Evening Star Newspaper, April 23, 1933, Page 71

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, B. C, APRH. 28, 1983. e ST. PETER'S HOLY DOOR OPEN TO PILGRIMS How the Special Jubilee Year Pro- claimed by Pope Pius Was Inaugu- rated With Ancient Ritual of Opening- the Famous Portal W hichIsKeptShut Except During the Holy Year. : BY IRENE DI ROBILANT. HREE knocks with a golden hammer, Latin words solemnly chanted by the head of the Roman Catholic Church —and the last door on the right under St. Peter’s great arcade fell slowly back, as if moved by invisible bands, admitting into Christianity’s greatest temple the colorful procession headed by Pope Pilus XI, as well as the first few hundred privileged pilgrims who had obtained the spe- cial ticket required for attendance at this first impressive Jubilee year ceremony. The door had been closed since Christmas eve of 1925, when the Pope had laid the first brick of the wall built before it, thus marking the end of the Jubilee year which takes place every quarter century. Few expected to see it open until 1950, but the Pope, availing himself of his right and of the precedent established by some of his pre- decessors, aroused world interest this year by the proclamation issued on Christmas eve whereby a Jubilee year was announced in ob- servance of the 1900th anniversary of the death of Jesus Christ, which is said to have taken place in the 33d year of his earthly life. Some Scriptural texts give the age as 34, which made the Pope decide to have the Jubilee year start on Saturday, April 1, 1933, and close around the same period next year, thus covering the two dates mentioned in the Scriptures. The custom of setting aside one year in which the faithful are asked to comsider spiritual values, repent of their sins and, if possible, reap great religious benefit by visiting the tombs of the apostles in Rome, dates back to the year 1300, in which a Jubilee was proclaimed by Pope Boniface XIIT (Benedict Caetani). ILGRIMS visiting Rome were promised ab- solution for all their sins; those dying on the way in times in which all forms of travel meant danger and hardships had the certainty of obtaining eternal felicity. Those were great days of religion, which found expression in art, poetry and music fa- mous the world over; the memory of the Crusades was still fresh in every one’s mind, and the roads to Rome were traveled by thousands of pilgrims, carrying the staff and drinking shell which became symbols of the picus act A new bridge was built across the River Tiber simply in order to ease the pilgrim traffic which was creating embarrassment on the ex- isting bridges. The poet Dante, the Em- peror of Germany, Henry VII, were among the pilgrims of this first jubilee, and ever since the solemn proclamation has been attended by foreign sovereigns and eminent men from every part of the Christian world. In order to give every one the benefit of a Holy year during his lifetime, the intervals have been gradualiy shortened. It was first decided to proclaim a jubilee every 50 years, then every 33, with the ages of Christ as a motive, and finally in the year 1470 Pope Paul II decreed that it should take place every 25 years, and that the Popes were at liberty to proclaim a jubilee when special occasions or world condi- tions made them think such a proclamation fitting and useful in the interest of human salvation. The Jubilee year which has just commenced is the twenty-fourth in the history of the church. The practice of entering St. Peter’s, as well as the other four basilicas possesing Holy year privileges, through a door specially built for the purpose, was, however, only in- troduced in the year 1500 by Pope Alexander VI. The door as we now see it was built by him, although the marble frame and decora- tions above it are of a later date. It was solemnly opened on Christmas eve In 1499, just seven years after the discovery of America, and the ritual then established, as well as the accompanying ceremonies, are ex- actly the same as those which are taking place in Rome under the leadership of Pope Pius XI. N the morning of Saturday, April 1, the pealing of the great bell of St. Peter’s an- nounces the arrival of the papal processjon. The bronze door of Vatican Palace stands open, the Swiss guards are in the lead wearing their full regalia of yellow and blue with long feathers on their steel helmets. ‘The great religious frateenities follow, and behind them, with valets and pages, the Sacred A processional solemn with religious significance and brilliant with the color and pomp of ancient tradition. Pope Pius XI on the Gestatorial Chair moves from Vatican Palace under the portico of St. Peter's to open the Holy Doot. College of Cardinals. The princes of the Church of Rome are wearing their scarlet vest- ments with long silken trains, and white lace surplices. All cardinals residing in Rome are present, as well as several foreign prelates who have purposely made the journey. Finally, & long burst of applause is heard from the crowd