Page:The True Story of the Vatican Council.djvu/58

46 First, in the Consistory of the 26th of June, at which five hundred bishops were present. The number being so great, it was held in the tribune over the atrium of St Peter's, where the cœna on Maunday Thursday used to be laid. It was' in this consistory that Pius the Ninth for the first time publicly announced his intention of holding an Œcumenical Council.

Secondly came the festival of the Centenary. The Pope sung the first vespers of the Feast with great solemnity in St Peter's on the evening of the 28th; he sung also the pontifical mass on the following day at the high altar in the presence of half the bishops of the world.

Lastly, on the 1st of July the Holy Father gave audience to the bishops to receive from them their address or response to his allocution on the 26th.

Before we enter upon these events, it will be well to narrate one fact which throws much light upon the intention of Pius the Ninth in convoking the Council. The 17th of June was the anniversary of his creation. After mass in the Sistine Chapel, he went into the Pauline Chapel to unvest. The Cardinal Vicar, in the name of the Sacred College, made the usual address of congratulation, ending with the words that they washed to the Holy Father "health and many years to see the peace and triumph of