The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-17

bad beer born in the purple. Gregory VII
did not the less play the most brilliant OF
political roles, and Sixtus V was more
praised than Adrian VI, the preceptor OF
Charles V. Thus, among this long line,
one can never discover the fatulty, the
insolence, the presumption, and all the
other faults of the parvenu which are 30
often observable in an elective system
applied either in q monarchy or republic.
Firm and ipdnlgent, prudent and simple,
sweet and acute, active and patient, the
Popes show themselves at once grave ana
gay, and often display apirit and Wit
satisfactory to amateurs of bons nos. Inc
salient and incontestable characteristic OF
the Pontiffs has been the sentiment OF
fitness and propriety. Apart from dozen
or more of paupers, and few dozen OF
middle class men, it has been the no6teSSe
who have the most sften and for the longest
time occupied the Holy See.- This explains
both the polish of language and the d's-
tinction of manners which are iDsepsibly
fixed and established, and have formed the
style and tone of the Court of Rome.
st Fabius was elected Pope in 236, when
reigned frcm 76s to 772, forbade the cleo
tion to tho Papacy Of any one who was not
a prieet or deacon. Nevertheless, in l024,
John Xxx succeeded his brother, Benedict
VIII, although he was only laymnn.
ST. Peter WAS married when be was
elected Apostle, and received the keys OF
the Church. Several of his successors
were married before entering Holy Orders.
In modern times one may cite Alexancer
VI, elected in 1892, as havirg been Ger.
tainly married and the father of several
children, and as not having taken solemn
vows in the Church until after many years
of widowerhood.
All those who have persecuted the ropes
have been punished in terrible manner.
Napoleon created King Of Rome, and this
King of Rome never reigned in Rome; ne
was not even able to vegetate in hamiet
in France, and finished his days under a
Bohemian name. The same chastlsement
has fallen upon those who employed their
talents against the Pspacy. whoever
writes against it must expect to be one
day exposed as ignorant aod inbec!!e. Inc
erudition of Baronius, the genius OF Boseuet,
the eagacity of Rohr6acher, causes the
revilers of the Popes to blush for their
credulity and falsehood. Thus, tor nlne-
teen centuries, the Papacy has marched on,
always ancient and always new, always OLD
ard always yourg.
Three of the Popes died within a few
days after their election and before they
were consecrated. Eleven Popes reigned
less than one month each forty-four less
than one year, and two, st. Peter
and Pias TX, more than twenty-five years.
There have been, of course, very many
vacancies, of from one day TO tour years, IN
the Holy See. The longest Of these was
that which followed tho death of st. Mar
cellinus in 304; according to the most
common opinion il lasted four years, by
reason of the prosecutions which did not
permit the clergy of Rome to reaesemo Die.
All the vacancies together amount TO
sixty five years and 295 days. In all
worldly governments the vacancies OF
authority cause 30 much incOnvenlepce that
every precaution ia taken to AVOID them.
king scarcely expires ere his successor
is proclaimed in our Republic the consul
tution provides for the immediate success
sion of the Vice Presidort7in the event OF
the Presidents death Among the ropes
there have been but ten whose death was
rot followed by a vacancy.
Tie Papacy has never been afraid of the
dangers of a vacancy ; instead OF abrloging
the time, it has heightened it. st. Gregory
y, ordered that The tnueial OF Pope
shoGld not be performed until nine oaye
after his death aud the Conclave cannot
omen until after this ceremony. This was
new defiance thrown at times aud st pro
liabilities
According to the chronology accepted at
Rome, our Holy Father Leo Mi. is the
263d Pope and the 262l successor of ST
Peter. But some of the semi official Catho
lie directories, published in Arelanc ane 1lh ih
Great Britain, say Plus TX, wae tue @o|tn
Pontiff and the 256th successor of st. Peter
30 that Leo XIII, would be the 25e tn Pope
This discrepancy is accounted for by the
fact that, following certain authorities, the
compilers of the directories referred &c
have omitted Ave Popes who have thell
place in the most authentic Roman calen
dars. In this they have followed the OK
ample of those English historians who oml
from the list of Eugish soVereigns thu
name of Lady Jane Gray, who was crown
ed and reigned for twelve days. This, l
is eFaeris- comparing great things witt
small, but it is a case In point. The nv
Popes who are omitted from the defective
chrouologies are these.
Boniface vi, who was elected in 896, ant
who died fifteen days after his election
He was the 1l5th Pope.
Boniface VII, crowned in 9S5 and dyin
in the same year. He was the l4lst Pope
He reigned seven months and fifteen days
John XVI, elected in 800 and dying tn
same year. He was the 143d Pope, an
reiGued four months and twelve days.
John XVII. elected in 800 and dying tn
same year. He was the l45th Pope. Il
reigned ten mouthe-
: Benedict Y, crowned in 1865 and dyin
in 1859, after a reign of nine months a.
u, IL