Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-12-04
POPE PIUS TX.
His Daily Life---What he Does from
Morning TO Night-.-A Pleasant Per-
aOnaI sketch.

sOnaI sketch.
Winter and summer, in spite of his
eighty-two years, Plus TX. rises at 5.8O and
dresses himself without any assistance.
He generally wakes of himself. After
some prayers, he goes TO one of his private
chapels, where the holy Sacrament is al
ways preserved, and which contains some
inestimable relics; among others, a frag-
ment of the crib, and large piece of the
true cross, the veil of st. Veronica, a con-
siderable portion OF the skull of st. John
the Baptist, and some of the teeth of st.
Peter. He then prepares for his mass,
which he says at 7.3O in smaller and less
decorated chapel. Those persons who
have obtained permission at the audiences
ofthe previous day assist at this mass, and
receive the holy communion from his
hand. The Pope celebrates mass with the
profoundest recollection, and with a piety
which not unfrequently reveals itself in
tears. He then attends another mass,
said by one of his chaplains, after which he
gives his benediction to the priest and his
assistants and retires. 1t is then about
s.45. The breakfast is brought in which
consists of broth and a cup of cafe noir.
Cardinal Antonelli afterwards has a con-
ference with His Holiness, excepting on
Tuesdays and Fridays, when his place is
taken by Mgr. Marino Marni. Towards
10 o'clock, the Holy Father receives his
letters and papers, which are, it is need
less TO say, always of a very considerable
number.
The Pope glances over the papers, and
afterwards the private audiences begin.
The ceremonial is well known. Men are
dressed in black coats with white cravats,
aud have neither hats nor gloves. They
make three genuhections on entering, and
then kneel at the feet of the Holy Father,
who raises them up. The Pope is seated,
the visitor standing or kneeling. Cardi-
nails and Princes alone have the right to
tabouret in the presence of the Pope. These
audiences form the most laborious and
most fatiguing portion of the daily life of
the Sovereign Pontiff. The Secretary's
department is literally inundated with ap-
plications, which, during the travelling
season especially, amount to an incredible
number. Therefore, by the order of his
physician the Pope during these last
few years has been accustomed, about IL
o'clock, 10 take a little broth, in order to
keep up his strength, followed by glass
OF Bordeaux, which is sent to him by the
Sisters of st. Joseph from vine kept es-
pecially for his use. Formerly Plus TX.
never took anything stronger than the
common white wine. 1t was only on the
approach Of his eightieth year that he con-
sented to take half glass of Bordeaux or
Capri. At the audiences in the Pope'S
apartments, only men are received. Di-
rectly one visit is terminated His Holiness
rings a little hand-bell which is placed up
on his table, and another person is intro
duced by the prelate in attendance.
Towards II or $780, the Holy Father
leaves his room and proceeds to take a
walk in the garden or in the library, or
sometimes in the halls and galleries. On
his way he meets families, deputations and
persons admitted to public audiences. He
blesses and indulgences the rosaries, med
ais and crosses with which visitors are in
general amply provided. He exchanges a
lew words with each person, he listens 10
their demands, and often he addresses a
little discourse to them. At l.3O the Holy
Father returns from his promenade. He
dismisses his attendants, and again goes
up to his little chapel, where he remains
| until 2 O'Clock in alteration before the
Blessed Sacrament. Then comes the hour
Of dinner. This repast is invariably COM
posed of a potage and of some poultry,
which is served upon large plate togeth-
er with some broth and vegetables. This
| is more in accordance with the English
than with the foreign custom,) The Pope
rarely touches either poultry or broth. He
takes some Of the vegetables, little Ro-
man FIXTURE, and some fruit. The train
bearer and private secretary of his Holi-
ness, Mgr. Cinni, assists at the repasts.
In the summer, the dinner is followed
by siestd of quarter Of an hour. The
rosary and the recital of the Office in the
BreviarY, which the Pope says daily with
as much strictness as any country cure,
occupies his time until o'clock, when he
takes a second walk-in the winter in the
Loges de Raphael, and in the summer in
the gardens of the Vatican. The .Pope's
favorite walk is one carpeted with flow
oIS auu pOIuoI6u Win uudBuluCeut
orange trees. He likes to rest upon an
iron seat at the further end, under the
shade Of a weeping willow, near fountain,
which is called the fountain of Zilella,
while through the railings of the neigh
boring poultry-yard he throws crumbs OF
bread and cake to some little pigeons,
whose plumage is as white as his own
habit. In the very hot weather, Plus TX.
prefers q neighboring walk, equally scent
ed by the perfume ofthe orange trees, but
far more shady, and at the end of which
is q miniature fac-simile of the Grotto OF
Lourdes, with the statue of the Blessed
Virgin and the miraculous fountain. Some
times the Holy Father pursues his walk
between the hedgerows and among the
groves ornamented with statutes and cas-
cades, but he never descends into the
parterre, Notwithstanding the care with
which Jealous gardener has designed in
gigantic characters in box the armorial
bearings OF the Pope with the words, "Pio
Mono, PontIfce maSSimo." Leaning on a
stick and slightly bending forward, Plus
TX. still walks bravely, and often he only
sits down las he observes with a smile) in
order to give a little rest to the weary
limbs Of he old cardinals, who have some
| difacuItv in following him.