Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-07-29

w roles in the worlds history
to become the "Lumen in caelo"
which st. Malachy in the eleventh century
predicted would rise after him, who had
borne "Crux de cruce," and papacy should
be almost crushed to the earth Surely he
has filled luminous page in the history of
the Catholic church.
of the Virgin-to the boy she gave the name
of the Virgins father-Joachim, like JOS
eph and Mary, sweet, familiar names in
Catholic countries.
Born and reared among the Volscian hills
he was a robust, sturdy boy. At the age of
IL he contracted serious illness, which left
him the frail, delicate being he was ever
after. When 81 he was threatened with
consum ption. He made his will-before he
died, every legatee was numbered with the
dead. He gave early promise of being great.
In his first vacation from school he ex
pressed to his father a desire to read and
write like st. Thomas Aquinas-and a."
said the father to his wife, signing, wished
to make general of him." ''Ah, WELT" an
Swered Comtesse Anne, "you can make a
pope of him. Let Joachim be pope and
Joseph cardinal and you can be tranquil as
to the future of our boys" On the last day
of the year 1887, Is years after the death of
his much-loved mother, he was ordained to
the priesthood
Gregory XVI. appointed him governor of
Benevento-a most difficult position. He
was not only obliged to cope with political
conspirators, but also with well-organized
bands of desperate men, given over to brig
andage and smugging-a position in which
older and more experienced men had been
baffled and retired. Three days after reach
SOO his most he Sfrioknp with tynbOid
fever. The best medical skill was summoned
from Naples and pronounced the case hope
less. The frail body, weakened with ascctic
fervor, triumphed over disease and death.
In his convalescent state, he began his bat
tie, bearing harder on the rich than on the
poor. Soon the Beneventini saw with JOY
and surprise the most dreaded chief with
his band led in chains to prison Conspira-
tors found it unsafe to hatch plots wnere
Gov. Pecci ruled and sought an asylum
elsewhere. In three years the reign of law,
with order and peace, was established
that Pope Gregory recalled him to fill a
more important post.
Perugia was the seat of popular discon-
tent; thither Gregory sent the successful
young diplomat. Again he was successful.
so successful that there came time when
the prisons of Perugia did not hold a single
criminal.
There were educational disputes in Bel
GUM; indeed all the affairs of the church
were disordered. Gregory again turned to
$ Mgr. Pecci to smooth difficulties and bring
order out of chaos. He went as nuncio 10
Brussels post he filled with credit to him.
self, the church, the Belgian court and PEG.
pie 1t was King Leopold's verdict that he
was as clever politician as he was an
excellent churchman.
Before his return to Rome he visited Lon
don and Paris, aid was received by Victoria,
Prince Albert and Louis Philippe, to whom
he had been warmly recommended by Leo
pold. ff
Death had claimed the bishop of Perugia.
The hearts of the people and the clergy
turned to him, who had endeared himself
TO 1 an in his brief sojourn as governor.
The pope acceded to their wishes. but in