102 FLORAL SYMBOLISM 



of the Pope, the equivalent of a benediction. 

 One remarks that, in the epoch of which we 

 speak, the very poetical rite of the golden rose, 

 most ancient in the Church, had just acquired 

 a new celebrity. The sending of the symbolical 

 flower had replaced, in the Roman court, that of 

 the keys of confession, and Innocent III had just 

 consecrated a discourse to explain its mysterious 

 signification.' ' 



The sending of the golden rose was a very 

 old custom, dating at least from the time of 

 Gregory the Great. The rose was solemnly 

 blessed by the Pope on the fourth Sunday in 

 Lent and sent by him to some sovereign, church 

 or community. Urban V first made the cere- 

 mony annual about 1366, 



This rose, symbol of the Church's blessing, 

 was often a thing of beauty and fine workman- 

 ship. Stefano del Cambio describes that one 

 which was sent in his time to Florence. 



* On Easter Sunday morning, the 2nd of 

 April 1419, Pope Martin V, after having per- 

 formed Mass, gave the golden rose to our mag- 

 nificent Signoria, in remembrance of the honours 



' Arthur Martin, Mdanges d' Archeologie. 



