Golden Rose

Golden Rose, a rose formed of wrought gold, and blessed with much solemnity by the pope in person on the fourth Sunday in Lent, which is called, from the first word in the service for the festival, 'Lætare Sunday.' The rose is anointed with balsam, fumigated with incense, sprinkled with musk, and is then left upon the altar until the conclusion of the mass. It is usually presented to some Catholic prince, whom the pope desires especially to honour, with an appropriate form of words. The practice seems to have originated in the 13th century. Amongst recipients have been Henry VIII. (three times), Queen Mary of England, Maria Theresa, Napoleon III., and Isabella II. of Spain.