The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-05

The Reverend Father Caesar SpIgardl
pastor Of the Italian Church of st. Charles
Borromeo Is personally acquainted witt
| Pope Plus x, and in Northern Italy ha.
been almost intimately associated witt
him.
He loves and honcrs the new Pope whom
he knew as Cardinal Joseph Sarto. Fathe,
Spigardi had not the slightest idea tina,
| Cardinal Sarto would be chosen to succeed
Leo XIII. but is greatly pleased at the re.
| suit Of the conc,ave-
When told Of the election he evidenced
his high regard for the character and work
of Sarto by saying: "rhey have spoiled a
| saint to make Pope"
| Father Spigardis charge in North italy
| was at Cremona. from whence the famous
| iolins come. The new Pope at that time
was Bishop Of MAMMA, the adjoining
diocese.
Father Spigardi's work attracted the at
tention OF the Bishop and 1t Is with Joy
that he is now able to recount many pleas
ing personal experiences he has had with
the new Pope.
Father Spigardi has heard Plus X preach.
Father Spisardi has preached to Pope Plus
X. He has had many consultations with
the new Pope. has many letters from him.
and in book. of which Plus X is the
author, two pages are devoted to the de-
scription Of Father Spigardi, and the re-
counting OF his work among the Italians
In 1888, when Sarto was elevated to the
cardinaIate, Father Spigardi congratulated
him, and before coming to St. Louis the
Italian priest received the blessing Of the
new Cardinal.
Father Spigardi was induced to relate
some Of his more personal experiences re-
garding the new Pope He said:
CONGRATULATED BY CARDINAL
zone Of the happiest moments OF my life
was when Bishop Sarto came to me after q
sermon I had preached in my church at
Cremona and commended me. He said to
me: II you work as hard at all services as
you have at this you will soon overcome
yourself
How did the Cardinal happen to be in
my church? He is a great lover of the COM
mon people and took great delight, while
Bishop. in attending the services in the
smaller churches. He would often go incog-
nito and would not let the priest know of
his presence until after the service. My
church was in the adjoining diocese, less
than twenty miles from Mantua.
Il have heard him preach a score of
times. He is not an oratorical speaker, but
Is eloquent. His words enter into the hearts
Of his listeners and draw them to him.
II often went to him for advice and was
always well received. 1t seemed as il the
welfare Of the poorest church was of great
Importance to him and his council was al
ways forthcoming"
Father Spigardi says he has dined sew
eral times with Pope Plus Y. and has more |
han two dozen letters from him. All of |
hese letters are now in Italy. Father Spf- |
,ardi says that now, as their author has |
,ecome so Important person. he will have |
hem sent to st. Louis.
One letter in particular does the Italian
priest prize. Father spigardi was once
about to undertake an important business
visit to France and needed letters of in
PRODUCTION. The Bishop Of Mantua, upon
earning Of this. wrote him one Of four
To illustrate the love which the common
,eoplo Of Italy bear for the new Pope,
Father Spigardi tells the following anec-
lote:
Upon the summit Of Mount Ia Grappa. the
highest OF the Italian Alps. an altar to the
Blessed Virgin was erected. which was to
'e consecrated with the most formal cere-
Monies.
"Sarto leraned of this, and. leaving his
alace at an early hour in the morning. was
owed in his gondola to the base Of the 1
There he mounted q mule and ,