Show CAXXOXIZ1XG SAINTS Alone Now Has the Poivcr The Pope SoW Ins but Originally the People Eu Joycd 11 The American people just at the present pres-ent moment are beginning to feel th < necessity of having a saint of their own Of course their inclination points most naturally to Christopher I Columbus The pope at the presenl l time however is alone empowered to name the candidate for this high honor but the history of the rite shows that originally the election was in the hands of the people At the ceremony of canonization the image ot the saint is gorgeously decked and carried in a procession which includes the pope cardinals bishops and prelates When the chapel Is reached the pope takes his seat upon the throne and receives from those present the act of obedience The master of ceremonies then approaches ap-proaches the lower part of the throne and asks that the saints name be placed in the canon I To this the pope responds that there I must be a prayer for guidance and I thereupon the litany of the saints is I said A second time the request is I I made and with the same result the only difference being that the Venl Creator Splritus is substituted for the litany At the conclusion of this part I of the service the canonization is asked for a third and last time and the pope then solemnly names the candidate as I worthy and decrees him as deserving la I place in the canon also fixing the I day to be set apant in his honor The prothonotary Is summoned to call tho congregation a witnesses to the decree I de-cree and this is followed by the singing sing-ing of the Te Deum Laudamus I The canonized saints name is hereafter I here-after used in the confiteor and oration I and then follows the absolution ancl blessing At the offertory there is a curious custom of laying symbolic gifts upon the altar The first cardinal presents a large wax candle which Is followed by an offering of two turtledoves turtle-doves in C golden cage the second cardinal car-dinal then advances bearing two large loaves of bread one gilt and the other silvered and the next gift is one live dove In a silver cage the third cardinal car-dinal presents two tiny gold flasks o wine and after that a large gaily decorated cage filled with live birds of all sorts is placed upon the altar AI the conclusion of the eremony the pope attended by the procession retires re-tires to his chambers for prayer ancj meditation I is the custom t bestow on the I canonized saint some new and especially especi-ally characteristic name and as there is already a St Christopher on the canonization of Columbus this may be done But i a curious fact maJ the name Christopher means the bearer of Christ and in the present instance no more appropriate title could be chosen for the man who brought the creed of Christ to America The St Christopher ot the present canon is by an odd coincidence the patron saint of mariners Pearsons Weekly |