River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-12-04
THE POPE'S DAILY LIFE
Interesting Narrative of His PER-
sOnaI Habits.
IN. Bernadille in the Catholic Review.l

IN. Bernadille in the Catholic Reviewl
formed in Ron the acquaintance
of raiet Dc chdnlbre of the holy
father, who has been in his service ten
years, and has never left him. He
possesses the confidence of his venerable
master, and he deserves il. | can
mention more than one monSignore who
has not his influence, and he is courted
by persons from the four quarters Of
the globe. He ought to have secrc-
tary to attend TO his correspondence
he is constantly receiving visits and
requests, and he is asked for audiences
as if he were a minister. Bankers worth
millions, deputies and great ladies come
to see him with letters of introduction.
Generals and ministers, and high Off.
cials send him their photographs, with
which he lines the walls of his cham
Der. All this does not spoil him; he
has remained humble, gentle, polite,
seryiceable, obliging and even
unembarrassed by the attentions he
receives, and never for momeat for
getting his humble station or seeking
to abuse the confidence placed in him.
| have often spoken with this clerical
Caleb-and always Of Plus TX. The
sovereign pontilf has no reason to fear
the proverb which declares that no man
is hero TO his valet. 1t is, thanks to
his confidence, enriched by the indis.
erection of some other persons attached
to the papal court, that | am able to
give the following account of how Plus
IL. passes his day.
Winter and summer, the Pope, not
wi;hstandng his eighty-three years,
rises at $3.50 o'clock, and dresses him.
self without assistance. He nearly al
ways awakens himself. After a short
prayer, he enters one of his private
chapels, where the blessed sacrament
is always preserved, and which contains
some precious relics, among which are
a fragment of the crib of Bethlehem,
and another of the true cross; piece
Of the skull Of st. John the Baptist,
and some of the teeth of st. Peter.
Then he prepares to say mass. At
> clock he descends 20 smaller and
less adorned chapel, where he says
mass, and where those who have per-
mission TO do so receive communion
from his hands. He celebrates mass
with great devotion, and with such a
piety that he is often moved to tears.
The holy father next hears another
mass, said by one of his chaplains, and
then, after giving his benediction to the
priest and his assistants, he retires, 1t
IS now S:45 o'clock, and his holiness
takes his breakfast, which consists of
basin of broth and cup of black cot.
fee. Cardinal Antonelli now comes to
confer with him, except on Tuesdays
and Fridays, when he is replaced by
MS substitute, Mensignor Marine Mar
mi. At 10 o'clock the Pope reads his
letters, which, as will be easily inn
agined, are usually very numerous. He
then looks over the Osservatore Ro-
mano and Voce della Verita, but very
rarely, am sorry to say, does he ever
undo the bands of the French papers,
which reach him regularly. Then be-
gin the special audiences. The men
come in evening dress, with cravats.
They genuhect thrice on entering, and
hen kneel before the Pope, who raises
them up. Tho Pope is seated his WIS.,
tors stand or kneel. Cardinals and
princes alone have the right to sit in
The POpe's presence. This is one of
The most fatiguing parts of the Pope's
luty. The secretary's department is
literally inundated with demands en-
treating audiences, and, during the
winter season, the number is incredi.
Die. At IL o'clock the Pope takes a
basin Of soup and glass of Bordeaux
wine, which is sent to him by the nuns
Of st. Joseph, and is made from vine
devoted to his use. Form
crly, Plus TX used only to drink com
mon white wine, and he had reached
his eightieth year before he could be
induced to drink Bordeaux or Capri.
Men only are permitted to enter the
Pope's apartments. When an audience
is over, the sovereign pontifl' rings bell
placed on a table, and another person
is admitted by the prelate who is on
duty that day.
At about IL or 1890, the pope leaves
his chamber to walk in the garden Of
the Vatican or in the library, or per-
haps in Raphael's stanze and toggie; on
his passage he sometimes meets num-
Der of families, Populations, and per-
sons who are received in public audi
ences. lie blesses their medals, rosa
ries and the crosses which they bring
in abundance. lie exchanges few
words with them, and listens to their
questions, and often pronounces short
allocution. st 1880 the pope returns
from his walk. lie dismisscs his court,
and re.entcrs one Of the chapels, where
he remains until o'clock in alteration
before the blessed sacrament. At he
dimes. The dinner consists invariably
Of soup, fowl and boiled meat, which
are served up together with vegetables
on large plate. His holiness rarely
touches the meat on the fowl, but eats
some Roman fri'Hre, vegetables and
fruits. His train bearer and private
secretary, Monsignor Cinni, assists at
his meals. In SKINNER, the pope sleeps
for about a quarter Of an hour after
dinner. The rosary and breyiary,
which he says as strictly as does any
country pastor, then occupy the pope.
About 4 o'clock he takes his second
walk; in winter in Raphael's ioggie,and
in summer in the gardens Of his palace.
Some brilliant wits have ventured to