which packs St. Peter's great square. The Pope, in the gestatorial chair, has just emerged from his palace and is being carried under the portico of the church, toward the holy door. The gestatorial chair is a throne firmly se- cured to a wooden platform which is carried on the shoulders of 24 specially chosen valets. A silk canopy is held above his head by four noblemen who have inherited this privilege from a long line of ancestors. The military bodyguard surrounds the mov- ing platform. It is made up exclusively of men belonging to Rome’s most blue-blooded families. They wear tall patent leather boots, their breast- plates and helmets are in gifded metal and they march with drawn swords. On either side of the platform Prince Colonna and Prince Orsini, conspicuous in their black costumes and sweeping mantles, take a leading part in the procession, not only because of the honor to which they are entitled by birth, but because they represent the Cetholic laity. As soon as the procession reaches the holy door, the dignitaries group around it, forming a double alley. A throne has been erected on one side, on which the Pope takes his place. The bricks in front of the door have been removed; it is not only closed. but covered with white hangings. The other three doors under the portico are closed, and while the temple is not open to the general public until the after- noon, many busy hands have been active on the inside. TANDS have been built nearby in which the diplomatic corps, the Roman aristocracy and small groups of pilgrims having special tickets have been accommodated. The Holy Door itself, which has no hinges and is secured in a cperially built frame, has been attached First of all pilgrims, Pope Pius XI, kneels on the threshold of St. Peter’s in the colorful ceremonies marking the opening of Holy year. to ropes and connected with pulleys on a spe- cially built scaffoldimg. When the ropes are released it will fall back slowly onto a low-wheeled cart which has been placed before the door, allowing for its instan- taneous removal. When the procession is perfectly grouped the Pope descends from his throne, carrying a lighted candle in his left hand, with the shep- herd staff in his right. On reaching the door he passes the candle to the cardinal first dea= con and receives from him a golden hammer, with which he strikes the door three times. The words which he chants alone are ane swered by the famous Sistine Chorus, of which the mellowed voices are heard well into the piazza. “Open unto me the door of justice” is the first anthem, to which the chorus answers “Our entrance will glorify the Lord.” On the second stroke the Pope sings “I am entering your mansion, Lord,” and with the final third he orders “Open the door, for the Lord is with us.” ‘The great bronze portal is seen to waver as if struck by thunder. It is gradually detached from the top and falls slowly back, in a few seconds the cpening is cleared and the prine cipal altar can be seen ablaze with candle light, The Pope returns to his throne, in order to give the workmen time to remove the fallen door and allow the religious fraternities, who all through the year will stand watch beside it, to wash the threshold with holy water, Finally all is ready, the Pope removes the bejeweled miter and all emblems of his supreme spiritual authority upon earth, he takes a staff surmounted by a cross in his right hand and, alone, first among the pilgrims who have been called upon to repent and worship, he kneels in all humility on the threshold of the door. ILENCE reigns as he bends his head in prayer. On rising he walks alone into the church and immediately sings the first words of the “Te Deum,” Christianity’s most joyous hynw, to which chorus and organ answer. Tre procession then follows him in appointed order, first to the altar which Michelangelo’s carved figures of Christ and His Mother have made famous, then to the principal altar, where another throne awaits him. The “Door of Justice” now stands definitely open, the cardinal deacon, standing on the Pope’s right, reads the decree proclaiming plenary indulgence to all pilgrims, who, having confessed their sins and repented, visit Rome with sincere faith and humble heart. In a simpler way, and at a different hour, generally in the afternoon, similar ceremonies take place under the portico of the basilicas of St. Paul, St. John on the Lateran and Santa Maria Maggiore, The holy doors are opened for the use of pilgrims by papal delegates. Naturally, the other doors remain, and on the days of great pilgrimages and pontifical masses, all are used. - GIVING CREDIT. ONSIDERABLE data and valuable information in the article “Towers That Sing at Easter,” which appeared in The Star’s Magazine last Sunday, April 16, came from the splendid book on the same subject, “Carillon Music,” written by William Gorham Rice, who has re- cently been appointed United States Minister to the Netherlands. Credit should be given both the author and the publishers, Dodd, Mead & Co. of New York.