The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-09-12
POPE Plus X is
CON VACATION"

The Holy Father, we learn from
Rome has begun to enjoy his iubi-
lee holidays. The absence of his secre-
tary Of state at Castelgandolfo. of his
majordOmO in Switzerland. and of three
or four Of the principal cardinals of the
Curia, leaves him free from MANY state
affairs and more or less at liberty to
enjoy his vacation" Just how the
vacation Of the Vatican-bound pont;fr
Of Christendom differs from other sea-
sons, beyond the fact that he has
little more time TO himself, it would
be difficult to say. Rome" saws that
he prolonss somewhat his daily walk
IN the Vatican gardens. For the rest.
he continues to be the first person afoot
in the Vatican. being already well on
with the reading of his office when his
attendant knocks at his door every
morning at o'clock, and follows a va
cation" schedule considerably like the
following work-a-day routine:
The Everyday Routine.
There is a modest little chapel close
70 his bedroom. and here he begins
mass at 6, assisted by one of his two
secretaries, AIsgr. Bressan or Msgr. Pes
chi. who with Msgr. Sanfermo. former
IS vicar general of Venice and now
.'Nai Va 49, ~AeAl ND IOA Constitute
'he little Venetian court of His Holt
ness. At ! mass and thanksgiving are
over and the pope goes to breakfast"
breakfast consisting of a cup of coffee
and milk into which the pope dips a
teW thin slices of bread. After this.
u The weather is fine there is walk
IN the garden, and if not in the loggie
Between the walk and the first of the
daily receptions an interval is always
left for glance through the principal
Italian papers; then comes the cardinal
secretary with his daily budget of af-
ialrs which have to be submitted and
explained TO the pointiff: then one or
Two or three. as the case may be, of
the heads Of the different congrega-
IONS, with their budgets, containing
NE report Of the principal business
transacted at the last meeting. and their
requests for the pope's signature to
some important DEGREES or nominations:
and then the long list of private and
public audiences which occupy from
TWO 20 three hours. The interval be-
tween the audiences and the dinner is |
usually so short that the pope has not
long finished vespers and complin |
When IT is time for dinner. which is
ready punCtUally at ! O'Clock The Ell |
quette that the pope must eat alone |
belongs 10 the past. Plus X tried il |
curing those first few days of his pom /
uhcate but the plan would not work /
and ever since he has always had one |
ny both OF his secretaries to dine with /
hin.
His Frugal Fare.
Here. as i'm so many other respects. /
ne Holy Father has hardly changed !
III alI since he was poor parish priest |
ID the north of Italy. AS a rule the |
alnner consists Of soup. the boiled beef |
That made 1t. vegetable. cheese and |
ifpit. The Friday fare usually con-
ISIS of bean soup, and Indian meal
favored with cuttle-fish. All the fasts
are observed most vigorously by the
HOLY Father in spite Of his seventy
lnTee years, and if the doctors ever
protested they have ceased to do so.
ne meal lasts less than thTee-Quarters
or an hour and is enlivened by simple
and familiar conversation. Afterwards
ne pontiff retires to his room for about
an hour when he either goes down to
ne garden accompanied by prelate
or two. or retires to his study, and
feeites mathis and lauds before resun-
ing his work The O'Clock supper
is not more varied or complicated than
Ihe ! o'clock dinner. There is time
Tijer it for a glance at the evening
papers, then come the rosary and night
prayers and it is a very rare occa-
SION when the pope is not in bed by
n If-past 10. II viii be seen from all
Ills that Plus Y has not much choice
g 70 how he is 10 spend his summer
mondays Catholic Universe.