The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-09-30
VOICE OF TRUTH
A Catholic EDITOR Honored BIZ
the Holy Father.
Rev. Father PhOlsn's Audience
With Pope Plus X.

L
writing from Rome, gives the follow
ing exceedingly interesting account of
his recent special audience with Pope
Plus X:
Mgr. Kennedy, OF the American Col
lege, introduced me as "the Oldest
Catholic editor in the United States,
and the nestor OF Catholic journalism
in America" The holy father rose
from his chair and stretched out his
hand i'll a way that scarcely permitted
ME to kneel and in words slow, DELHI
crate and grave blessed my work,
prayed that it might bear increasing
fruit, and that l might be given grace
and strength to continue in it long.
At the close of each short prayer
answered "Amen." He did not permit
ME to remain kneeling, and told him
that the great numbers OF Americans
who were visiting Rome every year
were impelled by the one desire of see
ing the holy father, and the multitude
of visitors from across the ocean
would increase rather than diminish;
and it would not be long before the
Catholics OF the United States would
be more Roman than the Romans
themselves; that the clergy OF America
had always had the profoundest love
for the "Episcopus Episcoporum," but
that they saluted in the person of his
holiness new title to their veneration,
and hailed Plus X. as the "parochus
parochorunl." He laughed out at this
piece OF pleasantly, as he prides him
self on his long career as parish
priest. He is very fond Of. parish
priests, and shows them the greatest
cordially. told the holy father that
on the following day would have the
honor OF presenting to him twenty
Americans, nearly all ladies, and most
" graduates OF convent schools. He
said he loved Americans and had learn
cd to admire the practical and intelli-
gent way in which they do things. He
said they respected law and right, and
that the liberties OF the Church were
saicguarded for all time in that coun.
try by wise legislation and whole
some and just public opinion.
When he spoke of America and the
thousands of miles that separated it
from Rome he looked out OF the win
dow as if longing to make the jour-
ney. *
The holy father has a pair of laugh
ing eyes. There is merry twinkle in
them that does not suggest mirth,
much less ROBUSTNESS, bit a world OF
fatherly and familiar affability. He
comes so near you. he speaks SO kind
~, he almost wraps you about with his
condcscending interest, and one is
tempted to touch him with the hand,
and kissing his ring becomes almost
a selflocking clasp. His eyes are al
ways focused, and he never for an in
slant seeks relief in vacancy Who
has not observed the calm, soft, be-
nignant light Of a fathers eye when
in earnest conversation with son or
daughter? All is trust and confidence.
Such is the expression of the pope's
countenance when speaking to or
greeting those presented to him. Car
dinal Satolli, comparing the present
pope with his two immediate predeces-
sors, said to me few days ago: "Pius
TX. was man who represented the
great heart of the papacy; Leo XIII
its imperial mind, but Plus X. is the
hands of the sovereign pontifcate
which everywhere and always FIND
something good and kind to do"
| To-day | had the happy privilege Of
presenting about twenty Americans tc
the holy father. Three were from St
Louis, Jour from St. Paul, one from
St. Joseph and others from different
parts OF the United States and Canada
Mgr. Kennedy was to have presented
the last named, but he asked me to as
| suliiS tlS uuly. Hdu tllC SdldS "
those to be presented, and on each the
particular request each had to make
OF the holy father. The first one pre-
sentcd was lady from Pittsburg, {
Protestant and the wife of multi-mil
lionairc. To my surprise she had or
her card: "Pray. Holy Father, that
may obtain the grace of becoming /:
Catholic" When I repeated the re
quest the face OF Plus beamed with sur
prise and delight. and he took her botl
hands in his and prayed for her con
version. The others wanted blessings
for members OF their families or absen
friends, and in every case the holy ia
Their had an apt prayer ready on hi
lips. You could almost hear the heart
OF those kneeling suppliants throb, 81
awed and excited were they. = II
The holy fathers attention to me OF
these two occasions is the surprise o
the whole papal entourage-Mgr. Ken
nedy was very much astonished at tn
pope's reception OF me. But there wa
nothing personal in it. The holy ia
Their was honoring the senior Catholic
editor in America, and in honoring hin
he meant to honor the entire Catholic
press OF the United States. I shall
never forget the scene. Plus X. hold