The Republic

The Golden Rose.
Pius IX. lately conferred on the Queen of Naples the high distinction of the Golden Rose, an honor of rare occurrence, and reserved by the head of the Roman Catholic Church for those fortunate individuals who illustrate in an extraordinary degree the Christian virtues, or who have performed signal services to the cause of our holy religion. A Neapolitan paper contains an interesting article relative to the origin of the Golden Rose, and to the ceremonies which take place at its presentation, which is thus translated by the New Orleans Picayune:

"A ceremony has just taken place at Naples, of the most sacred and of the most singular character. We allude to the presentation of the Golden Rose. Pius IX., forced by the sad vicissitudes of the times to quit his dominions, retired to Gaeta, where our religious sovereign, Ferdinand II., gave him a warm reception. His holiness subsequently, as a mark of his esteem, held at the baptismal font the royal princess, Maria della Grazia Pia, daughter of her majesty the Queen; and desirous of giving the latter a memorial of so solemn an event, was graciously pleased to confer on her the distinction of the Golden Rose.

"For this ceremony, the holy father designated as his ab-legate, or representative, Monsignor Giuseppe Stella, his private chamberlain, who, furnished with the Apostolic brief, duly presented the Rose, in the following manner, with other briefs which accompanied it:

"At 11 o'clock in the forenoon, Monsignor Stella presented himself at the private chapel of their majesties, where the holy sacrifice of the mass was celebrated, before the king and queen, the princess, the princesses, the Count and Countess of Trapani, brother and sister-in-law of their majesties. A gold vase was placed on the altar, having on it the armorial bearings of his holiness, wherein was a bunch of golden roses, amidst which and high above all was the one consecrated with oil of the holy chrism.

"The mass being over, and the Ite missa est pronounced by the ab-legate, the august personages took their seats, when one of the priests in attendance read the brief directing the ab-legate to present the Rose in his name. After this, Count Ludolf, minister plenipotentiary from the Papal States, read the brief of his holiness to the queen, and presented to the king a third brief destined for him.

"The vase was then taken from the altar and presented to the queen, who, extending her right arm, took from it the Golden Rose. Whilst her majesty was in the act of appropriating the precious gift, the legate read the following discourse in Latin, of which we give an English version:

"Receive from our hands this Rose, which, under a special commission, duly directed to us by the most holy father and lord in Jesus Christ, by Divine Providence, Pope Pius IX., we transfer to you. It is an emblem of the joy of the two Jerusalems, that is to say, of the Church triumphant and militant, by which is made manifest that most beautiful flower, the crown and delight of all saints.

"Let your majesty, then, accept it; according to the world, noble, powerful, and endowed with every honor, may you be still more ennobled with the virtue that springs from Christ our Lord, and be like a rose planted on the banks of many waters. This grace, out of His infinite mercy, may He deign to confer on you, who is Three in One, for ever and ever. Amen."

"After kissing the Rose, and delivering the benediction, the ab-legate announced that his holiness had granted a plenary indulgence to all present."

Thus terminated the ceremony of the presentation of the Golden Rose.