THE GOLDEN ROSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1973, 12 September 1889, Page 31

THE GOLDEN ROSE.

The Golden Rose, which our readers will remember has been presented by the Pope to the widowed Crown Princess Stephanie, is well described in a Transatlantic newspaper :—: —

The holy Golden Rose is a mark of special favour and regard which, since the days of Pope Sixtus IV, has been annually presented by the Pontiff of the day' to some great lady of imperial, royal, or princely rank. Among those now living who have been honoured are the ex-Empress Eugenic of France, Queen Isabella of Spain, the beautiful ex-Queen of Naples, who so distinguished herself at the siege of Gaeta in 1862, Queen Carola of Saxony, the Queen Regent of Spain, the Infanta Isabella of Spain, the Crown Princeas of Brazil, Empress Elizabeth of Austria, and Queen Henrietta of Belgium. The Golden Rose is not a single flower. It is a golden branch to which thorns are appended, and is covered with leaves, buds, and flowers, the topmost one being the largest. The whole is deftly wrought in pure gold. Within the principal rose is placed a small receptacle, usually a cup with a lid over it, in which, when blessing the flower, the Pope places palm and musk. The branch is planted in a vase, of which the shape and design vary, according to the fancy of the august donor, but it always has engraved on its pedestal the arms and name of the Pope who blessed and bestowed it.

As the flower is blessed, but not necessarily bestowed annually, it often happens that the Pope who first blessed it is not the same Pope who gives it away. If no worthy recipient is found for it the Golden Rose may remain from year to year in the treasury of the Papal Chapel. In 1849 two of the blessed roses were in the treasury when the insurrectionary forces despoiled it, and both the roses disappeared. The intrinsic value of the rose depencs greatly on the financial resources of the Pope who happens to order its making. Probably economical reasons have obliged the Pope of the present day to dispense with the splendid ruby that was formerly attached as a bud to the chief rose and to omit the other precious stones with which the branch was laden. The vase, once of gold, has now come to be of silver gilt.

The Jesuit Baldassari states that in 1650, 500 gold scudi were used in making the rose. Pope Alexander VII had two made, one of the value of 1200 and the other 800 gold scudi ; while Pope Clement IX sent a gold rose valued at 1600 gold scudi, and weighing 81b, to the Queen of France. The artist received 300dol for his skill in making this Golden Rose, which was most delicately wrought. Within the principal flower a splendid sapphire was set. Innocent XI had a rose made of great weight, worth 1400 scudi or crowns. An old Roman newspaper gives a description of the Golden Rose presented to the Queen of Napels by Pius IX in 1849. The vase, of silver gilt, was ornamented with oak leaves and armorial bearings. The design of the vase was suggested by one in porcelain given by King Charles X to Leo and now in the Vatican Library. It was of octagon form, and measured Bin by 4in. The height of the branch on which blossomed the Golden Rose was no less than 18in. Such is the Papal gift of to-day.

In earlier times the Golden Rose varied in form, but it seems always to have consisted of a single rose, made of the purest gold, coloured to imitate the natural flower. It was the emblem of all that is beautiful, pure, and lovable, the queen of flowers, the favourite of painters and poets, and a meet gift of a Pope to those who had served well the cause of the Church and of civilisation in the State. The presentation is always performed with solemn ceremonial. If the personage to whom the flower is to be offered is in Rome, then the Pope in person usually presents it ; if, on the other hand, as in the case of Archduchess Stephanie, the rose is conferred on some one out of Rome, then a Papal delegate is chosen to offer it.

Monsignor Galimberti, who was appointed by the Pontiff to deliver the Golden Kose to Crown Princess Stephanie, is one of the most curious types of prelates , belonging to the Eoman Church. He is a kind of ecclesiastical Bohemian, and is a man somewhat after the style of the late Cardinal Antonelli, which is an indirect manner of asserting that no matter how high the official rank which it may please the Pope to confer on him, he will never be invested with any episcopal office. A marvellously clever and devoted adherent to the Holy Father's pet policy of an equitable reconciliation between Church and State, his past is unfortunately connected with several adventures of a very shady nature. Notwithstanding the present high favour in which he stands with Leo XIII, there are several of the cardinals who decline to allow him to address them. However, Monsignor Galiinberti's talents are bo remarkable and his services so valuable that the Pope holds him in great esteem and places boundless confidence in his savoir fairs and wonderful diplomatic capabilities. Monsignor Galimberti's meeting with the Princess was a very touching one, and great was the emotion displayed by the Princess when, at the conclusion of the Mass celebrated by the prelate in the private chapel of the castle, he presented to her the golden flower with these words: — " Receive from our hands this rose which we deliver to you by special commission from our Father and Lord in Jesus Christ, Pope Leo XIII, by

which is signified the joy of the two Jerusalems — that is, the Church Triumphant and the Church Militant — and through which is made manifest to all Christ's faithful that most beautiful flowei which is the joy and crown of all saints. Receive it, my daughter, endowed as you are with many virtues and bowed down by many sorrows, that you may be still further ennobled with greater virtue by Christ our Lord, like that rose planted upon the shores of many waters. May He who is Three in One for ever and ever in His infinite mercy grant you this grace." The blessing of the rose by the Pope always takes place at the High Mas 3on mid-Lent Sunday. The rose is placed between two lighted tapers on a table in the sacristy, and is presented by the youngest cleric, of the Pope's household to his Holiness on his way to the Sistine Chapel. The Pontiff, in alb and stole, after placing incense in a thurible held by the senior cardinal present, reads a special prayer for the occasion, places the scents in the rose, which he then blesses and incenses. The rose is then carried before the Pope to the altar, at which his Holiness celebrates Mass. It remains on the altar during the ceremony, after which it is taken to the Pontifical treasury to await transmission.