204 PAKSONS ON THE ROSE. 



points to imitate thorns ; it is an emblem of beauty and 

 of nobility acquired with difficulty. 



The Golden Rose was considered so honorable a present, 

 that none but monarchs were worthy to i-eceive it. 



In the 11th century, the Pope introduced tlie custom of 

 blessing a golden Rose, which he presented to some church, 

 or to some prince or princess, as an especial mark of his 

 favor. 



In 1096, the Pope Urban II. gave a Golden Rose to the 

 Comte d'Anjou. • Alexander III. sent one to Louis, King 

 of France, in acknowledgment of the attentions of that 

 prince during the Pope's visit to France, as stated in a 

 letter which he wrote the King. 



" In accordance with the custom of our ancestors, in 

 carrying a rose of gold in their hands on Dimanche Laetare, 

 we do not think we can present it to one who merits it 

 more than yourself, from your devotion to the Church and 

 to ourselves." 



Pope John, in 141.5, sent the Golden Rose to the Em- 

 peror Sigismund. Martin Y., in 1418, sent another to the 

 same prince. Pius II., in 1461, sent one to Thomas Pale- 

 ologue. Emperor of Constantinople. Henry YIII., of 

 England, before his separation from the Church of Rome, 

 received the Golden Rose twice ; the first from Julius II., 

 and the second from Leo X. ; and in 1842, the Pope's 

 Nuncio Capaccini presented it to Donna Maria, Queen 

 of Portugal. Isabella, Queen of Spain, was presented 

 with it a few years since. 



The public ceremony of blessing the Rose was not insti- 

 tuted until 1366, by Urban V. : that pontiff, wishing to 

 give a particular mark of his esteem to Joanna, Queen of 

 Sicily, solemnly blessed a Golden Rose, which he sent her, 

 and made at the same time a decree, that a similar one 

 should be consecrated every year. For fifty or sixty 

 years, the Pope gave the Rose to princes who came to 

 Rome ; and it was the custom to give 500 louis to the 



