The Northwestern standard., 1886-04-10
Our Holy Father, the Pope.

Our Holy Father, the Pope.
It is a marvel to those around him
how Leo. XIII. can withstand at his
age seventy the wear and tear OF
the enormous amount of business to be
transacted daily !; and, together with
that, to accomplish himself personally,
the unceasing literary labors, some OF
which only come to the public eye
under the form of encyclicals, and such
important and carefully weighed docu-
ments as the letters to Emperor Wil-
liam and Prince Bismarck. I have
been studying carefully the great ency-
clical Immortale lei on the Christian
constitution of States, and the more !
study it the more am | struck with
amazement at the immense amount OF
the weighSiest matter condensed into
this dog,natic utterance, put IN the most
perfect literary form, and expressed in
such Latin as Cicero would admire.
Now, following close on this, comes
tie encyclical to the Alchbishops and
Bishops of Prussia, another most ad-
mirable document, evidently foreshad-
owing a new concordat to be soon con-
cluded with that kingdom, and which
will put an end to that strife be
tween Church and State in the German
empire. So does the great Pope, by his
superior prudence, his superior learn
ing and craftsmanship, and his sanity
virtues, win the homage, the respect,
the unbounded confidence of such men
as the German Chancellor.
It is no wonder, especially to one see
ing him only for lnoment, that he
should appear sickly and near his end.
But there is In frame sustained by an
ardent desire to labor for the divinest in
terests of humanity, a principle of vi
tality and energy not found in the most
robust natures, when these are
not carried forward and upward by
zeal for the hottest Of causes, and when
they are not purified and exalted by alb
stemiousness and asceticism.
AS knelt ON Sunday morning last,
before Leo XIII, in his throne room,
and looked up into those love-lit eyes
bent on me, and scanned every feature
in that countenance, which is of ala
baster-like whiteness and transparency,
felt as il the sweet figure had walked
out of some glorious picture Of Fra
Angelico's. He had not been able to
leave his room for ten days. but they
were ten days full OF the most import
ant and unceasing labor. He was go
ing to take his first walk in the Vati-
can gardens. Noble guards, chamber
lai1ls, and attendants waiting round to
accompany him. But he would spare
time for the American pilgrim to pay
him the homage Of love and gratitude.
No; he would not let me kiss his feet,
as the custom is, but he held out his
hand, the right hand, which has writ
ten SO many immortal pages. And
then he placed 1t on my shoulder, and
the left hand on my head. while be
spoke to me the words OF affection, Of
encouragement, and direction, that i
had come to seek. No portrait OF pho
tograph Of Leo XIII. thatI have seen
at all conveys to the beholder the spir-
itual sweetness Of that countenance,
the light in his eyes, the sunny smiles
around his mouth. Something in the
conversation made me mention the
name Of his mother, and then his express
sion became as that Of one transfigured.
There was q brief look upward, and
then he looked into my face with q
brighter and sweeter smile, answering
me with evident satisfaction. lie Hor-
ships the memory Of his mother
Then, having given me more Of his
time than could at all expect. and say
ing that he would zee me soon again,
the attenuated hand was removed from
my shoulder to my lips, and 4 rose 70
depart
Before leaving the antechamber Mon
signor Maccf1is the POpe;s Maggi0r-
DomO, said that my estimation Of Leo
XIII. Is one Of the greatest P0peS who
bad governed the Church, was fully JUS
titled. Only, he said, the Holy Father
avoids carefully everything Ike publ
city except when he cannot help him
seif- Rev. Bernard OsReflly.