Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-19
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS WEDNESDAY. MAY 10. 1885,

and at the communion the blessed sacra-
ment is administered in the usual man.
ner, the only difference being that, as
where the Bishop gives the sacrament,
the ring is kissed before the blessed sacra-
ment is received. Here in this little room
In the Vatican it was the "seal OF the
fisherman" which the happy few had the
honor Of kissing.
The benediction given and the mass
over the HOLY Father himself said the
three "Hail Marys" which he has pre-
scribed to be said "for the Church" every
where throughout the world, and no one
could fail to be touched by the profound
feeling and intensity of supplication eX-
pressed in the simple words of the angelic
salutation and so familiar to every Cath
Ollie.
THE SPECIAL BLESSING OF THE POPE.
The mass over, the Holy Father was
disrohed and instantly the '-Mass of
Thanksgiving" was celebrated by one of
the Prelates of the household, at which
the Holy Father was present. During
this Mass of Thanksgiving the Litany OF
the Saints, with appropriate prayers, was
recited by the congregation, the members
of the POntifcal household who were
present taking the lead.
The Mass of Thanksgiving over, plain
arm chair was placed at the epistle side
OF the altar within the sanctuary, and
visitors who were present were presented
by Monsignore Maochi. Your friend was
presented in his turn, and after he had
received the greetings OF the Holy Father
and had returned his own personal
thanks for the hOnOrs, which, he insists,
were undeserved, your friend asked the
Holy Father for his special blessing for
the children OF the Sunday school of the
Cathedral parish at Charleston. The
Holy Father with great feeling replied
instantly, speaking in the French lam
guage, which he habitually uses with
those who cannot speak Italian: "IO
them all! l charge YOU to say to them
that give my special blessing to them
ALL"
THE HEALTH OF THE POPE.
Doubtless you would like to know some
thing concerning the health and appear
ance of the Holy Father, in view of the
conflicting reports on the subject which
are published from time to time. The
Holy Father was never particularly rO-
bust, and when he was Cardinal Pecci,
and, of course, long before he became
Pope, he had severe attack of fever and,
after the usual manner OF Italian physi-
clans, was bled very freely. But the
surgeon who bled him, and who is pre-
sumed to have been unskilful, cut one Of
the sinews OF the arm in bleeding the
Cardinal, who in consequence of this has
from that time been afflicted with a
RIGHTEOUSNESS of the right hand and arm,
which is supposed by those unfamiliar
with the facts to be evidence of paralysis
or OF great weakness. This, at all
events, is the explanation given of
this particular inhrmity in the ante
chamber of the Vatican. The Holy
Father walks with some little difficulty,
but this is reasonable, as Pope Leo is 76
years old. You can receive IL as an abb
solute fact that his health is, at least, as
good today as it was when be became
Pope, and that is saying great deal, in
consideration of the enormous work
which he performs, for he labors inces-
sanity night and day, firing out his secre-
taries and everybody else about him.
Much of the work which his predecessors
were accustomed to entrust to their min
listers he insists upon supervising him
self, and 1t is certain now that whatever
comes from the Vatican, in small things
as in great things, has had the personal
knowledge and approval of the Holy
rather. His habits, as you may imagine,
are of the simplest possible description.
SUPPORTED BY ''PETER's PENCE"
Besides this, he has no revenue what
sOever OF any sort or kind except the vol
by the Roman Catholics, his faithful flock
throughout the world. 1t is from the ''Pe-
ter's Pence" alone that the Vatican, with
its vast machinery and enormous ex-
penses, is supported, and 1t will not be
unpleasant for you to know that it is from
the United States that the bulk Of the
money comes. 1t should be added here
that large reductions have been made in
the P0ntifical establishment and that
every possible expense has been reduced.
The personal expenses OF the Holy Father
do not amOunt to SOC. a day. Whatever
else is spent is spent for the necessary
work in connection with the administra-
ton Of the church.
You must not think that the usual
photographs give any just idea Of Pope
Leo XIII. They make him seem to be a
man OF crafty face, with anything but an
attractive expression: hut the truth is
that he has a highly intellectual and
equally amiable c0untenance, and that
there is gentle kindiness in his face and
manner which cannot fail to impress
every one who is brought in contact with
him, and is, at least, but a faint express
sion OF his own purity and truth.
"Let me-" concluded Father Duffy,
Suggest TO you that you heartily thank
the Holy Father for this special favor
that he sends to you over so many thou
sands Of miles, by praying TO Almighty
God for him. / am sure that this blessing
will not fail TO touch your hearts,"