The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-14
Victor Emmanuel's Death

find the actual facts given with oil authen-
ticity In the Diplomatic circular cent from
the court of Plus TX to its representatives
among the different nations. This was
signed by Cardinal Simeoni, and dated
January 2Sth, 1873. The translation which
we have seen was given by the Freemans
Journal. The facts, briefly stated, we're
these. The Holy Father hearing Of the
dangerous condition of Victor Emmanuel's
health sent his own sacristan to visit him.
This envoy was refused admittance, where
upon the Pope further ordered that any |
priest might give him the last sacramento
provided the royal penitent should make
an act of reparation for his wrong doieg
The Kings chaplain was finally sent for by
the royal household and his services put
in requisition, but not until the sick man
was in ertre,nis 1t is alleged in the Cir
cular that this delay was purposely caused
by those who surrounded the dying man.
They repelled the Very Rev. sacristau, and
mpeded the approach CT the chaplain
until the arrival of the moment which suit
ed their convenience. Their motives are
thus set forth:
| Every one can clearly see that this was
done to attain o double object first to
preven: the king from signing with his
own hand the act required, as he bad done
under similar circumstances, in 1867, at
the Castle of San Rosore-and which he
| afterwards disregardsd-and secondly, TO
obtain that ecclesiastical sepulture ne &C
corded him to which the members OF the
revolutionary government, who had re
solved to use the person of their unhappy
sovereign, even after his death, for the
accom- plishment of their perverse designs,
attached, and not without reason, very
great Importance.
Their object was to have unsuspecting
people believe:
That to combat against the Sovereign
Pontiff does not exclude from the bosom of
the Church the one who assailed him, be-
cause the assailant acted from some po-
litical motive.
The success of their Vaccinations fol-
lows:
1t was, therefore, only when things
I had reached the point we have mentioned,
that the Kings confessor was allowed to
see him but the King wac now no longer
y in q condition to hear or sign any retracta-
tion. Still, as the Kings confessor averred
that the dying man had charged him to
q manifest to His Holiness his repentance
q for the evils he had done, and to implore
~ his pardon for them, the said confessor,
70 in writing and under oath declaration oi
If this act of retractation to the Most Eml
IN nent Cardinal Vicar, was authorized Dy
ecclesiastical authority, in view OF ths
- imminent peril in which the sick mar
~ found himself, to carry the Holy Vlaticun
70 to him.
ls The desired declaration was transmitted
10 to the venerable Cardinal on the day atte
the Kings death, and it is because of TIM
declaration that the deceased was permit
N ted to be attended by the clergy, and tha
j., he received ecclesiastical sepulture.
at The schemers were, however, foiled il
to come of their plans. The pontifcal cour
I'd would not negotiate at all with the go
1t called government of Italy on the subjec
g.. of the funeral. The remains of the de
10 ceased King were treated as those of an
st untitled sinner whose apparent repentanc
en- had restored him to the pale of the Church
His parish priest, or private chaplain, reg
ulated all the details of sepulture.
ek pomp of State was allowed. Every exeI
o' ton was made by the Government to al
range for O ceremonial such as is custo
~ mary for Kings who die ae Catholics With
n6 their own realms, but all this was steadiI
av refused. Not q Prelate of the Charch, no
he q Bishop, no religious Oder, no Cathol
X confraternity, graced the occasion viii
ely attendance. No mass was permitted
he the Q lirinal Palace, and the royal custo
10 of obseqaies in one of the three Patriarch
ng Basilicas was ignored.
ing Was the tardy consent of gOvernme
icy officials, thus given for the religious cons
o4y lation of the dying King,a proof that som
-. thing of faith still lurked in their heart'
1t may be that it was nothing but CO
oession to what they considered popul
ev. superstition. Perhaps they could not y
re. dare to try the Italian temper with
nth open contempt for all religion, an 'p
ing profession ofinfidelity. We of this cou
t Of try can hardly form an opinion on Il
point, as among that people, We are be
L. !" ter aco ouainted with the French, and shOU