A GOLDEN ROSE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 362, 17 February 1937, Page 2

A GOLDEN ROSE

GIFT FROM POPE. Marking Anniversary Of Queen’s Wedding The Pope has decided to send $ Golden Rose to the Queen of Italy to mark the anniversary of her wed-ding-—October 24. The Pope, will bless the token on March 7, the fourth Sunday in Lent, and the traditional day for the ceremony. Anointed v.-'lth balsam, fumigated with incense, sprinkled with muEk, the jewel will lie on the altar until the Mass is ended. In due time it will go to the Queen, accompanied by a letter relating- the reasons for which it is sent and reciting her Majesty’s merits. The papal custom of giving a rose as a mark of special favour is centuries cl-d. At firet the ornament was a single bloom of wrought gold, coloured red; later, it became a branch with thorns, leaves and flev'ers. The petals are decked with, gems and one principal rose stands out from the rest. To Henry VIII. of England (strange recipient, in view of his eventual relations with Rome!) Golden Roses were sent not once, but three times.

Henry’s were • elaborate, ninebranched ornaments, the first resting on models of oxen, the second and third respectively on models t of acorns and lions.

If a rose is blessed in a particular year, and no one is judged worthy of it, it is laid up in the Vatican—somewhat as that secular award, the Nobel Peace Prize, is “reserved” in similar conditions'. >

Only twice has the present Pope made the gift —first to Queen Victoria of Spain, and secondly, to Queen Elizabeth of Belgium. The Queen of Italy, nov.l to T>e honoured, is Elena, daughter of King Nicholas of Montenegro, a little country swallowed up in Yugoslavia. She was wedded to Victor Emanuel in 1896, and passed her G4th birthday this month.