The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-11-14

ticated of these traditions credits
AethulWulf with being the originator
of the practise:
1T is generally admitted that this
kindly monarch sent his youngest
son, Alfred (the Great, in S53, on
a visit to Leo w, who received the
lad of eleven years with the most
fatherly kindness. Not only did the
Pope solemnly anoint the royal youth
as future king of England, but he al
so adopted him to spiritual sonship. y
The aged father, deeply touched by
this kindness to his child, journeyed
to Rome to thank the Holy Father
in person; and the following year,
Aethulwulf decreed that henceforth
an annual sum in gold, to the value
of 800 marks, should be sent to Rome
-one-third for ST. Peters, one-third
for st. Pauls, and one-third for the
Holy Fathers own immediate needs.
When Canute, the Danish conqueror,
established his reign in England, he
extended the privilege of contributing
to ''the gift of st. Peter" to his own
country, taxing every man penny,
who had a yearly profit of eighty
pence. This law survived in the laws
of William and of Edward the Con-
lessor. Indeed, during this entire
period little difficulty and no oppoSi-
ton were encountered in gathering in
the Peters Pence.
Kings and people made their offer
ings with cheerful goodwill, with
smiling face, beaming eye and bound
ing heart" Each Sovereign asked one
thing only in return from His Holt
ness; that you pray for me and for
the peace of my realm Some mon
archs of later days were not so will
ing.
"On1y when untoward circum-
stances had driven them to the verge
of ruin did they bethink themselves
of the Pope" and of their ingratitude
towards him in not making the offer
ing. In the reign of Henry VIII the
annual payment of Peters Pence
was forbidden. Henry had need of
much monies" himself, so he robbed
the Pope. Rome made not a single
protest-the spiritual losses in Eng
land outweighed all else" His
daughter Mary promised to renew
the Offering, the alienation or with
drawal of which was sacreligious she
argued. With Elizabeth's accession
Romfeoh ceased definitely. "In 1859
was buried officially, amid shouts and
imprecations, the English peoples
tribute of love and loyalty to the per-
son of Christ's Vicar"
Denmark early adopted the custom
Of sending Peters Pence to Rome.
In Sweden towards the end of the
twelfth century every householder
gave one penny each year to the
Pope. About the same time Norway
began the practise of Offering a yearly
tribute
The data on Peters Pence in many
of the European States are barely
sufficient to show that the custom
existed, but the writer's gleanings
from all available records satisfy him
that Christendom ever came finan.
cially to the support of the Holy See:
"The Pope, after all, was the Faith.
er of all the Faithful. AS dutiful
sons, the Catholics throughout the
world felt it a duty to contribute OF
their abundance to the successor OF
the Apostles, and to the maintenance
and extension of all his spiritual and
temporal projects. Kings frequently
elevated the contributing of Peters
Pence to the dignity of a national
law. And thus, while the custom in
the beginning called for a spontane
Gus and free gift of one penny, it
gradually assumed in some parts the
aspect of a tax, sanctioned by the
laws of the respective lands. Never
| however, did the faithful of the world
cease to consider the pence as a
voluntary gift