Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-07-25

I'm Toles IN the Moflo . nHtoy :,
to become the "Lumen in Gaelic
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.
His mother bore the name OF the mother
of the Virgin-to the boy she gave the name
rof the Virgins father-Joachim, like Jos
-eph and Mary, sweet, familiar names in
Catholic countries.
Born and reared among the Volscian hills,
he was robust, sturdy boy. AT the age OF
IL he contracted a serious illness, which left
him the frail, delicate being he was ever
after. When q he was threatened with
consumption. 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, WE'LL" an
eswered Comtesse Anne, you can make a
pope of him. Let Joachim be pope and
Joseph cardinal and you can be tranquil az
to the future of our boys" On the last day
sof the year 1887 l3 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 overro brig
.andage and smuggling-a position in which
older and more experienced men had been
baffied and retired. Three days after reach
ing his post he was stricken with typhoid
fever. The best medical skill was summoned
from Naples and pronounced the case hope
less. The frail body, weakened with ascetic
fervor. triumphed over disease and death.
In his convalescent state, he began his bat
tile, bearing harder on the rich than on the
poor. Soon the Beneventini saw with joy
and surprise the most dreaded chief with
This band led in chains to prison. Conspira-
tors found it unsafe to hatch plots where
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,
go successful that there came a time when
the prisons Of Perugia did not hold single
criminal.
There were educational disputes in Bel
usium; 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 to
Brussels post he filled with credit to him
.self, the church, the Belgian court and peo-
pie. 1t was King Leopold's verdict that he
.Was as clever a 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.
Death had claimed the bishop Of Perugia.
The hearts of the people and the clergy
turned to him, who had endeared himself
to them in his brief sojourn as governor.
The pope acceded to their wishes, but in