The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-17
NOTES CONCERNING TIE
POPHS.
ST. PETERS sUcCHssoRs TAKEN FROM ALL
CLASSES OF SOCIETY.
Catholic EoyieW.

|
Emperors Nero, Domitian, Trsjau, Adrian,
| Marcus- Aurelious, Severus, Maximus, De-
| cine, Faieras, AuFeliHs, Dlocletnst abu
| Macmillan I; four received the crown OF
| martyrdom at the hands of heretlce, ana
] forty three were cOnfeseofs.
Eight of the POpes were elected ut very
| early age. the youngest of them being
John H., who was crowned in his seven
| teenth wear. If any one is inclined to Dc
scapd alized at the yOuthfulness OF some OF
| the Popes, let him remember that it woulu
| be- a waste of time to search in documents
worthy of credit for any traces o. .ignoI.
ance, inc experience, or lack OF tact Whlcn
may be attributed to these young Pontiffs.
Still, these premature elections were not
in all cases happy. God perhaps permit
ted them to prove that the Church does not
depend for its perpetuity in the least upon
men.
St. Agatha was the only Pope who lived
to he a centenaran, as he is also the only
one, after st. Peter, who may be honored
with the title of miracle W orker. st. Agaiho
died at the age of one hundred and seven
years, in 6S2, having reiSned three years.
! six III Onthe, and fifteen daye. Gregory TX.
died at the age of ninety eight wears
Celestlne III. and Gregory XII. at the age
of ninety two years john Xxi. at the
age of ninety Clement XII. at the age OF
a. .ghty eight and Glenn ant X, and Pius IN.
at the age OF eighty six. The Pope who
| died st the earliest age was John MI,
! who expired A. d. 9G4, aged twenty six
years, aud having reignCd as Pope for
eight years. Contrary to- all probabilities,
! the young Popes have Lad the shortest
| reigns, aud the cd Popes the longest
reiens. But tho age of many OF the Popes,
| oven the most renowned of them, RENAME
| n mystery like that Of st. Peter.
The general characteristics of the Papacy
have been its circumspection, prudence,
pstierce, and charity. 1t has had for its
instruments only the Sacred Congregations
| of which all members are chosen IN secret.
! The Chancellery of Rome has always been
regarded by diplomatists as the model of
Cabinets.
It has been said that the Chrrch has been
afflicted by Indifferent Popes. The most So
| vere judges lave regarded Alexander VI,
| Benedict ~, } ohm &lN., John Z, John Al.,
Stephen W., and perhaps Sergus lli., in
| all seven, AZ Indifferent Popes. But in his
great work on "Rome and the Papacy,"
Count DaDdolo shows that Sergius Ill,
Johu X. and John Nj. have simply been
maligned by tho caIumnies of Luitprand;
| and that he finGs, 30 to speak, unworthy of
the tiara, only benedict IN, Sixt1s w.,
and Alexander vi. Bat to day the true
character of Alexander VI. has been dis
closed, and thore 10 reason to think that
further research may show there has heen
no bad Pope. Tbs Catholic Rerie1r, in
previous nomhers, has shown with more
Than probability that the slanders against
| Alexander vi, which were OF tie most
| outrageous character, were wholly destl-
| tuto of truth, and were the calumnles OF
tbs epemics of the Church and civilization,
| whom he bad tInmpled Hpon during his
life.
St. Sylvester is the only Pope who was
| the son of Pope he was the son of st.
! Ormiedas who was married before he took
molly orncrs, and who died Sovereign Pom
tiff in 523. Adrian II. wac the son of Tala
sas, who became hishop Theodore ]. was
niso toe son of Theodore, who died q
| bishup St. Caius ~as the son of ST. Caius,
| who died a-prIest, the brother of 81. Cabin
and TIE uncle OF ST, Sussnnah, virgin and
martyr ST. Agapltus l. was the son OF
Gurdius, who became p-iost ; ST. Damasus
l. was the son of Ambrose, who died q
priest john XVI. had for his father Leo
who ended hIs life priest. -Four Popes
! ws.a brotheIs-Sf. Paul /. wRs the brother
uf Stephen Ill, aud his succersor John
4 XX WAS tie brother of Benedict VIII,
aud Was his successor. The Popes who
have been LCphews Ia the other Popes have
been numerous, and there have been fam
lilies which have been seminaries of Popes
Thus the family OF Savettt, one of the
most iliustrious in Italy, gave 20 the Church
five Popcs the family at Colonna furnish
ed three I; the Cont family produced se
many Popcs that it appears almost to form
| species OF uyuhbIy' hlstobS ConSSOoo "
it no less than nineteen Popes.
) Si1tus ~. was the son of fisherman
r Alexander V. WAS the son of poor and un
( known parents ; ard passed HIS fret year
in begging from door to door. Adrian ~.
d tho only English Pope, was abandoned b!
: his father, and had to subsist on charit.
: until, going to France, he entered con
: vent as a servant, where by his intelligence
y and hie virtues he was afterwards deemed
i worthy to be received into religion. Sixth
q V. had for his father poor laborer, TO
< mother a servant, and for sister laun
s dress. St. Celostine V. was the son of
Q simple farmer. Benedict XII. was tn
+ child of n baker. Urban ". had car
J, pcntcr for his father, as also had Gregor
=. = VII. Five OF the Popes had studied med
= iclne before taking holy orders. Benedic
q Xl. was the Child of q notary: Juiius III
is Was tho tiescondant of n famous juriscon
IN sui, Pelagius l. was the son of the vica
Il Vt the perfect of his province; Paul V. ha
le gor his father Il patric'an OF Siena an
e Eugene w., Gregory XII. aud Alexsnde
IL VII. belonged to patrician families {
~ Venice.
- Four of the Popes were soma of tt