The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-27
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ROME. March 26.-"Doctor," said
Leo XIII to Lapponi when the latter
informed him that it had been decided
that an operation was necessary, you
do wrong to separate two friends who
have lived so closely together for thirty
years" $3.50 = .a-t
The tumor was situated on the right
hip. A somewhat too extended walk in
the garden under hot sun had served
to infame 1t and arouse the fears of
the doctor, who on the evening of Feb
ruary 81 simply said to his patient that
he would operate on him the next day,
receiving only the pleasing response
from his Holiness that he knew it.
Lapponi went down to the French
Sisters of Saint Martha and ordered
that they carry up to the apartments
of the Pope for s o'clock the next morn
ing the operating board and the fold
ing bed that had been used recently for
the operation on Cardinal Svampa. Sis
ter Therese, who had just returned the
same day from Naples, did not even at
tempt to make any inquiries, as II
would have been useless in the face of
the mysterious bearing of the DOCTOR
but she Immediately concluded that
serious affair would take place on the
morrow in the Pope's rooms. She was
convinced of it when, as she accompa-
MED the needed articles to the ante
chamber. she heard one of the Pope s
secretaries say to her: O1fer your Il noiS
communion this morning for the Wei
fare of the Holy Father, for ne Will
have much need of your prayers.
When s o'clock sounded DR.. Lapponl
brought the Surgeon Mazzon1 to the
apartments of the Pope. Leo sti!l slept
-,
he walked. in the meantime preparing
the operating instruments and the peu'
Three-ouarters of an hour later the
HOLY Father awoke and permitted the
visitors to enter
"Holy Father" said Lappom to him.
1--WE are ready"
Pope only asked him if he still be-
lieyed the operation to be necessary
and on Lapponis replying that it was,
he turned to Mazzont and SAID TO MIN
quietly: Professor, go on! But per
nit me to request OF you Two ef tnin tSo
the first, not to make me suffer TOO
much. and the second. to work quick
lv. for I have much to do"
When the patient was installed on
tho hoard, at the will of the surgeon.
he refused any kind of anesthetic
which would make him sleep during
the operation. -
After talking some moments with
Rishop Pifferi, his confessor in ordi-
nary. he asked that he would call his
private secretary, Bishop Angel.
Angel! Are you there? You Will
saw the mass Pro infirmis' in my pres
ence. Make an altar on the table and
commune.
"But I have already said my mass
this morning, Holy Father"
well, begin again"
But 1 have broken my fast with a
cup of milk"
for the sick, and now, gentlemen pro-
eeed."
Whittier than the vestment which ne
had put on the priest commenced the
"in nomine Patris," and the surgeon at
the same time entered upon his work.
To extract the tumor, as large as an
orange, down to the roots OF the nDers
the scalpel had to 20 with deep cut
and concentrically. A long sigh, 1mme-
diately suppressed, by the sufferer an
nounced the commencement or the
work And until the elevation" one
heard nothing but the prayers or the
priest, to which the patient tried 10 re,
spond When the little bell announced
the conservation of the cup and OF the
wafer the suffering of the cody old
man was greater than his fortltude ana
Leo began to complain. Long signs. IN
terrupted by sharp EXPLANATIONS, came
from the operating DoarC. where ohe
saw but little between the cloths spong-
ing the wound except blood.
How did Mgr. Angel finish this sor-
rowfuI mass standing between the
blood of the Christ which he conse-
Grated and the blood of his Vicar, which
filled the chamber with sharp door,
and thick stains?
IT was ignorant of it," said he after
ward, "and here is mass unconscious
ly repeated, for which the congregation
Of rites can give me absolution."