The Washington times., 1903-07-27
BISHOP ROCKER TELLS
OF LEO'S GENTLENESS
Eu.oyy Pronounced at Pontifica!
Mass IN Trinity Church.

The death OF Pope Leo XIII was COM
mcmorated yesterday morning at Holy
Trinity Church Georgetown, by a
solemn pontifcal mass celebrated by
Bishop Rocker. Other officers OF the
mass were the Very Rev. Father Daugh-
erty. S. j.: the Rev. Francis Casey. s..
J.: the Rev. +. X Mulvaney. S. j.. and
the Rev. Augustin H Gaynor. S. ].
Fred Devereux and Joseph Kuhn acted
as masters OF ceremonies. AT the con-
clusion OF the mass absolution was given
by the Rev F. " Mulvaney, the Rev. J.
E. Joyce. d. D.. of Bridgeport. Conn.,;
the Rev. F. NJ. Scanlon. of Concord, ~.
H., and the Rev Samuel Cahill. A spe-
cial musical program was presented by
the choir OF Trinity, under the direction
Of the organist. George Herbert Wells.
The sermon OF eulogy was delivered b.
Bishop Rocker. who recalled the last
consistory held by the Pope. a month
ago. when his holiness conferred the red
hat upon the newly appointed cardinals.
Bishop Rocker compared the scene then
to that which has been enacted in Rome
during the past few days. and drew
striking picture. In conclusion Bishop
Rocker said:
at is only when we have been near to
him. when he has been a part of our
own life. when we have been privileged
20 be close TO him, beside him, and talk
TO him as we would talk TO an earthly
father-it is only then we understand
fully what the Pope was. saw the holy
faf har hut 70 haF -
which have described to you and which
IL was my privilege to attend. After an
absence OF many years, such blessing
such JOY, was my privilege He talked
to me as one man would talk TO another
with the only difference which came
from the venerableness OF his age and
the exaltation of his Office, the fact
that he was a shepherd not only OF the
sheep. but OF the shepherds as we'll
This made his words fall upon me not
merely as the words OF one man to an
J other. but as the words of a father to his
child. the words of leader and a guide
the words of one under whose protection
| l was. the words OF the Sovereign
| Pontin. the words Of the representative
OF God"
"As he talked to me 1 could feel the
most tender, the most confident. the
most familiar affection that one man
could feel toward another. that a son
could feel toward his father. There
was no pomp and no glory to embarrass
but he spoke to me as TO his child He
was as interested in the smallest de-
tails which concerned me as ! was.
II was because of that wonderful, that
deep-reaching sympathy and interest
that he was thought of by those who
were about him and who knew him
well in that sense of a holy father. He
had a deep interest In every least de-
tail In which they were concerned ]
found him thus when 1 was with him
last. just as l had remembered him
from years before.
"Oh. my dear friends, II were TO 20
on talking about the Pope as he was
IL would be TO bring home his wonder
full personality to you. to present to
your Catholic hearts that form and that
face. / have spoken OF him 10 you as
/ have not because J have wanted &c
tell of experiences of my own which
brought me into close contact with
the last chapter and last acts OF his
life. but because your pastor suggested
that II might be the most acceptable
and interesting way TO do so. l wan
the thought. the idea, of Leo XIII tC
sink more deeply AID more sweetly into
the hearts of each one of you. I wan
you TO know and realize him as YOU
brother. and as your brother to pray
for his eternal rest. 1t is but an ordi
nary tribute of affection that you SHOULD
fray for his reDose. Let the sweetness
of his character sink deeply into you
hearts Pray for his soul with all th'
confidence and all the affection will
which you would OFFER up your prayer
for the rest of your fathers soul"