ROSE. 



161 



our reason, and it is with difficulty we avoid 

 sensations of affliction, when we now look 

 upon bouquets of colourless flowers, whereas 

 others equally enliven us ; but these, too 

 forcibly remind us of the elegant child with 

 whom we can no more tread the consecrated 

 ground of Pere la Chaise. 



The Mexicans, says the Abbe Clavigero, 

 have from time immemorial studied the cul- 

 tivation of flowers and odorous plants, which 

 they employ in the worship of their gods ; 

 and in the temple of the true God the high 

 priest was formerly crowned with roses. 

 The Catholic church has still preserved the 

 use of these flowers in its most sacred cere- 

 monies, as it is always the rose that they 

 strew before the holy sacrament in solemn 

 processions. 



There is now to be seen at Rome, in the 

 church of Saint Susan, an old Mosaic, which 

 represents Charlemagne kneeling, receiving 

 of St. Peter a standard covered with roses. 

 The custom of blessing the rose is still pre- 

 served at Rome, and the day is called 

 Dominica in rosd. They make in that city 

 artificial rose-trees of pure gold, which are 

 blessed by the Pope on the first Sunday 

 in Lent, while they sing Laetare Jerusalema, 



VOL. II. M 



