THE OPENING OF THE HOLY YEAR

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 6, 11 February 1925, Page 25

THE OPENING OF THE HOLY YEAR

My Rome, December 28. , . The ceremony of inaugurating the Holy Year, by opening the Holy Door, was performed with great solemnity by the Pope . on Christmas Eve, in the presence. of numerous Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, • and Bishops, and all the .Diplomatic representatives accredited to the Holy See. 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 Church to set aside every twenty-five years one year of special and intense religious exercises, to pray for peace among contending : nations, for Divine mercy mankind, for an end to wars and strifes, for the return of the. reign of justice, and for indulgence and remission of sins. The Holy Year ' is, therefore, one of the highest importance to the Catholic clergy and the

(From our own correspondent.)

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 Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore, and St. Paul's. Thousands of the faithful crowded to St. Peter's early in the morning, and by ten o'clock the vast square 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 golden hammer with which he 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 10.30 the Pope put on the sacred mitre and vestments, and the procession started from his private rooms in the Vatican, proceeding to the Sistine Chapel and thence to the Atrium of St. Peter's, where a throne was waiting for the Pontiff. '

The Allium hail been converted into a ceremonial hall. At one end was the Papal throne, with smaller thrones for the two assistant cardinals; on the right and left were seats for the cardinals, archbishops, and the Papal Court, for the Italian Royal family, for foreign princes and diplomatic envoys, and for a select number of pilgrims. The Swiss Guards and Papal noble guards were on service, as on grand occasions.

Among leading foreign personages present were Queen Olga of Greece, Prince Christopher of Greece with his daughters, Princesses Alice, Irene, Marguerite, and Theodora, and Princesses Josephine and Stephanie of Belgium, Opening of the Door. As the Pope entered the Atrium, the hymn "Veni, Creator," was sung, and among the surprises was the presence again of the&celebrated Maestro Perosi, the director of the Sistine Choir, who directed the responses.

After the singing of the hymn, at 11.25 the Pope rose from his throne and proceeded to the sacred door, where the golden hammer was presented to him. On small tables were prepared twelve silver trays, 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 mihi , portae justificc. The Sistine Choir replied in the words of the anthem, and the Pope then struck the door a second and a . third time, breaking the 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. The choir began to sing the Psalm Jubilate Hen omnia terra, and the sacred penitentiarians, with linen from the silver trays and Holy ater in the silver basin, washed the floor and dried it. The Pope then stepped forward being the first to pass through alone. The bells of St. Peter’s began ringing the opening of the Jubilee Year. The bells of all other churches in Rome began and continued ringing for half-am-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 Deum.” He was followed by the choir

and the procession of cardinals, bishops, and the faithful. The Pope proceeded to the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament, where he remained for some minutes kneeling in prayer, and then from the throne near the altar made a short address to the confraternities and archconfraternities on guard, explaining the significance of the Holy Year. The Pontiff then went to the tomb of St. Peter’s, where he pronounced a blessing on those present and the whole Catholic world, and at 1.30 the ceremony was concluded and his Holiness retired to his apartments, again imparting his blessing to the faithful present. A similar service was performed at three other basilicas of Rome, in presence also of large gatherings. The whole quarter of the Borgo was draped in red and the Papal colors, and the ceremony was the occasion of great demonstrations and rejoicings. Several important groups of pilgrims have already arrived, and each week it is anticipated that larger and larger groups will come to 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.

The Late Father Marlow SOLEMN REQUIEM AT WELLINGTON. On the morning of January 24, in the presence of the Most Reverend Metropolitan, Archbishop Redwood, S.M., D.D., his Coadjutor, Archbishop O’Shea, S.M., D.D., and 58 priests, Solemn Requiem Mass was sung for the repose of the soul of Rev. Father Francis Marlow, ■of Dunedin, killed a few days previously in a motor accident. The ceremony took place in St. Joseph’s Church, Buckle Street, Wellington. Rev. Father Connolly, of Kilbirnie, was celebrant; Rev. Father O’Donnell, of St. Joseph’s, deacon; Rev. Father Klimeck, of Upper Hutt, subdeacon. Father Cullen, of St. Joseph’s, performed the duties of M.C. The music of the Mass was beautifully sung by the priests of the archdiocese. Mr, W. McLaughlin was at the organ.

Modern physicians and psychologists de- . I nounce fear as the source of untold evils ' j and as the greatest human weakness. This 4 j denunciation is too sweeping and lacks discernment. There is a fear which imparts : | great moral strength and which, by the ,C | highest authority has been declared to 'bo | the beginning wisdom. It would be well I the beginning of wisdom. It would be well for our generation if it possessed more of I this fear. . , ||