Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/208

 CONCLAVE of Gregory VII. In 1 1 79 Alexander III. solemn- ly confirmed the decree of Nicholas, prescribing that a two-thirds vote should be necessary for a valid choice. Meanwhile no statute existed compelling the cardinals to reclusion while dis- charging their office of electors ; but several instances are on record where such reclusion was resorted to with the most beneficial result. The election was thus made in perfect freedom from all outside violence and intrigue. Hono- rius III. was elected two days after the death of hip predecessor, in consequence of the strict reclusion to which the cardinals submitted ; while Gregory X. was only chosen after a va- cancy of two years and nine months, because the electors were not shut up. These two ex- treme cases induced Gregory in 1274, during the council of Lyons, to decree a strict reclu- sion thenceforward, with all the other condi- tions which have substantially continued down to the present day. After Gregory's death these statutes were repeatedly violated, until the evil thence resulting culminated at the death of Nicholas IV. in 1292, when Celestine V. was chosen after an interregnum of two years and three months. Celestine renewed before his abdication, with increased solemnity and rigor, the pontifical constitutions on the conclave, and had the satisfaction of seeing them carried out to the letter in the conclave which elected Boniface VIII. Boniface, in his turn, confirmed the constitution of Celestine by one of his own, and both were embodied by him in the 6th book of his Decretals. During the council of Trent this reclusion, which had become the uniform law of the church, was again the subject of the most severe and minute legislation by Pius IV. He regulated every- thing pertaining to the lodging of the cardinals in conclave, to their seclusion from all inter- course with the world outside, their diet, at- tendants, and the manner of voting. Gregory XV. in 1621 decreed strict reclusion as an ab- solute condition for validity. Clement XII. in 1732 renewed and confirmed these disciplinary statutes, adding some new rules concerning the administration of the Eoman see during its va- cancy. The whole ceremonial observed in the conclave may be thus briefly described from Patricius (Patrizzi) and modern authorities. Nine whole days are given to devotional ex- ercises for the eternal repose of the deceased pontiff. On the ninth take place his obsequies, and on the tenth the cardinals assemble in the Sistine chapel, where a mass in honor of the Holy Ghost is celebrated by the cardinal dean. This over, the cardinal dean intones the Veni, Creator Spiritus, and the sacred college, with their officers and attendants, go in proces- sion to that part of the Vatican set apart for their reclusion, immediately adjoining and in- cluding both the Sistine and Pauline chapels, with three courts and the surrounding apart- ments. On their arrival in the Pauline chapel, the cardinal dean chants before the altar the prayer Leus, qui corda fidelium, and the papal constitutions on conclaves are read, all present swearing solemnly to observe them. Formerly it was the custom to begin from that moment the rigorous reclusion prescribed by the pon- tifical decrees. In modern times it only com- mences on the evening of the tenth day. As soon, however, as the signal for the prescribed reclusion is given, all meet in the chapel, car- dinals and conclavists (all the authorized offi- cers and attendants in the conclave), the oath of fidelity and secrecy is administered to con- clavists and guardians, and three cardinals (chosen one from each of the three orders of bishops, priests, and deacons), accompanied by the high chamberlain (camerlingo) and the first master of ceremonies, make a scrupulous ex- amination of every room and corner from cellar to garret, in order to see that there are no intruders. The only door of communication having been then closed with two strong locks on the outside and two within, the conclave is formally begun. The cells in which the electors are locked up are simple in their con- struction and their furniture. They are draped in purple for the cardinals created by the last pope, and in 'green for all the others. The following daily routine is observed as long as the reclusion lasts. At 6 o'clock in the morn- ing a master of ceremonies knocks at the door of each cell to warn the inmate to proceed to the chapel. At 7 the mass of the Holy Ghost is celebrated, after which all except the cardi- nals withdraw. The cardinals recite the peni- tential psalms and the litany of the saints, and a first vote is cast. This over, the fathers retire to their cells, breakfast, and take a short walk in the open air. At 2 o'clock P. M. they again meet in the chapel for a second ballot, after which they dine, walk out if they choose, or retire to their respective cells, where a religious silence is observed after dark. Greg- ory XV. decreed that the cardinals in conclave should vote by secret ballot. Papers of uni- form size, texture, and color are distributed to the cardinals ; they are folded in such a man- ner that the part on which each elector writes his own name cannot be opened, while that on which he inscribes the name of his can- didate can. The ticket is then folded, closed with sealing-wax, and stamped with the com- mon seal of the conclave. The elector, then kneeling, takes the solemn oath prescribed, and deposits his vote in a chalice placed on the altar. The votes of such as are detained by sickness in their cells are taken with every necessary precaution and formality. When all have voted, three cardinals, chosen one from each order in the sacred college, take the papers one by one from the chalice, read them aloud, and register them, each in succession. As soon as a two-thirds vote is obtained, the fact is announced. The elect, if he accepts, immediately chooses the name by which he is to be known, and receives the first homage of all present. He is next clad in the vestments and insignia of his office, and receives homage