Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-05-27

erature, and devoted himself to preaching,
being twenty-five years old. He went to
Piedmont, where, for ten years, he preached
to vast multitudes who everywhere throngcd
to hear him, making warm friends and
most bitter enemies. Here he encountered
the subtle and determined opposition Of
the Jesuits, SO that he became u dangerous
man.
Parma was the next field Of labor. Here
he abode four years. His renown so in
creased that he was compelled, on many
occasions, to preach ten times in one day.
His iron constitution, his indcfatigable
voice, and ardent zeal, set at defiance all
physical fatigue. His liberal and enlarged
views drew upon him the attention of
Pope Gregory XVI. He had preached on
Patriotism and its Virtues, in such man
ner as to arouse the apprchensions of the
Pontif, and the command came from the
Vatican forbidding him to exercise his
ministry, except in the central prison at
Parma. To this he was confined. Here
he found eight hundred prisoners and gal
ley slaves to whom: he preached with con-
siderable success in the way of freformations
among them, for blasphemy was turned
into praise. After be was released, he
went to Pcrugia, where his preaching was
attended with usual success. In 1915, at
Ancona, in one Of those fiery outbursts of
sacred zeal which characterize the man, he
overstepped the limits assigned him, and
uttered some dangerous, because liberal
truths. The ire of his enemies was reused,
and he was virtually imprisoned in the
college of the Novitiate of st. Severino,
where he was consigned to the tender mer-
cies Of some Friars.
The old Pope died, and Plus TX. was
enthroned. In this Gavazzi rejoiced, as
he thought he saw future dawning for
his country; he imagined that it was in a
Pope that Italy was to find Savior. Ca
vazzi came into favor and was called to
Rome. When on the anniversary of the
election of Plus TX. be preached in Rome,
his language took lofty tone for freedom,
which kindled up immense enthusiasm
On another occasion, when preaching q
sermon Of thanksgiving, he gave full scope
to the thoughts that burned in his breast.
With the unsparing severity of truth, he
laid bare the enormities of the past reign
Of Gregory lie painted in vivid colors the
putchcri~e "A;sh had stainnd that rnnt;f;
cate of blood he forget the Pope and con-
demned the man. This was more than
Plus could bear; rebukc and punishment
followed he was forbidden to speak, and
remained silent When in Rome, day
was set apart by those who loved
liberty, to celebrate the death of those
who fell at Padua. Gavazzi was, by uni
vcrsal acclaim, called out to assist in the
ceremonies. Here, too, he spoke words Of
freedom, which offended the priests and
the Pope. He was condemned and sent
to undergo the severe discipline of the
Convent Of Polvericra, and from thence,
with inquisitorial mystery, transferred to
the Capuchin Convent Of Gonzario.
Now commenced the new epoch Of rev.
olutions in France and other nations
Hope dawned for Italy. As soon as re-
leased, Gavazzi returned to Rome, and he
was the first to move in the great cause
lie was the first man who paraded the
streets of Rome with the emblematical
colors pinned to his breast. Mindful of
his sacred calling, he chose the typical
form of cross, and often in the tLickcst
of the fray, in days which followed, was
this cross the sole defence of the man who
exposed himself fearlessly in the cause of
truth. He preached the crusade Of deliv-
erance and aid to the friends of liberty.
He thus aroused the love of Italian liber-
ty in the breasts Of many thousands, and
did much towards combining the forces of
Italy against the Austrian armies :hen
threatening The Pope feigncd approval.
He blessed the troops, and appointed Ga
vazzi Chaplain in Chief, empowered him
to act with supreme authority over the
other chaplains.
Gavazzi performed we'll the part Of
Chaplain, and in all places where the army
went, he preached for liberty. He did all
he could then to secure the union Of all
Italy in paternal bonds-the expulsion of
all foreign oppressors, and the leaving of
Italians to manage their own affairs with
out Austrian dictation and powder. In
the changing events he suffered many
hardships. He was watched, and COM
PEELED to live in seclusion: He was seized
and imprisoned, and singularly released
When the French army entered Rome, he
was prescribed man, and diligently hun
ted but under the protection Of the Amer:
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