New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-20
CALLSPOPE'SD DEATH
WORLD CALAMITY
Editor of "AmeriCa" Says
He Was Greatest POntiff
Since SiXtuS Y.
BY the Rev. Richard II. Tierney. S. j.,
Editor Of America

by the Rev. Richard IL. Iierncy, y. ii
Editor Of america
The death Of His Holiness at this
critical time is calamity 10 the whole
world. His exalted Office, his courage
his keen sense Of justice and burning
love for God and men made all think
ing people look to him for consolation
aid help in the mighty struggle that
Is now engaging. Europe. Had he lived
there can be no doubt that eventually
he would have exercised strong IN
huence in bringing the monarchs of
Europe to a sense Of their awful re-
sponsibility in waging the stupendous
war which is brutalzing half Of Chris
tendon.
Plus X was q great man and a great
Pope. There has been no Pope like
him since the strenuous days of SlXtus
V. Almost as soon as the dead Ponti't
was seated on the Chair OF Peter he
struck Dontifcal elections free from
secular interference. This was an act
Of supreme courage. Other Popes had
thought Of it: Plus y carried II out.
{ His aim was to renew all things m
Christ by quickening every Phase OF
| human life and cndeayor with the Mas
ter's spirit. Any man who determines
on such programme Is sure 10 under
90 trial and suffering. PiuX y was NJ
exception to the rule. The French gov
eminent tried him sOrely b. most un-
fair means. But he waited his day and
thwarted each insidious plan OF tie
enemy by the patience and homely Wis
dom that were so Characteristic OF MS
whole life
Modernism. real and dangerous
heresy that threatened the very eN-
istence OF Christianity, was making
headway in the Church. The Pope was
not slow 20 detect the danger. De
spite clamor that would have terri
fed a man of less stalwart faith, ne
denounced the heretical doctrines and
swept the Church free Of those VINO ie-
fused TO hear his word.
There are other acts OF Plus no
less far-reaching In effect lie re-
formed sacred music; ne insisted on
early communion for little children aho
freouent communion for all. lie set d
commission 20 the stupendous task o.
codifvinc canon law; he ordered an
other TO reform the breyiary; he rid
ecclesiastical administration OF thou-
eand and one techuicalities; he lnst-
tltsd the Biblical commission, dehn:d
its scope and powers. founded trC
world-famed Biblical Institute, callel
unon the Benedictines TO restore the
Vulpate as nearly as possible 10 =
Jerome's text, issued DEGREES Tor tho
training OF religious men I'M science
and i'm the spirit Of their respective ~
stitutes. and. perhaps greatest OF an
Elected i'm a short space OF time me
crtire transformation of seminary ire
in Italy. .olo
tively ineffective houses Of studies tha'
dotted the Peninsula were swept away
and great colleges were founded
wherein seminarists are trained under
the ablest guides. Besides all this up
TO January 1, 1914, he founded IL
archbishoprics, j3 episcopal sees
abbacies and prelacies, 81 vicarates
"a prefectures apostolic and appointed
746 members of the living hierarchy
Pope PINK Y was indeed busy man
hut never 50 busy that he forgot that
he was first and foremost priest, a
shepherd of God. His life was holi-
ness itself. lie was consumed WIN
! love of God and Of men. Every cry
Of distress that reached his ear was
answered A report reached HIM that
his countrymen were neglected IN Tor
eign lands. He ordered the formation
of a committee 20 attend to their splr-
itual needs. and directed that priests
be trained especially 10 care for these
emigrants. When Sicily was devas-
tated By the great earthquake he sent
men and money to the stricken DIS
trict. that no sufferer might lack AID
He caused the orphans 70 be brought
10 Northern Italy, where he supported
them at his own expense.
The dead Pope was essentially a
peacemaker. He never lost an oppor-
tunity 20 urge peace upon men and
nations. In the last consistory he
smoke eloquently on this topic, and IT
is consoling TO know that his last
message to the world was a petition to
bishops. priests and lay people 20 pray
the God Of mercy TO end the war.
Several of our Popes have loved
America and the Americans. None
were more sincere in this love than
i Plus Y. He raised the Church of the
United States 70 full participation IN
/ Catholic privileges, elevated two OF
our resident bishops to the cardlnalate
multiplied sees and bestowed many
other favors upon US, out OF love and
admiration. The Pope is dead, but he
has not lived in vain. He has shown
the world how Christlike a life can
be: he has set the Church in order
and gone in triumph 70 the Master
whom he served so well.