The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-02-21
IN MEMoR1AM.

MEMORIAL SERVICES IN HONOR OF Pho
ING-sKETCH OF THE LIFE OF Plus TX.
On Friday last. at ten O'Clock, a. III. was
witnessed for the first time in Staunton,a SOL
emn requiem mass. Long before the hour an
nounced for the service to commence, ot.
Francis Church was filled, a large number OF
Protestants being among the congregation.
On the outside OF the church, fronting Au-
gusta Street, were hung festoons of deep
mourning supported by loops OF white. Inc
interior presented most impressive scene.
The main altar was trimmed in deep black:
its sombre aspect being relieved by numer-
Gus burning tapers which threw their spark
ling rays of light on heavy folds Of tapestry
encirclpg the tabernacle. On the side OF the
altar was a large card, almost hidden by the
wealth of natural flowers that surrounded
it. The Illuminated Latin inscription be-
meath a picture of the Immaculate Concep-
ton was, however, plainly visible: 'Pius
IN. definivit immaculatam conceptionem'
r. NJ. A. ID. 1851 Onthe opposite side OF
\the altar was picture of Plus IN. heavily dra-
ped in crimson and black, whilst OH the front
on the gallery, was also Il large picture OF
ttle dead Pontitf, similarly surrounded
TING paintings which hang at intervals
arolsud the wall, supported heavy festoons
of mourning and the pillars supporting the
gallery were wrapped in the same sable
habiiments.
In the center aisle was placcda catafal1ne,
covered With rich black velvet, giving it the
appearance of a coffin. Over this were laid
in ARTISTIC folds, silken ribbons. of varied
hues. while on the corners bows of white
silk were fastened. dropping their snowy
pendants in graceful profusion to the floor.
On the top of the catafalqne were placed
the insignia of the dead Pope and the three
large candles which stood on each side threw
wan light over the emblems OF death.
The bell was to lied from half past nine
until the commencement ofthe ceremonies.
The Rev. Father HiAsty, OF Lexington, was
celebrant Father McVerry, deacon; Faith
er Fitzsimmons, sub deacon, and Mr.. John
Kinney, Master of ceremonies, all of whom,
save the latter, were chad in black. AS the
celebrant assembled the Altar, the Dies Ir9
was sung by the choir. This solemn chant
was succeeded at proper intervals by tine
Misere, ,Saactus Agn}ls Del.
The celebrant was assisted throughout the
ceremonies by the deacon. The cruets
were passed to the deacon by the Acolytes,
who poured the wine md water into the cha
lice before presenting it to the celebrant.
During the requiem, the Missal-which
contains selections from Ehe bibIe--Was held
by the sub-deacon, while THE deacon chant
ed. This office, in turn, Was performed by
the Master of Ceremonies Nor the sub dea-
con. The services throus bout, were sol
emn and impressive and Were listened to
with the profoundest attenti5 n and interest
by the entire congregation.
After the gospel, Rev. FatIeA' Hasty pro-
eeeded to deliver an culogium on Plus TX.
reviewing the life of the Pope, from his ear
lest years to his death. We :,re sorry that
we have not room for synopsis Of his
sermon. as it contained much that could not
fail to entertain all of our readers.
SKETCH OF TIE LIFE OF Plus AIX.
The following Interesting sketch of the life
of Pope Plus IN. was prepared especially for
the v1RGINIAN, by Rev. Father F'itaisim-
mons, of st. Francis Church. Of this city:
At moment When the thoughts OF Eu-
rope and America, if not the whole civilized
world, are turned towards the Vatican, q few
words concerning the life and times OF Plus
TX. may not be on. of place. Few men,
nay few Pontiffs, ever played more con-
spicuous part in the drama OF this world and
its most important events, than he whose
lifeless remains now lie PROSTATE in st.
Peters, and whose lips are forever closed,
after the common lot of mortals. in the
silence of death. Not forever, be it said in
the silence of death. He who TO: more than
half a century raised his hand and voice in
daily sacrifice to God, who day after day for
81 years assembled the Altar, there to offer
the spotless victim once offered on the Cross
for the sins Of the worldwide bent his knee
and raised his mind and heart so frequently to
heaven, and prayed not only for himself but
for all men. even his enemies, who steered
the bark of Peter so vigilantly and faithful
ly through so many shoals and shadows,
storms and adversities, cannot be said to
sleep in death forever. He is gone only to
receive the reward OF his labors, the crown
which the just Judge has reserved for those
who love him and serve HIM faithfully on
earth. Well could he say when he saw the
time of his dissolution at hand, when he
was about to quit his earthly tabernacle and
resign into the hand of another the charge
which so long remained in his, what the
great Apostle OF the Genti:es once said on
almost similar occasion, II have fought
the good fight; | have finished my course;
L have kept the faith. AS to the rest, there
is laid up for me crown of justice, which
the Lord the just Judge will render to me in
that day and not only to me. but to them
also that love his coming" II Tim. iv. rs.
There is one thing certain about Plus *,
though dead to this world, his memory
shall ever live in. the minds and hearts of
his people, and his Pontificate shall form the
brightest period in the Whole history of the
Church. He himself, tho not yet canoniz-
ed rs a saint, i. e., his name placed on the
catalogue of saints, is canOnized in Heaven,
and in the minds and hearts OF $50 millions
of his faithful children.
John Mary Mastai Ferretti was born on
the 18th of May, 1892, OF as some say, 1901,
at Sinigalia, in the ancient-Duchy of Urbino,
one of The Legations which formerly be-
-longed 10 the States OF the Church. The
Mastai family had long been distinguished
for eminent services to Rome and Italy, and
always ranked among the nobility of South
ern Europe. The noble name OF Ferretti
was added to that Of Mastai by the inter-
marriage OF the two families. The father
of Plus TX, Count Jerome Mastai Ferretti,
was Gonfaloniere, OF Sinigalia, and his uncle
was bishop Of Mantua, and displayed himself
noble confesssor o. the faith during the
invasion of his country, and the persecution
of the Church, which followed under Napo-
leon l. His mother was most sanity wo
man, who instilled into his infant soul the
pure principles of faith and preserved it in
tact from all defilement. Often she whs-
pered into his youthful ear, the words which
the mother of st. Louis of France was ac.
customed to repeat III the presence of her
son, s;Son, you know how dearly love thee.
nevertheless, / would prefer to see you cold
before me in DEATH than know of your ever
committing q mortal sin.'' Words which he
never forgot, and far as was in Ills power,
aided by divine grace, cautiously put in
practice. Devotion to the immaculate Con-
ception. and reverence for the Vicar OF
Christ, were among the principal traits of
his early character and how well God re-
.warded him for this devotion and lial piety!