The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-10-28
THE FTSHERMAN'S RING,


THE FISHERMAN'S RING.
Honesty may be the best policy, but
it would hardly seem to be encouraged
at the Vatican, according to an anec-
dote which comes from there and
which at the same time. is curiously
illustrative of one of the Pope's crown
ing cteristics-thriftiness
The other day his Holiness retired
for his usual monday siesta in little
room kept for the purpose, which con-
tains merely a sofa and an armchair,
During his sleep the ''fisherman's
ring" that glorious jewel kissed by so
many crowned heads and lesser lights,
fell from his finger, his hand having
shrunk very much during late. years.
On waking, he serenely pursued his
usual avocations, without once think
ing of the lost ring. That evening one
of the attendants craved to speak with
him a moment. He said, your Holt
ness, | have to restore to you what
would have been a loss, not only to
you, but to the world after, which
noagniloquent words he knelt humbly
proffering the ring. Leo XIII. looked
at it in surprise, then at his finger.
and solemnly putting it in its place.
said "The thanks of the Church are
due to you my son, / shall see that
you are rewarded" Next day the
man was called to the treasury and
presented with-tWelve shillings!
The loss of the ring would in fact,
have been most serious for the Church.
1t is given to the new Pontiff after his
nomination, it is perpetually worn by
him and kissed by all those received
in private audience. After his death
it is broken with great ceremony and
then reset for the incoming Pope. AS
far as I can learn, there is no record
of this ring having ever been lost in
earnest.
This ring takes it's name especially
from the scene cut on the stone, which
represents St. Peter in a boat drawing
in his fishing net. It's origin is un-
known, but there are documents prov
ing that the first to use it, as an of
fetal seal was the French Pope Glenn
ent vi, in 1865. However, it is GER
tain that the Popes used 1t some time
before on secret documents. Since the
time of Calixtus H., 1855, it has been
the seal for the Papal briefs, among
which those of Leo X (MedicD to
Henry VIII. of England and the Car
dinal of York are remarkable.
While the great seal of England is
kept by the Lord Chancellor, and the
seals of State in Italy are confined to
the Guardasigilli, there is no special Of
fetal to look after this Papal seal
ring, which, when the Pope does not
not wear it, is given to his Master of
the Chamber together with the other
effects of his Holiness. 1t has been
confided to the Cardinal Secretary of
Briefs-who has the office of compiling
official documents-only during the
short absences of the Pontiffs from
the Eternal City, as in the case when
Plus VII in 1882, went to Vienna
If proof be needed for the statement
that the Popes wear the "F'isherman's
Ring" history furnishes many. In 1898
the French republicans invading the
Pontifical States, despoiled Plus VI.
of all he had. Not satisfied. Commits |
sioner Haller one day went to the |
Pontiff while he was dining, and said |
Il have come for your treasure"
But I have nothing left"
You have on your finger two pre- |
cious rings. Give them to me-
Il can give you one which is mine, |
but the other (the Fisherman's RingD |
must pass to my successor
Deliver it to me at once or / shall |
use force!' Plus VI, to avoid violence
handed over the ring, which was. how
ever returned to him the next day it |
having been found its only value con-
sisted in it's traditions.
Plus VII, when suddenly kidnapped |
in the middle of the night by General !
Radet, had this celebrated ring on his
finger. The Napoleonic general, not to
be behind his republican predecessor,
claimed the jewel, which, however the
Pope broke into two pieces before Civ
ng to him. These pieces were kept in
Paris until Louis XVIII returned
them to Rome.
Besides the "Fisherman's Ring, |
here are three other seals used hv the
Holy See; the most most important
s one in the form of pincers to make
he impression on the lead seals of the
2apal bulls. This has a keeper, the
Vice Chancellor OF the 9th
er two, one is for lesser documents, for
which red ink is used, and was in
reduced by Leo XIII, and the other
simply has the coat of arms of the
eigning Pontfff, and is used for his
private correspondence
The loss of Leo Kills ring while
Isleep became public through the at
endant who found 1t going with some
ompanions--as is the custom in Rome
to drink to the health of the Pope
With the Is lire (about 12s) which he I :
lad received as a reward.-From thet
london Pail Mall Gazette.