Selected quad for the lemma: city_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A63356
|
A true and exact account of all the ceremonies observed by the Church of Rome at the opening, during the progress, and at the conclusion of the next approaching Jubilee in the year 1700 / taken and translated into English from the Latin original.
|
Catholic Church.
|
1699
(1699)
|
Wing T2428; ESTC R25679
|
8,804
|
1
|
A True and Exact ACCOUNT Of all the Ceremonies observed by the Church of Rome At the opening during the Progress and at the Conclusion of the next Approaching JUBILEE In the Year 1700. Taken and Translated into English from the Latin Original Printed at ROME by Order from the Pope AT the approach of the Jubilee the Popes of Rome cause the Bull of the Jubilee to be published with a great deal of Pomp and Magnificence This Ceremony is always performed on Ascension-day in the Great Portal of St. Peter's Church in the Vatican where for this purpose are placed two Rich Chairs from whence the Ministers chosen by his Holiness read with a very loud and distinct Voice the Brief or Bull of the Jubilee in Italian After this Publication four several Copies of the said Bull are affixed to the East South West and North Corners of the City of Rome as it was practised in Pope Vrban VIII time who in the year 1624 upon Ascension-day which then fell upon the 16 May appear'd in Person in the Church of St. Peter's and commanded Signior Don Austin Durando to read the beforementioned Brief in the presence of some of the Clerks of the Apostolick Chamber and some other Officers but neither any of the Cardinals nor of the Canons of St. Peter assisted at the Ceremony The Sunday next following the said Bull was likewise published in the same manner in the other Churches where according to Antient Custom they are used to open the Holy Gate This being done Briefs or Letters are dispatched to all the Patriarchs Primates Arch-Bishops Bishops and other Superiours of all the Provinces and Kingdoms to notifie the Celebration of the Jubilee and to exhort the Prelates to be more than ordinary Zealous in their Duty to instruct either themselves or by their Ministers the Flocks committed to their Care by which means they may qualify themselves to obtain the happy effects of the appoaching Jubilee Just as the Jubilee instituted by Moses according to Gods order was published before the seventh Month under the sound of Trumpets The Solemnity of the Jubilee it self begins upon Christmass-Eve just before the Vespers by a Ceremony which deserves particularly to be taken Notice of which is the opening of the Holy Gate For the better understanding of which it is to be known that this Holy Gate is one of the Gates of St. Peter's Church in the Vatican which is always shut nay even brick'd up during the interval betwixt the Jubilees which always begins by the opening of this Gate On the 24 day therefore of December which is the Eve of the Nativity of Christ all the Gates of these four Churches where there are any Holy Gates are shut up by his Holiness's order so that no body can pass thro' till such time they are opened with the accustomed Ceremonies After dinner about the time of the Vespers of this great Eve a most Solemn Procession is made at which assist the Ambassadours of Foreign Princes then residing in Rome the Magistrates of the City all the Penitentiaries and Prelates abiding at Rome all the Chapters Fraternities the Roman Clergy the College of Cardinals and the Sovereign Pontife in person each according to his Ranck and Quality Thus they go in procession with a great Cross before them to the Chappel of the Apostolick Palace where the whole Company being entred the Holy Father with all there present fall upon their Knees before the Sacrament In the mean time that many Officers are employed in lighting flambeaus for the Cardinals to hold as a sign of Joy Then the Pope throws some Incense upon a Chaving-dish with a most profound Reverence before the Altar after which he begins the Hymn Veni Creator Spiritus which is continued to the end by a Consort of Musick and Sung distinctly to represent the Holy Fathers in Limbo From thence this Procession goes on in the same Order as before to St Peter's Church being followed by the Holy Father in person who is carried in a Chair to the Holy Gate which as well as all the rest is kept close shut up Every body having taken his place the Holy Father gets out of his Chair and with a lighted Wax-taper in his hand walks