The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-06-21
A STORY OF Plus TX.

One day nearly ninety years ago,
a strange cOrtege was seen filing out
of the gates of the Castle of st. An
gelo in Rome. 1t had funeral aspect.
They were hooded brothers of pious
confraternity walking with a meas
ured pace, and chanting in mourn
full cadence They were followed by
a company of soldiers with fixed bay
onets, who surrounded a cart draped
in black None of the hundreds who
stopped on the bridge of st. Angelo
to see the procession pass asked what
it meant. The ominous black was but
too eloquent. But many asked who
was the criminal that stood up in the
car, his hands tied before him, and
his shaggy head cast down in sad
and penitent manner. 1t was GAZE
tano, the most notorious revolutionist,
plotter against the state, and outlaw
of his time. He had just been con-
victed of treason in the highest de-
gree, and was sentenced to be exc
cuted. His appearance excited the
compassion of the bystanders. Just
as the cart reached the other side of
the bridge, handsome young priest
emerged from one of the streets which
open into the square. He glanced at
the prisoner for an instant. People
noticed that he had lovely eyes, and
they seemed bathed in tears. Touched
with a noble impulse he rushed into
the crowd and worked his way up to
the officer in charge, who was on
horseback. He begged for Gods sake
that the procession might be delayed
few moments, until he could run
up to the Vatican and back. There
was something irresistible in those
pleading eyes, and besides, the officer
recognized in the young priest one
who was seen frequently in the Apos-
tolic Palace. He promised acquies-
cence, and the priest sped to the
Vatican into the presence Of the Sow
ereign Pontiff, Leo XII, and, throwing
himself upon his knees, begged with
an earnestness almost supernatural
for the life of the criminal. The Pom
tiff was moved, and committed the
sentence of death into solitary I'M
prisonment for life, in the fortress of
ST. Angelo. The clergyman flew,
rather than ran from the Vatican, in
pursuit of the procession. He soon
overlook it, for it moved slowly, as
the officer in command had prom
ised, and produced the autograph or
der of the Pope, forbidding the execu
10
St. Angeles. Life is dear. The Grim
inal was grateful to live at any cost
and would have fallen down at the
feet of his deliverer to thank him
But he disappeared, and was next
seen in the vicinity of a hospice fol
little boys, called Tata Giovanni, with
which he was connected. He was
known to the boys as Padre Giovanni
Years rolled by. Leo slept with his
predecessors, Gregory XVI succeeded
him, and he too paid the debt of ma
ture, and rested in st. Peters. The
glorious Pontificate of Plus TX had
been inaugurated but few days when
a handsome priest, dressed In the
simple cassock and farrainola of the
Roman clergy, presented himself at
the fortress of st. Angelo, and asked
if there were prisoner confined
therein called Gajetano. Yes, he was
answered, but the prisoner being q
solitary, could not be seen without
an express permission from the gov
ernor of the fortress. The priest
went away, and appeared soon after
with the necessary order. Being
ushered into the cell, the prisoner
asked, What do you want?"
Il come" said the visitor, Ito bring
you tidings of your mother"