IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES AT ST. PETER'S

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 39, 24 September 1903, Page 4

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES AT ST. PETER'S

The Rome correspondent of a New York secular paper gives the following account of the impressive ceremonies which took place in St. Peter's on the occasion of the coronation of Pope Pius X. :— The ceremony ot the coronation of Pope Pius X. took place to-day (August 9) in the Basilica of St. Peter in the presence of the princes and high dignitaries of the Church, the diplomats and the Roman nobles, and with all the solemnity and splendor associated with this most magnificent rite of the Church. As Cardinal Macchi, the Dean of the Cardinal Deacons, placed the triple crown on the head of the venerable Pontiff, the throng of 70,000 persons gathered within the Cathedral burst into unrestrained acclamations, the choir intoned a hymn of triumph, and the bells of Rome rang out a joyful peal. It is fifty-seven years since the Romans assisted at such a function in St. Peter's. The Great Basilica was overflowing with humanity. The Papal throne, a bewildering mixture of gold, red, and silver, was elected in front of the high altar. As, contrary to custom on these ceremonious occasions, there were no galleries, the Basilica bore more of its normal aspect than might have been expected. On the altar, which was dressed in white, stood the famous silver-gilt candlesticks and a magnificent crucifix. All the available standing space within the Cathedral was divided into sections by wooden barriers, which to a certain extent kept the vast crowd in order. Inside the Vatican Palace there was no less movement and bustle as the Papal procession, composed of about 500 people, all of whom had gathered early in the Apostolic Palace, was formed. The Pope seemed to be the only tranquil one among them all lie rose unusually early and took a few turns in the Vatican gardens. Then he allowed himself to be dressed by the Cardinals. He evinced no nervousness. Just before entering the sedia gestatoria his Holiness asked for his spectacles, and, when the master of ceiemonies discreetly hinted that his Holiness would look better without them, he said : ' I have no desire to appear what I am not,' and, in fact, he wore them during the entire ceremony. The Central Figure in the long cortege was Pius X., borne in the sedia ges'tatona. His heavy white robes and the red and gold mitre were worn wiuiout an effort, making a vivid contrast to those memorable occasions on which Pope Leo wore them, for Leo seemed always unable to support their weight. Before leaving the Vatican the Pope went to the Sistine Chapel to pray before the Blessed Sacrament exposed therein, and then passed through the Sala Regia and the Constantine staircase into the portico of the Basilica. He there seated himself on a throne erected directly before the Holy Door, and with seats around for the members of the Sacred College, the Chapter of St. Peter's, and the Papal Court. The Pontift was exceedingly pale, but composed his emotion. The low ceiling sent back an exquisite echo of the ' Tv Es Petrus, 1 sung by the Sistine Choir, whose voices were heard outside in the piazza of St Peter's Cardinal Rampolla advanced, knelt, and kissed the hand of the Pontiff He then presented in a firm voice the greetings of the Chapter of St. Peter's, who, he said, l offer an act of obedience to your Holiness and wish you a prosperous and glorious Pontificate ' The Cardinal recalled the fact that the bodies of the first Pope and of St Paul lest in the Basilica, which, he said, was 'of good augury for 1 lie work- of the new head of the Church The Pontifl was visibly touched, and, answering in a trembling \oicc, warmly thanked the Chapter. ' Good wishes,' he said, ' are extremely piccious ' The procession then reformed and proceeded to the door of the Basilica The people in the Basilica had meantime become very impatient, and when the gleaming cross which preceded the cortege was seen it was- greeted with great applause On the appearance of the Pontiff himself it seemed as though the people would seek to carry him in their arms, So (ireat was Their Enthusiasm Cries of ' Pius, our Pope, our Father ' ' and ' Long live Pius X. ' ' were raised, notwithstanding the large placards posted all o\er the Basilica saying • ' Acclamations are forbidden ' Leaflets to the same efiect had beon distributed among the crowd The cries continued until the Pontiff was compelled to rise and blc^s the multitude, and at the same time he made a sign ior a more rcverenhal behawour Silence was obtained, when the choir

