The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-04-13
THE POPE EVERYDAY
DUTIES AND RITES WHICH TAKE UP
ALL OF HIS TIME.


Eating-Masses and Audiences with Sub
Ordinates-A Day of Labor From Early
Morn to Dewy Eve.
The pontiff's day is day of labor from
early morn to dewy eve. At every morn
Ing he rises, his faithful body servant,
Contra, knocking at his door at that hour,
winter and summer. At Z he says his
mass, which is served by two of his pri-
vate chaplains-the pope having six chap
lains-and then he hears another, called
the mass of thanksgiving, celebrated by
bne of his chaplains and occasionally by
one of his secretaries.
After these two daily masses the pope
breakfasts. This is very simple meal,
consisting all through the year of simple
coffee and milk, with bread, and nothing
more. Then his receptions begin. First
of all, as a general rule, he receives Cardi-
nal Rampolla, the secretary of state. He
presents to the pope the documents re-
Ceived at his office til e day before, or those
which should be furnished with the sig
nature of the pope, and which should be
dispatched to their destination during the
day. This audience, which lasts over an
hour, and which is, as one may well i'm
ngine, of the profoundest interest, does
not take place on Tuesday or Friday On
these days the pope receives the embassa-
doris and ministers, representatives of for
eign governments to the holy see. When
there are documents on these days to be
signed by the pope, they are brought by
the under secretaries of state.
The second reception of the day is given
to cardinals, the heads of ecclesiastical
congregations, the generals of religious or
ders and personages or dignataries hav-
ing special business with the holy see.
After this reception, if the season is win
ter and the weather happen to be good,
the pope interrupts the course of audi
ences in order to take walk for half an
hour or SO in the Vatican gardens.
At o'clock the pope dimes, following
in this the custom of the Romans. This
is the ordinary rule, but it happens, espe-
cially when there are many receptions or
audiences to be granted, that he remains
till 2 or even O'Clock before dining. The
severe simplicity which marked the break
fast is followed in the dinner This con-
sists of soup, nearly always of some form
OF macaroni; of n plate of meat, with an
accompaniment of fried potatoes or other
vegetables. Then follows fruit, of one
sort, and this completes the meal. The
pope never eats boiled meat or forced meat
or cheese. He drinks little wine, old
Bordeaux, which is supplied to him from
the vineyard of a convent of nuns in the
unnfh Of Eranaa 1Y.111o ha
pope reads the newspapers during his din
ner
Leo XIII eats always alone, as etiquette
requires. When he wishes to show special
favor to a Roman prince or some person
age of distinction, he invites him to col
lation, which consists of coffee and milk
taken with him after mass. In order, be-
sides, to obtain this favor it is necessary
that the person may have had the honor
Of being admitted to the pope's mass and
Of having received communion from his
hands. This of itself is a great distinc-
ton, but it does not necessarily imply the
being invited to breakfast with
him. In the latter case small table is
for the guest beside that of the
pontiff. When the late Cardinal Pecci,
brother of Leo XIII, lived in the Vatican,
he frequently went to the pope when din
ing, but only to keep him company. 1t
was quite touching to hear the cardinal
speak of Leo XIII. There was look of
in his face, as, with "bated
BREATH" he referred to "my brother, the
sovereign pontiff."
After dinner Leo XIII rests for about
IN hour in an armchair He does not fol-
ow the Roman custom of sleeping in the
afternoon. His activity and nervous en-
,rgy are too great to submit to this. In
Iced even at night his slumbers are fire.
Iuently broken. After this rest he takes
\ walk in the garden, provided the wealth
,r is good. These walks are made in com
oany with a cameriere segrelo-an ecclesi-
lstic-and a lieutenant of the Noble
guards. When he is tired of walking, he
enters carriage and is driven in the gar
len. The carriage drive is little over a
nile in length.
On his return from his walk or drive he
again gives audience or receives his secre-
aries and sets to work. About 6 in the
evening he takes a pof broth and tiny
glass of Bordeaux.
The audiences continue in the evening
rom 8 till TO- This rule of action is liza
Die to be broken in upon at times, for
low and again the pope retires alone into
his study to prepare his work for the fol-
owing day. His mode of preparing briefs