Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-08-10
The Pope at Home.

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Political events, as well as the precari
Gus state of health inseparable from tn
great age of the Holy Father, have com
PEELED him to take the resolution never tt
go outside the wall of the Vatican. Win
ter and Summer, Plus TX, in spite of his
eighty-live years, rises at six O'Clock. His
private chamberlain, Zangolini, helps him
to dress-as he has done for a few months
past-on account Ct severe rheumatism.
The toilet being over, the Holy Father
says prayers, by way of preparing himself
for the mass, which he celebrates at the
private chapel adjoining his rooms, every
morning at eight O'Clock. He says the
mass with a feeling of devotion and piety
which frequently breaks into tears. Then
he attends another mass said by one of the
chaplains. About nine O'Clock they bring
him his breakfast, composed of bouillon,
a cup of black coffee, and small glass Of
| Bordeaux. o, tets .
The Cardinal Simeoni, Secretary of
State, next comes to confer with his Holi-
ness, except on Tuesdays and Fridays,
~
ter this audience the Holy Father reads
his mail, which is usually quite considera-
BILE. Then begin private audiences, the
ceremonial of which is we'll known. Gen
tlemen are dressed in black evening coats
and white c1avats. They wear no gloves.
On entering his Holiness's bedroom, where,
since 1870. the audiences are given, they
bend the knee three times. Princes and
princesses are received in the private libra
ry. The pope is seated, while the visitors
remain either standing or kneeling. The
cardinals and crowned heads are entitled
to stool in front of the Pope. t,.,
This is the most laborious and wearisome
part of the daily task of the Holy Father,
matters of the gravest Importance for re-
ligion and society are here dealt with.
Cardinals. bishops, princes, ambassadors,
missionaries, priests, and simple children
of the Church come from all points of the
world to lay at the feet of his Holiness
their requests and homages. The rule is
to kiss his slipper On entering the room,
but the fatigue Of age caused him to give
up presenting his foot, and every one is
now admitted to the honor of kissing his
hand. The moment one audience is over,
the Holy Father rings bell, and another
person is introduced by the prelate on duty.
Men alone are admitted to the private
apartments of the Pope; ladies are receiv-
ed in other rooms. Toward half past
twelve Plus TX. leaves his room to give
public audiences. Deputations then read
to him their addresses, to which he an
swers in the spirited and characteristic
manner which is so we'll known. After
this audience, if his Holiness does not take
a walk to the lodges Of Raphael, or to the
garden, he assemblies around him his IA
miliar circle, composed of cardinals, pre-
lates, and other notabilities. At about
half past one he dismisses his company
and reads prayers with Mgr. Ricci, his
Majordomo. At O'Clock the Pope dimes,
the meal consisting of soup, fried fish, boil
ed beef with vegetables, chop or roast,
some asparagus, when it is in season, and
fruit for dessert. For the last five years,
in compliance with the orders of his medi-
cal advisers, he drinks Bordeaux wine.
His private servants wait upon him each in
turn, every one of them kneeling on enter
ing and leaving the room. The private
secretary of his Holiness, Mgr. Cennr, IS
present at these meals.
In summer, the dinner is followed by
nap of half an hour. Then come recita-
tions for the breviary. By half past four
he makes a visit to the Holy Sacrament in
his chapel, and takes another walk with
two ofhis officers on duty. Since the warm
weather has set in he is carried in the gar
den. In passing in front of the Madonna
of Lourdes, he recites an Ave Maria to
which his attendants respond. He stops
usually at the fountain of Zitella, beneath
a willow tree, near the aviary, and makes
one of his attendants give bread to the
birds. On his return to his room he opens
his second mail. At sunset latter the An
gelus,) private audiences recommence again
and last till nine o'clock. After this.
another circle forms itself around the Ho
ly Father, composed this time only of the
guests of the palace. In about quarter
of an hour comes very frugal supper,
resembling that of an anchorite. It is
composed only of a cup of bouillon and a
couple of boiled potatoes, or baked apples
The Holy Father then retires to his bed
room, and the attendant in the next room
hears him frequently till late hour at
night humming hymns.
The Popes bedstead is of iron, without
curtains. There is rug in front Of the
bed, but no carpet. There is never fire in
the room. 1t is in this modest retreat that
Plus TX, takes the rest he has so labori-
ously earned.