The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-02

Andrew
Same ysar-1s37-Cardinal Odescalchi. in the
private chapel OF his residence, in the vicariate.
conferred the order Of priesthood on Joachim
Pecci 1t is to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary
of this event that the Catholic world has been :
preparing for many months past.
Gregory XVI, in the February following. APP
pointed the young priest delegate or Governor
of the province of Benevento, small principal.
ity of the Papal States, noted moro for the dis
tinguished men who have taken titles from it
though troublous history. Talleyrand took his
title Of Prince, bestowed by Napoleon /, from
Benevento, and the shifting about from the rule
of Pope to Emperor and back again to Pope,
with the changes involved IN laws and religious
regulations, had not been conducive to the hap
piness of the little community. TO bring back
order from chaos was the task devolving upon
the future Pope. He had hardly arrived in his
new government. however, when he was strick-
en- down by a malignant fever, and for time
his life was despaired Of The citizens or the
place made procession to a sanctuary of the
Virgin. near Benevento, to make special suppli
cation for their noble young Governor. whose
excellent qualities had already endeared nm 10
them, and the rector OF the Jesuit College.
Father Tessandori, Joined earnestly in the pray
ers offered up The Pope also had daily prayers
offered in Rome, and contrary TO the judgment
of the physicians, Mgr Pecci began to improve.
His first act upon recovery was to lay the cor
ner-stone of new church in honor OF "Our
Lady of Graces."
While gentle and kind to the poor and suffer
ing. Monsignor Pecci soon proved that he could
lay a heavy band on law breakers, and with
strong arm he suppressed the brigsndage which
was the greatest affection Of Benevento. The
community awoke one morning to see the lead
ing origand chief IN chains, guarded oy pontln-
cal soldiers, and wholesome example was given
by the infection of the severest penalty. Inc
young Governor was impartial In MS
severity, when justice required severity.
Neither influence nor wealth could save a Grim
inal otherwise undeserying Of mercy, and order
and confidence rapidly revived under his wise
and firm administration. He also compelled
political refugees from Naples to quit the pontif-
ical territory. and thus prevented complica-
ton between the Papal and Neapolitan govern
sments.
Mgr Pecci was recalled from the little prov
ince Of Benevsnto into 1S41 and appointed dele
gate or Governor of the important province or
Spoleto. He was sent to Peruea. then a center
of democratic agitation, and of revolutionary
secret societies. HIS first work was thoroughly
practical He converted the principal road into
the city from being almost impossible for vehi-
cles to be a broad and well-paved thoroughfAre
Then he visited every community of the prov
ince, corrected abuses, removed corrupt or I'M
forms which he was himself unauthorized to ef-
feet He remodeled the town councils, united
| the courts of Peruga in one building, made JUS
tice speedy and effective, and Quoted discomfort
| by Graduating the grounds for It. de Also
| founded a saving bank himself contributing to
| the capital. He promoted education and estab-
| lished schools accessible to the poorest.
| Still in his thirty-third year, Mgr. Pecci was
| appointed apostolic nuncio at the court OF Bel
| GUM, with the titular dignity of Archbishop
| Damietta He made a favorable impression on
! King Leopold, and in the struggle between geo.
| ular and religious education. he strove to show
| the superiority of the religious method by max
ing the religious schools better than the secular
/ King Leopold, himself Protestant, greatly ad-
| mired PeccTs tact and ability, remarking to him.
"Reslly, Monsiguor, you are as clever polltl-
| clan as you are an excellent churchman." MGR.
| Pecci spared effort to encourage the Catholic
prelates to obtain from the state recognition
/ and support for UNCONVENTIONAL education In
| 1916 he was recalled from Brussels TO be made
| Archbishop of Perueia. King Leopold deco
rated him before his departure with the grand
~ rHa nda6h Nv n
! way back to Rome he visited London and Paris,
| and was we'll received in both capitals.
Meantime Gregory XVI had died and Pius
| TX assembled the papal throne in time for the
/ exciting scenes which made his pontihcate
| memorable. It was an era of struggle and revo-
| luton, and the wave did not subside before it
| had spread from one end of the Papal States to
| the other. But 10 Perugia the tact and wisdom
| of Archbishop Pecci prevented a serious out
! break, and his personal interposition was suf1-
cieut to stay the rising tumuit. He wisely pre-
| vented the Austrian troops from attempting to
occupy the city and provoking the people by the
presence of foreign bayonets. and, thanks to MS
| foresight and Judgment. Umbria was spared
| calaD1ities which overwhelmed less fortunate
| communities. The secret of his success was
that the people believed in his sincerity and in
| tegrity. The storm passed with Peruala I'M
| affected by its ravages and the Archbishop
more firmly settled than ever in the esteem Of
! his people.
! In 1853 Mgr. Pecci WAS created cardinal, TAX
| ing his title from St. Chrysogonus. This an
cient Roman church had Its origin IN the e., tune
| Greeory IN. Cardinal Pecci continued to be
| Archbishop of Peruea until July, 1877, when he
| accepted the Office of Cardinal camerlengo to
4 Plus TX, post involving presidency of the
| Apostolic Chamber, and the chief charge of the
temperatures of the Holy See Cardinal Pecci
| was also member of many of the sacred congre-
| cations. His life was one round Of duty. His
| habits were simple as bis manners were cap
tivatine, and he retained in maturity the men
| tai and bodily vigor of youth.
It is the Office of the camerlengo to render
the last services to the dying Poutiff, to close
his eyes and to prove his death. according to the
| old formula, and when Plus TX sunk to rest 10
the capital Of his former States. Cardinal Pecci
was thel guardian over the illustrious dead.
On Feb 20, 1878, Cardinal Peccl was elected
| after three ballots, to be tho successor OF Plus
| TX. He assumed the name of Lao XIII, in
memory of Leo XII, for whom he had always
| had q peculiar veneration. His rontihcate has
been part of che contemporary history of En-
rope and the world. The ability which be dis
| played in his first little province of Benevento
| he has exhibited az ruler OF the Catholic Church
| He accepted the tiara under circumstances OF
| peculiar difficulty His predecessor had been a
temporal as well as a spiritual sovereign. Pope
Leo recsived only the spiritual jurisdiction. the
| former Papal States having been absorbed into
| the kingdom of United Italy. Pope Leo has go
managed affairs that, without surrendering any
of his claims to temporal sovereignty, he has
proptiated rather than antagonized the italian
government In Germany, also, he has been sue
cessful il restoring harmony between the en-
pire and the church, and in England and Ire
land the opinion of the Pope the troubles af-
fectng those countries has been influential for
peace and settlement of difficulties Alto
eether the condition of the Catholic Church.
from a temporal nd-point is immensely bet
ter to-day than when Leo XIII assembled the
pspal throne
The Pontiffs Habits and Daily Life.
Summer and winter the Pope rises at 6. His
valet, Centre de Carpineto. knocks to awaken
him, then opens the window and retires. Leo
| KILL thereupon rises and dresses without aid.
No one enters his room until he rings. At he
says two Masses assisted by two of his elk cap
ellani segreti. (secret chapains), who are also
| his secretaries. After his return from chapel
the Pope dictates verses in Latin or Italian, as
composed by him during his wakeful hours
| of the night After his two masses he takes cof-
fee and milk. with rolls without butter. Then