announced its entrance with the resounding « Ecce Sacerdos Magnus,' accompanied by the sweet notes of the silver trumpets. 4-u 6 master of ceremonies knelt three times before the Pontiff, each time lighting a handful of hemp which surmounted a silver torch, and as- the flame flashed and then died out he chanted ' Pater sancte, sic transit gloria mundi ' (Holy Father, thus passes away the glory oi the world). The procession then proceeded, the Pope's face illuminated with a smile. At the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament there was another halt, and his Holiness left the sedia gestatoria and prayed awhile at the altar. On re-entering the chair he was carried to the Chapel tendeid by Cardinals Macchi, 'di Pietro, Segna, and Seraof St. Gregory, where he assisted at a Mass, being atfino Vannutelli. Then all the Cardinals donned their silver copes and white mitres, and the Pope was borne to the throne amid the renewed acclamations and the waving of handkerchiefs, fans and hats. The scene presented on his mounting the throne formed a magnificent picture, to which no pen could do justice. From the throne Pius X., surrounded by his suite, walked to the high altar, standing over the crypt of St. Peter, into which meanwhile Cardinal Macchi descended to pray. The altar was surmounted by a baldacchino supported by four historic bronze pillars taken from the Parthenon. The appearance of the Pope in that elevated position called forth another burst of enthusiasm. The Pope then blessed the altar, and after he had said the ' Indulgentiam, 1 the maniple, a symbol of the cord with which Christ was bound on His capture, was placed with great ceremony upon the Pope's arm. At the same time prayers for the coronation were recited by Cardinals Vannutelli, Mocenni, Agliardi, and Satolli. Returning from the crypt, Cardinal Macchi placed upon the shoulders of the Pope The Pontifical Pallium, attached it with three golden jewelled pins. Mass was then celebrated, the voice of the Pope becoming gradually more firm and sonorous until it was even audible in the most distant corner of the immense church. Following this, Cardinal Macchi performed the rite of incensing the Pope, whom he subsequently kissed three times on the cheeks and chest, as did Cardinals Segna and Vannutelli. Upon the Pope's return to the throne the Cardinals offered their last obedience to the Pontiff, kissing his hand and feet and being embraced by him twice in turn. The bishops and archbishops kissed his foot and his hand which was covered with a cope and rested on his right knee, while the abbots kissed only his foot. The Holy Father then walked to the Shrine of St. Peter for the culminating rites of the extremely fatiguing ceremony. The whole Sacred College gathered about the Pope, singing Palestrina's ' Corona Aurea Super Caput Ejus,' while the choir also burst forth into song. Cardinal Macchi then recited the ' Pater Noster ' and offered the following prayer : ' Omnipotent and evereternal God, Institutor of the clergy and Author of sovereignty, grant Thy servant, Pius X., grace fruitfully 10 govern Thy Church so that he who, by Thy clemency, becomes and is crowned as Father of Kings and Rector of all the Faithful, through Thy wise disposition may govern well.' ' Amen,' rang out from all corners of the Cathedral, from the choir, the people, the clergy, and the patricians. The Coronation. Cardinal Deacon Segna then raised the Pontiff's mitre, and Senior Cardinal Deacon Macchi placed on the venerable white head the triple crown. At this moment the church was filled with the ringing of bells, the blowing of silver trumpets, the triumphant strains of the choir, and the acclamations of the multitude. When comparative silence had been restored, Cardinal Macchi addressed the Pope in Latin, as follows : ' Receive the tiara ornamented with three crowns. Remember, thou art the Father of Princes and Kings, the Rector of the World, the Vicar on Earth of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the honor and glory of all centuries.' ' Amen ! Amen ! ' again burst forth from the concourse Pope Pius "was quite overcome, and had scarcely strength left to impart the apostolic benediction. The procession then reformed and left the Basilica in the same form as it came. It is regarded as almost marvellous, considering the tremendous crowd at St. Peter's, that not a single untoward incident occurred.