The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-08-22
SKETCH OFlLIFE
or POPE Plus X

little village OF Riese, in the venitian
province OF Trevisco which, In 1908,
gave to the church pontiff In Mic
cola Boccasini. who assumed the
triple crown under the name OF Bene-
dict XII
Born June 2. 1885. to poor and
humble family OF the name OF Sarto.
Plus x. was christened Giuseppe (Jo-
seph) and Known throughout life by
the dialect equivalent Of Giuseppe.
"Beppo"
The early life of Pope Plus was
illed with activity The district OF
Treviso 10 one OF poverty. only those
who have seen 1t realizing the strug.
gle for existence that ever prevails.
From an early age Giuseppe bred
TO sturdy outdoor life. displayed a
bent for the priesthood The educa-
tional resources or his birthplace were
soon exhausted. and the lads studious.
iearnings demanded a wider field for
! their development. He was sent to
college at Castel. France, and from
therc was transferred to the Central
! Seminary at Padua, the world-rencwn-
edlseat of Italian learning
On September is. 1858, the Young
seminarist received his priests orders
In the Cathedral OF CasteLFrance.
That year was memorable one for
Italy. The question of Italian liberia
| ton had been forced to the front by
the attempt OF Orsini to assasslnate
Napoleon Ill
The diplomats OF nations assembled
cerned in the movement. He turned
his back on the world and took up his
duties as curate in the village of Tom
belo. He soon was loved by his par
| ishoners, to whom he endeared him
| self by HIS nnselfshnets. his self-sac-
rifice, and his tireiess labor.
Became Parish Priest In 1867.
! He was promoted as parish priest Of
Salzano in 1867, only year after the
cession of yenezia tVenice) to Italy,
so that the future pope lived, for the
first thirty-two years OF his life, under
Austrian regime in his native prov
ince
The able discharge Of his office rec
ommended the pastor of Salzano to
to the notice OF Monsignor 2Snelli. at
that time the bishop of the diocese.
who nominated him to a canonry In
the Cathedral Of Treviso This pro-
motion was supplemented by bestowal
OF the deanery on Father Sarto and
his appointment as Episcopal chancel-
lor To him also was confided the del
.cate and important charge of spiritual
director OF the Seminary of Treviso,
In which college he was likewise
given a professors chair and an ex-
aminership
Nor did his activities end here, fol
he was chosen as a Judge III the
Capitular Ecclesiastical court. and fin
ally was appointed vicargeneral OF
the diocese.
Won Reputation as Preacher.
Meantime, the recipient of all these
6ignities was winning great reputa
tion as preacher. His sermons, al
though delivered extemrore. were dis
tihguished for both learning and elo-
uuence. Yet It is probable that the
example of his self-denying and holy
life preached the most eloquent ser
mon Of all During the interrognum
that supervened on the death of Mons
Zlnelli. 1t fell to the vicar-general to
administer the diocese, and this he did
with such notable skill that he was
nominated coadjutor TO the new bishop
OF Treviso.
After such an apprenticeship 1t was
not surprising that when the i'm
portant see of Mantuc became vacant
in 1884, Leo XIII choose Giuseppe Sar-
to to fill the place. II was no easy
task to which he had been called. for
his predecessor had allowed discipline
to slack HIS persuasive powers and
administrative gifts we're tested to
the utmost. but he was fully equal to
the ungrateful task. h4
Severe In personal taste, Slgnor
sarto showed himself jealous in main
tanning the gorgeous ritual traditions
OF his church, and In 1885 the nine
hundredth solemn centenary of st, An
seim was celebrated under his aus
pices, while IN 1891 he presided at a
like function In commemoration OF ct.
Louis Gonzaga.
Two years later Pope Leo recognized
Bishop Sarto's merits by raising him
to the Sacred College. with the title
OF San Bernardo allie femme, at
consistory held June 15, 1898.
AT the same time he was chosen
out of all the Venetian prelates to I'LL
the patriarchate Of Venice.
Won Support Of the Radicals.
In his nine years residence In the
seagirt' city the pope Of the Condo
Hers was beloved and a familiar figure.
fIis firnn. dignifed. yet genial rule,
Quickly made him force to be reck-
oDed with
He gave proof OF extraordinary tact
in dealing with the civil authorities. /
and he succeeded In winning the sup
port OF radicals as well as clericals. |
Too. he became favorite with King
victor Emanuef and Queen Helena
when they visited Venice. and 1t Is an
open secret that the news OF his cleo
tion to the pontificate was joyfully re-
ceived by the king.
II was no light inheritance to sue
coed such a ponttff as Leo Kill, for In |