up three steps to another Chair placed for that purpose just by the Holy Gate After he has reposed a little he arises and turning himself towards the Holy Gate he knocks with a Silver Hammer on the Holy Gate which is to be opened and Sings likewise three several times the following Verses unto which the Musicians who Compose the Chorus answer at each time V. Aperite mihi portas Justitiae V. Open unto me the Gates of Justice R. Ingressus in eas confitebor Domino R. When I am entred I will praise the Lord. V. Introibo in Domum tuam Domine V. I will enter O Lord into the House R. Adorabo ad Templum Sanctum tuum in timore tuo R. I will adore thee in the fear in the Temple V. Aperite portas quoniam nobiscum Deus V Open the Gates because the Lord is with us R. Quia fecit Viriutem in Israel R. Because he has made known his strength in Israel Then the Pope sits down in his Chair again and says V. Domine exaudi orationem meam V. Lord hear me Prayer R. Et Clamor meus ad te veniat R. Let my cry reach the Ears O. Lord. At the same instant that the Pope goes from the Holy Gate towards his Chair the Masons begin to demolish the Wall wherewith the Holy Gate had been brick'd up and as they are carrying off the Materials the Pope goes on thus V. Dominus vobiscum V. The Lord be with us R. Et cum Spirim tuo R. And with his Holy Spirit OREMUS Actiones nostras quod sumus Domine c. This Prayer being done the Chorus Sings the Psalm Jubilate Deo omnis terra servite Deo in laetitia c. During which time the People which croud up as near as they can to the Railes and the Penitentiaries in their Sacerdotal Vestments wash the Head piece Posts and the Threshold and in short the whole Holy Gate with Holy Water Which being done the Pope as he is approaching to enter the Holy Gate says the following Verses and is answered by the Chorus V. Huic dies quam fecit Dominus V. This is the day the Lord has given us R. Exultemus letemur in ea R. Let us rejoyce in it V. Beatus populus tuus Domine V. Happy is thy People O Lord. R. Quid facit Jubilationem R. Which enjoys this Jublee V. Huc est porta Domini V. This is the Gate of the Lord. R. Justi intrabunt per eam R. The righteous are to Enter it V. Domine exaudi orationem meam V. O Lord hear my Prayer R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat R. And set out cres reach thy Ear. V. Dominus vobiscum V. The Lord be with you R.
first year of his Pontificate in which he declares that the Jubilee had actually commenced with the next preceding Feast of the Nativity of our Saviour But having entertained you sufficiently with the Holy Gates and the Ceremonies belonging to them we must also take a short view of those Transactions which are performed in the City of Rome to obtain the happy end of the Jubilee As those who hope to reap the fruits of a plenary Indulgence must qualify themselves for it by many acts of Charity a true penitence and other Good Works so I must needs tire the Readers Patience if I should pretend to give an exact account of those who flock from all Parts to Rome to make their Confessions and appear before the highest Tribunal of Penitence It will suffice to say that both day and night all the Churches of that great City are filled up with Innumerable Multitude of People who offer up their Prayers in the presence of God Almighty I may say it without Vanity that there is no Street no not as much as a By-Lane in this vast City which being formerly the Capital Empire of the World is now the Capital of Gods Kingdom upon Earth where you may not see most evident Marks of an unfeigned Piety Here you meet those who make it their whole business to give Alms to the Poor with so much Profession that you cannot imagine otherwise but that they are giving away all they have the better to follow Christ Others you may observe to bestow most of their time and substance in giving a good reception to those Pilgrims who come from all the Corners of Christendom to partake of the happy Effects of the Jubilee You will meet as well in the Streets as in the Churches vast numbers of both Sexes who touched with remorse for their past Crimes appear in miserable Dress and a most abjected Posture Some are clad in long course Gowns others covered only with Sack-Cloth some cover their Hands and Faces with Ashes others knock their Breasts with their Fists Many there are who tear the Flesh all over their Bodies by the violence of the Discipline and to be short there is scarce any kind of Mortification invented to give