The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-07-25
DIOCESE OF DENVER.
CITY OF DENVER.
Many Priests Present at Memorial
Services For Pope Leo.
.Special Correspondence.)

ing days have not been 2DIe 70 raise.
The news of the death of the aged pom
tiff, although not unexpected, came as
a great shock 10 the Catholics OF Den
yer.
The bishop and many of the priests
had but recently visited the Holy Fa-
Their at Rome. When Bishop Matz was
granted a private audience scarcely
TWO years ago, Pope Leo displayed the
greatest interest in western diocesan
affairs and reiterated the statement
that he has so often made that his
American children were his dearest.
Then, too, the church in the wild and
uoolIy west" is of such comparatively
recent foundation that its marvellous
growth was naturally a source of graf
ification to the head of the church.
As soon as the cablegrams announc-
ing the death of the Pope were trans
mitted to Denver, Bishop Matz,
through Rev. P A. Phillips, chancellor
of the diocese, issued invitations TO all
the priests of the state to come to Den
yer for the memorial services on Thurs
day morning. About forty responded.
It was a grand sight. The humble
chapel was filed to overlooking long
before 10 O'Clock. the hour of the req
uiem mass. Bishop Matz, robed in
black vestments. stood before an altar
draped in crepe and besought the
prayers of his congregation for the soul
of the Pope The pillars throughout.
the church were entwined with black,
and the entrance on either side was
hung in sombre bunting.
Solemn Mass of Requiem.
Bishop Matz was celebrant of the
solemn high mass of requiem and was
assisted by Rev. William Organ Of
St Leo's, Rev. NJ. T. Callahan of the
cathedral, Rev. Cornelius O'Farren,
Rev. John B. White and Rev. William
j. O'MalIey. Rev. William Organ de-
hvered the eulogy. 1t was brief, but |
was filled with beautiful sentiment, |
which moved many TO tears.
Two years ago Father Organ was |
called upon TO preach in the same |
church at the celebration of the twen- |
ty-fifth anniversary of the pontificate |
of Pope Leo. and on that occasion |
voiced his sentiments, and in fact the !
sentiments of the entire world, Cath |
Ollie and Protestant, Of the character |
of the aged head of the church Cath /
Ollie Again, as did he on that men,
orable day, Father Organ moved his
auditors to tears; and they We're not |
unwilling tears either. for weeping and |
praying alternately was the disposition
of almost everyone gathered in the
chapel.
specially arranged choir, selected
from all the churches of the city, met 1
on Wednesday night and rehearsed the
Gregorian mass of requiem. The solos
were in capable hands and the music
was inspiring. Many of the diocesan
priests were unable to attend the serv-
ices on Thursday. but before the nine
days elapSe every pastor of the state
viii have held memorial exercises for
the repOse of the soul of Pope Leo. In
the orphanages and other charitable
Institutions of Denver, and in fact over
The state generally, special prayers
have been offered up for the repose of
the soul of the Pope and for guidance
IN the choice Of a successor.
Bishops Tribute to Holy Father.
When the intelligence of the Pope's |
death reached Bishop n. c. Matz on |
Monday he said:
Nothing could prove more conclus-
lively the immense influence eXerted on
humanity by Leo XII. than the anX
iety with which all the world has been
watching the passing of the great pom
tiff His death will be felt as one of {
those irreparable losses which at times
mark the history of humanity and are t
counted as calamity upon our race.
This is evident from the fact that from
one end to the other of Christendom q
has gone forth a cry of grief and pro- /
found regret emanating from every hui
man breast. The memory of Leo XIII.
VIII be sacred to every lover OF man. 2
kind who has watched the deep interest I
taken by the beloved dead in every
thing tending to lift up mankind. For
twenty-five years he has been the
Waterman constantly on the lookout; +
sounding the alarm. and directing the :
ship OF Peter through the most dan =
gerous breakers imperilling the safety =
OF Christs church. His glorious reign | /.
bears witness to the supreme skill with
which he accomplished this difficult a
task on which the salvation Of some
25OCO0O00 souls rested"
Bishop of Santa Fe Speaks.
Right Rev. John B. Pitaval. who was
for many years pastor of the church at
aspen, Cole, and later at Dunango, !
and who was just a year ago made
auxiliary bishop of Santa Fee had paid
q visit to the pope before coming To
America on a missionary tour many
years ago. He said of him: e
With the death Of the great pontiff, W
Leo AIIL, the Catholic church loses Il
one Of its greatest rulers. and the p
world its most distinguished man. Like | p
mat OF his predecessor Of the fifth cen
fury, Leo J., who has been called the
Great because he VIGOROUSLY re- Ia
pressed heresy and made barbarism re- W
Ceue III the person OF At0la. tn glOr- ! te
ious name Of Leo XIII. will be in M
scribed in the golden book in which Ia
history keeps the names of the men | \,
who have deserved best of the church ="
End civilization
Recalling an old saying current in !.
Rome, to the effect that there are u'
three kinds Of popes, the scholar. the ="
statesman and the man of power we
can well observe that all three were -
combind in Leo XIII. Until the end. IN
Young in spite of his extreme old age h'
cheerful under the weight of the cappa &C
magma, his brow seemed nimbused with be
he rarest and most harmonic gifts
y genius, Kindness and virtue With
reason, therefore, Catholic, Protestant in
lgnostic, follower Of each and every &C
belief. look on and with bowed head. tn
10 reverence to one who. apart from tn
very consideration Of oplitics. reli- II
sious faith and nationality. will be for
yer an object Of universal respect and
| symbol Of human superiority. ca
had the pleasure of seeing him in | "a
oSS. remember still and will never a.
orget the grand figure he presented. ne
AS an American prelate Justly said: -
Pope Leo KILL exhibited the en- ga
husiasm Of youth and the wisdom of 50
sc. the beauty Of spiritual truth. the y.
plr1t OF the apostle the sanctitv of 81
he saint May God grant now Leo's IN
ast prayer: Grant Lord my anxious II;
rayers, that with the citizens of dy
eay.en. Gods face and light may ever tn
brill my sight"
Father Organs Eulogy.
One of the most touching tributes bo
dlC to the memory of Po,a 7 GO ~ = ~