The Mass of Coronation

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 33, 13 August 1903, Page 18

The Mass of Coronation

The Messa Papale, or solemn Papal Mass, to which unavoidably brief reference is made in this week's supple inent, is a spectacle that is not easily forgotten Tt was our privilege to assist at it on a few rare ' occasions, the most memorable of which was that of ih P canonisation of St. Joseph Labre, St. Lawrence of Brindisi, and St. Clare of Montefalco in 1882 The samp general order is followed with the exceptions mentioned in our supplement, m the Papal Mass of Coronation It is a noble ceremonial. At the solemn procession with which it opens the papal grand march is played on the silver trumpets, the three papal tiaras are borne in £10,000, that of Gregory XVI (referred to elsewhere in this issue), and the most precious of all, that which Queen Isabella 11. of Spain presented to Pius IX and which is valued at £21,000. After the tiaras comes a picturesque croud of minor officials ; then, in due rank Abbots, Bishops, Archbishops, Primates, Patriarchs' Cardinal Deacons, Cardinal Priests, and Cardinal bY shops, each the central figure of his own small court or letinue. Next come two Cardinal Deacons assistant the Swiss and Noble .Guard in their rich state uniforms' and then the Pope himself, raised aloft above,|the .heads . of all , .in his sedia gestatoria (or chair of state), which is carried along by twelve stalwart bearers in mediaeval costume. On each side of him are borne two great tiabelle or fans made of intermingled ostrich plumes and peacock feathers. Other officers of state follow Generals of Religious Orders, etc. .The Pope descends at the

?J& rf i° n u ordl v nar y occasions, at the porch (as dethe ttJr-iITS 8 "^ °\ the ° CCasion of h ' s coro-natio£ Jwhiot ?\l th &\& \ he ascends ' the throne of T erce ' (which, at the coronation is in the chapel of St. Gregory^ assumes the mitre, and receives the 'obedience^ kL h,f a h rdl H alS 'v, W 5 Ogo one h ? one t0 the throne and kiss his hand^ which is covered for this ceremony with p£n rT- 7 h S.- J° lIOWS the ' obedience 'of the Patriarchs Archbishops, Bishops, and other dignitaries 7S hi" n Said -, At its Close the Hol y Father is vS: thP Wh g n m solemn P rocess ion to celebrate Mass on serv?d g ?nr th a f p 7er U } e tomh of St " Peter W^ i* reserved for the Pope alone), meeting, on his way thereto, the officials who perform the striking ceremony of burY S S t^ m° W < descnbed ™ our supplement). The music pjfi ™ &SS iS f SUn , R> aS ° nly ßßoansi * ans can sin S' fe y the fht Pa i T °! male voices ' wi thout accompaniment, in the magnificent and soul-searching strains of Palestr na of the luirdt 8 2 Ca * dinals and dignitaries around, nLlin S t rds + V etc -A f ? rm a ma g»ificent spectacle. Just previous to the offertory the bread and wine for the Hstan Tt te + l ted n y the C + a . rdil^ Deacon and the Sac£Jt h v + * \u Consecration the Pope elevates the ,>p?v + H +^ St to , the T! st - and then Presents it successwith ttete n °il h ' a ?? S ° Uth - He does the same the pJnti iE£ «" ™ the most im Pressive scene of Inl t P r Ma - S , Th !. Choir is silent, the vast multitude kneeling in adoration, the troops also on their knees and presenting arms, and as the Supreme Pontiff stands alone slowly turning the Hidden Lord towards the four corners of the world,- th^e, fall from the great domS overhead the softest and sweetest harmonies of the famous silver trumpets The memory of that moment dwells with us yet after the lapse of over twenty years The Communion of the Pope's Solemn Mass follows closed XffSit° ff h t f c GrCe , k nte ' He takes the a W«tions int t£ll C6> and) ° n ordinar y occasions, concludes Mass m the usual way with the Papal blessing The conclusion of the Mass of Coronation is sufficiently indicated in our supplement.