon the door was forced open by the attendants. The. mortar had previously been loosened, and the door was removed on a special chariot. Ihe choir began to sing the Psalm,

“Jubilate Deo omnis terra,” and the sacred penitentiarians, with linen Irom the silver trays and Holy water in the silver basin, washed tile floor and dried it. The Pope then stepped lonvnrd being the first to pass through alone. The hells of St. Peter’s began ringing the opening of the Jubilee Tear. The hells of all other churches in Rome began and continued ringing flor half an hour.

The Pope carried a lighted taper in one hand and a crozier in the other, and on entering the sacred basilica he intoned the “Te Benin.'’ He "as followed by the ch-oir and the procession of cardinals, bishops, and the faithful. The Pope proceeded to the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament, where lie remained for some minutes kneeling in praver, and then from the tin one near the altar made a short address to the confraternities and ai'diconfmterniLies oil guard, explaining the significance of the Holy Year. Iho Pontiff then went to the tomb of St. Peter’s, where he promised a blessing on those present and the whole Catholic world, and at 1.30 the eeiemoiiv was concluded and his Holiness retired to his apartment, again imparting his blessing to the laithful present. A similar service was performed at the three other ancient basileas ol Rome, in presence also of large gatherings. The whole quarter of the Borgo was draped in red and the Papal colours, and the ceremony was (he occasion of great demonstrations ami rejoicings. Several important croups of pilgrims have already arrived. and each week it is anticipated that larger and larger groups will come t„ Rome, filling all the hotels and hostelries. Special committees have undertaken to compile lists of rooms available in Rome, and delegations of pilgrims from more than fifty nations are expected.