The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-04-11
VOLUME IL.
xoRNINa STAR AND cATHoLIc MKssENaER.
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY. APRIL IL. 1869.
OUR GLORIOUS P0NTIFF,
Plus TX.

Wehave thought proper on the occasion of
the demonstration which takes place to-day, to
enhance the interest of the occasion by giving
sketch of the immortal Pontif,, Plus TX. We
have glanced over various authorities, taking
something from each, but we have drawn
mainly from the Chevalier d'Artaud. The
well known reference Of Lord Maeaulay, with
regard to the Papacy, would here be appropri-
ate but our space compels us to be brief, and
we will only say with accomplished author
that the Holy See has continued its unbroken
line; dynasties vanish, ideas change, empires
follow republics, Kingdoms sink into provinces,
but the line Of 4he sovereign pontifis goes ON
amid all human vicsstudes from without and
amid the Scandals that the apostle foretold as
necessary even within the Church. Since the
great apostacy from the faith, in the sixteenth
century, the cry has been raised ever and anon.
"The papacy has fallen.n Again and again
have they exul4pd over the close OF the veuara-;
lE Rms fE T1urszIgs sz4sJEexa baleIds
50 we behold the See of Peter filed by D success
sor whose word goes forth to the end of the
world, potent ruler of millions of devoted
hearts, Few have surpassed in gentleness and
winning grace the present Pope, who has, nov
ertheless, in the dispensation of Providence,
been thrown upon sea of troubles that would
seem to require the most stern and -inflexible
character.
John Mary Mastai Ferretti was born on the
18th of May, 1872, at Sinigagiia in the ancient
duchy of Urbino. The Mastai family, which
dates back to the thirteenth century, has al
ways been distinguished for eminent services
and, in reward, received tine title of count,
By union with the last scion of the noble
family OF Ferretti, the Counts Mastai blended
that honored name with their own.
The father of Plus TX, Count jerome Mastai
terretti, was gonfalonier of Sinigaglia and
his uncle, Andrew Mastai, bishop Of Mantua, in
the Pontifcate of Plus w. won, by his heroic
fidelity to that Pope, the glory of confessor
OF Christ having suffered close imprisonment
In the citadel of Mantua. The future pontiff
was, therefore, from his earliest years, no
stranger to the fluctuations of the Church
among the earliest prayers which he
learned from the lips of his pious mother. the
OF Pope Pins VI. $500
At the age of twelve he was placed Mt the
college OF Volterra, in Tuscany, and speedily
gained, by the anfenity of his character and
the graees of his mind, the good wills his
teachers and schoolmates.
I'm leaving it, John Mary embraced the ca
- reer OF arms, and when the pontificaS army
was reconstructed, he entered the noble guard
OF Pius VII. Itwas his vocation to be- in a
special manner, the defender Of the Holy See
as soldier, as bishop, as cardinal, and as Pope.
Inc young Count was soon after seized with
amalady which the physicians soon reparded
as lncurabie, and, admitting their inability to
Oeiseract its fatal progress announced its
Speeuy termination ia death. Bot his mother
sppealed' with all the fervor of devotion and
teheer confidence, to the blessed VIRGIN and
tne young Count Suddenly recovered. to pre-.
NV NV through life that love and devotion tc
2laTy Wnlch made the formal definition of her
immaculate Conception the. oroyyniun glory 81
his pontifcate - 3 StOAS "
,, ne HE thus restored, as by a miracle, Count
las!M FeTretti resolved to consecrate to thu
80. ne ol Sod. AS soon as his strength per
no,,S' ne repaired to Rome to pursue hi
course OF divinity. He was. ordafned priest
T anu spent ms first years of priesthood in til,
~ 'e Una City, obscurely enough--little knowr
nIt sGe b ousy world, or amid the great and ex
i, 3uV blessed and honored by the poor
whom he visited daily at the h;,s,i6A ~ FTa4.
S IaSSvannl, to which ne mad been attached eve,
altar, ANselA 10 tne service OF tn
na 10 give somo idea of this institution, whieI
the f0tr many years the field Of predilcction o
tnr, huSqre Pope we may briefly sketch it's his
O,y. In the last century there lived at Rom
Tfh; goE mason, named Giovanni Borpi, who's
oS 4S recreation it was to visit the hospita
beS sne a9iy Ghost, serve the sick, make thei
U, t Shu 90 any other service in his power
. ne erS = ne often found children left ORPHANS b
c o1 Eesbn OF their parents. Touched with til
Y;tI S I,on OF these and other poor boys, he in
bnItnem TO come TO his house. With tn
in drass a,is, which he solicited, he took ther
H. H. Saes5ea thems instructed them in their re
fEso,.s4 uties, and prepared them for a worth
a. sduentatlon OF the sacramento till such tim
Eoa ne oe9la saceeed IN placing them as apEiret
TIa YIN I'm Wort trad follzz1s& aisesl s.-'
co. 10 ~ ~ Ga-horR PRIEST did mot aiedaif to bt
sS Snle tne3 sucoe2ser Of the Hason 70 live.
tLISsahB tne poor c.s tldfsf tifo hekfAr "a 1<noa
Az Wshtsj ne bestowed all his income o
rsfo.S splcei IN which he introduced salutaT
-'A'i'ns and an extended course of instruction