The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-24

The Last Words of Plus TX.


precious and undying legacy.
The world needs not be told that death 10
the crown of life, and that its glory or lts
gloom depends upon the preparation wnlcn
precedes that final coronation. The Fontins
life was heroic in virtue and glorious In honor;
we may we'll expect, then, to find In his last
words all the hidden meaning and beautiful
sipnifcance of an eveutful pontifoate OF thirty |
two long years.
It ia recorded that when it became apparent |
to all that the aged Father of Christendom |
wss Fastening to his last reward, Cardinal
Bilio, in q voice broken by emotion, commenced
to recite the Act of Contrition for the dying.
The Holy Father, who had already testified by
signs his great regret at not being able to
speak to those around him, no sooner heard
the prayer than, rallying his failing strength,
he with much effort repeated "Col -o'tro santo
auto" (By Thy holy help.)
Yes, here was the secret Of all those patient
years in the past, when, outraged by the people
he wished only to benefit, betrayed by the
nations whose interests he wished only to
serve, he saw his kingdom taken from his
hands and his temporal diadem torn from his
forehead. 1t was by "His holy help" that he
carried the cross without murmuring, and bore
the insults of the world without q frown. "By
His holy help" he was led back from exile and
welcomed to the city that had been his pstri-
mony for eighteen hundred years.
aBy His holy help" he was enabled to forgive
all who had persecuted him, and to bless ell
| who had loaded him with curses. The hour
| of victory was, with him, the hour of forgive
| ness. and in his clemency and meekness he
showed himself to be the true Vicar Of Christ
| on earth, the true representative OF eternal
mercy.
| And in these later days when, ns St. John
writes: 1.-THE dragon poured forth q food" OF
| calumny and falsehuod against his name,
| taunting him with poverty and helplessness
| accusing him of ambition and ayarice, and
| predicting his downfall and shame; that same
| "holy help" enabled him to stand unmoved and
| updismayed until the "food, !" having spent its
| fury. subsidized into ripples at his feet.
| "Ry His holy help" when all seemed darkest
here o. earth and mems hearts were weakened
bv the blight of materialism and pnbeiiet, he
| siren ncthened Christian souls by the blessed
staff he gave them to lean upon, in the dogma
Of the Pspal Infallibility; and frightened
earth by the glory of the crown he placed upon
the brow of Heavens Qaeen, in the dogma OF
her Immaculate Conception.
By that "holy help" he saved the world
from universal deluge of unbelief, and spread
above its waters the radiant brow Of Gods
eternal covenant
| But these were not the only words
| of the dying Pontf. AS the prayers continu-
ed, blended with low sounds of weeping, his
lips again parted, and he murmured family
"In domum Donaini ibmus." (I will go into the
house of my Lord).
, | For thrty-two long years he had lived il
the crandest palace ever known on earth, he
had walked among the masterpieces of the
worlds 8 proudest genius, he had been surround
ed by ali the pomp and glory of Religion, Art
and Science; he had seen princes at his feet
and whole nations round his footstool; he had
worn a triple diadem, and held q scepter which
swayed the world but what was all this Il
that house of his Lord" towards which hlI
feet we're tending!
"The house of my Lord" The faithful ser
want knew how lovingly his Lord would gree
him, and how the brightness from His hous
would far eclipse all earth's ponlp and splendol
: Perhaps in that last hour he saw the heaven
Q open, the gates unclosed and, like St. Stepher
# beheld his Lord waiting to receive him.
10 But what lesson to the world, of holy hope
q of trust in the Lords unbounded meroiesl
|
C weary summer in the vineyard of his master
1T for this he had endured oontumely and insult
for this he had borne the heavy burden (
, Peters years and Peters captivity; but it WI
only that he might 60 into the house OF b
Lord and be forever at rest beside Him.
- 1t is the great reward promised to all wi
VI serve unto the end, and Plus TX left the
10 words to all who walk in justice and the fe
n1 of God.
But even these were not the last wor
W spoken by this great soldier of the cro
10 1t is said that when all the signs of death we
near, and Cardinal Bilio, faithful to his tru
Ith commenced the sublime invocation to the &c
of departing; but, overcome by his emotic
to. paused after the words, Depart, Christi
an soul!" the Holy Father murmured faintl
re- Isl, pro6ciSoere !" (Yes, depart N-Then
CO. was over.
do INN