Satisfaction to and appease Gods Anger which you see not put in Practice at that time Neither must you Imagine that those Exercises are performed by private Persons only No you will see whole Fraternities and Congregations composed of a considerable Number who all animated by the same Spirit strive to excite one another to the Performance of them by their mutual Examples Thus you may behold entire Chapters and Colleges of Canons and other Societies enter in procession the City of Rome nay whose Parishes with their Curates at the Head of them who leave their Habitations to pay their Adoration to the Lord and His Son Jesus Christ in that Church where as it may be said God has erected his Tabernacle and honoured it with his particular protection and which claims a prerogative before others by the death of the Chief of the Apostles and his Fellow Sufferer With this kind of People you see all the Streets and other publick Places of this vast City crowded going in Procession from one Church to the other some singing others fighting and shedding Tears For whilst some are busie in singing the Litanies and Psalms appointed for that purpose others offer their Prayers with their Eyes fastned to the Ground and when they Approach the Churches especially that of St. Peter you may see many of them crawling upon the Ground to the foot of the Altar where they continue for a considerable time in saying their Prayers These and such like Devotions are practised at Rome throughout the course of the whole Jubilee when a few days before Christmas-Eve the last day of the Holy Year Proclamation is made that upon the next Eve of the Nativity of Christ His Holiness intends to shut up the Holy Gate of the Church of the Vatican which day being come a Procession is made from the Apostolick Pallace to St. Peter's Church in the same manner as has been mentioned before and after some time spent in Prayers before the Holy Sacrament the Vespers are Sung and three Cardinals deputed to shut up the Holy Gates of the three other Churches No sooner have these three Prelates and their Company received the Benediction from His Holiness and are Marching in a most splendid Cavalcade to perform this Function but the Pope and Cardinals who assist at the Ceremony being Presented with lighted Wax Candles they March in good Order with the Cross before them towards the Holy Gate which is to be shut up the Pope being carried after them in a Chair under a Canopy and as they pass by their Chappel where the Holy Sacrament of the Altar is deposited he offers up his Thanks to God for the happy Conclusion of the Holy Year Which done the Holy Pontife begins the Anthem cum Jucunditate Whilst the Chorus is singing this Anthem or Psalm nisi Dominus edisicaverit domum the Procession moves from and towards the Holy Gate where after some Prayers the Pope standing under his Canopy turns his face to the Holy Gate without his Mitre and a Wax Candle in his Hand and thus imparts his Benediction to the Materials which are ready at hand to close up the Holy Gate in the following Words V. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini V. Our help is in the Lord. R. Qui fecit calum terram R. Who has made Heaven and Earth V. Sit nomen Domini benedictum V. The name of the Lord be praised R. Ex hoc nunc usque in seculum R. Now and for ever V. Lapidem quem reprobaverunt artifices V. The stone which was refused by the artificers R. Hic factus est in caput anguli R. Is now become the Corner Stone V. Domine exaudi orationem meum V. O Lord hear my Prayer R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat R. And let my Cries reach thy Ear. V. Dominus vobiscum V. The Lord be with you R. Et cum spiritu tuo R. And with thy Spirit Let us Pray Great God who protects the highest that is in the middle and the lowest who Sanctifiest thy Creatures bless those thy Creatures the Stones the Mortar and Sand Thro' our Lord Jesus Christ Amen After which the High Pontife the Clergy and all the rest that assist at the Ceremony come out through the Holy Gate just before it is going to be closed up and the Holy Father besprinckles the Materials with Holy Water and some Incense and putting again his Mitre upon his Head with Linnen Cloth round his middle he gives thereby to understand that he professes himself to be the Servant of the true Servants of God and that after the Example of our Lord Jesus Christ he is not exalted to the Papal Dignity and put in St. Peter's Chair to be served but to serve others