The Irish standard., 1903-03-07

searching rays. The masterly, states
man-like letters of the great bishop
of per,lgia to his Umbrian flock,
on all the burning questions of the
hour, attracted the attention of |
churchmen and scholars, of politi
clans and statesmen the world over.
In 1868. Pope Plus IN elevated the
scholarly bishop of Perugia to the
cardinmlate, and this endorsement by |
the sovereign POntiff of his eminent
services sanctioned his mastery work
and widened the influence Of his lead
ership. His experience as Il member
of the sacred college of cardinals for
twenty-five years, i'll the flower OF his
mature manhood and rpened culture,
was Il most fitting preparation for the
papacy.
Not alone by his mastery pastoral
letters on the sociological problems of
the hour, did the Jealous bishop OF
Peruyiu win the admiration and graft
tude of the Church, but especially by
Ibis tirelcss devotion to the cause of
his pastoral lnbOrs ut this time states:
mo praise can do justice to the caln-
est zeal which he displayed for the
diffusion of Christian knowledge and
for spreading religious instruction
among the people,
| lie gave unrrmitting personal attei-
ton to the higher education of the
clergy. He designated his episcopal
seminary, close to his episcopal resi-
dcnce, "thc apple of his eye He left
nothing undone to inspire young call
didatcs for the sacred ministry with
his own ardent zeal for learning and
advanced culture. The results of this
constant. practical work for thirty
Years were most happy and fruit
full. Many men now eminent in the
offices of the Church received their
preparation and training in Cardinal
pccci's diocesan seminary ut Perugia.
Wise, prudent and competent lead
rrs are the salvation of the people.
Among all civilized Christian nations
the clergy, the religious teachers and
guides of the people. are exempt from
the duties of military service, that
they may be free to render more etfi-
cicnt service to their country and
people. The spirit of the revolution
was one of hatred of religion and
every blow aimed at religion or its
ministers was regarded as Il gain for
the revolution.
The intrepid bishop of Perugia led
his fellow bishops of Umbria and tho
Marches in strong and vigorous pro
tests against the Piedmontrse govern
mcnt in forcing the clergy from theil
spiritual lnbors among their tlOcks
and pressing them into the service OF
I. the army. He declared in Il memor
p able address to Victor Emmanuel, the
I SHvoyard representative of the rcvOlu
o ti0n. "The supreme good of Il nation
! is it's morality and this comes onl!
II from religion and from the s;llutar!
: influence of it's ministers. Villa
|, would an army have to defend in ;
II people without faith, without moral
in a people sunk in corruption? |
J. YOU take away Christian instruction
J. the preaching of the Gospel. the wor
J. ship and fear of God, can the fear o
Il armed men keep the multitude faitl
T. ful in their duties? And in the arm
q itself will not morality be the rcsul
of that created in the nation by the il
II tluence of reigiOn?"
D. The memorable and significant oil
l. servancc of the centenary of No
IL taire-hiS upOthcOSis-aS the encmlc
of God and religion called it, by til
T. champions of the revolution, in til
II month of May, 1878, in the center {
I Christcndom, within sight of the Vat
. can and the Quirinal, became finn
: convincing evidence of how vain WI,
Il amy protest against the usurpatiol
II of the Savoyalu dynasty, that repre-
It expressed in the lifelong motto I
q VOltairc, "IIcraScZ LInfame."
Z" The year 1877 is memorable in til
| annals of the Church as the year {
c the Golden Episcopal Jubilee" I
/, Pope Plus IN. In the month of SCI
T. tcnber of that year the dying ponti
u appointed the CartlinalBishop
[e Pcruga as Camcrlcngo of the Roma
o. Church, to succeed the deceased CT,
is dinal dc Angels, Archbishop OF FC
It. mo. The supreme authority to a
DIX minister the temporal affairs of Il
" Holy See rests With the Cnmcrlcni
Ill during Il vacancy in the papal cha
IL On the 7th of February. 1873, Il
o. amablc and sanity Plus IN. after
vo long pontiticatc of thirty-two ycal
which had been years of martyrdO
he and sorrow, was summoned to |
he eternal rest. The civilized wOl
he watched with intense anxiety the :
on ton of the usulping government
elr United Italy. Grave fears were {
me tcrtaincd. not without good rcAS,
the that efforts would be made to intcrf,
ch, with the liberty of the cardinals
on. the selection of successor to ri
tar who had so persistcntly protcs
cnt against the forciblc entry Of the CIR
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