The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-10-13
Pope ENEDIcT'S
!. !. DAILY R0U tine.

He 10 Of Robust onstitution-Healt
Has Improved Since Election to the
Papacy-Hts Day Begins at 4:3o "A.
M. and Ends at 9 p. M.
From the Throne of Peter have ruled
Is French Popes, 13 Greeks, 8 Syrians.
Germans, Spaniards, 3 Africans.
2 Savoyards, 2 Dalmatians, Fleming,
Portuguese, l Englishman, Swiss,
Canadian, and 203 Italians. But
never has one succeeded to such q
heritage of woe as the Genoese who
now adOrns the loftiest of seats.
But just as Providence tempers the
wind to the fleece of the lamb, so did
He choose in the conclave of 1914
Pontiff capable of coping with the de-
mands made upon the Papacy by the
European war. He gave the Church q
cool head, a steady hand, strong
heart, and an indomitable spirit which
events since. proved able to steer the
BarQue of Peter through numerless
shoals placed in it's way by interna-
tional complications. Countries long
hostile to Rome have been converted
into friends, and others that were old
friends of the Church have come to
value at still higher rate the friend
ship of 'the Old Man of the Vatican"
In word, the Fifteen Benedict has, as
readers of this column are aware,
brought the Vatican one more into the
front rank as a f1rst-class international
power, and this by relying not on
armies or ornaments, on treasures or
territory, but on the strength of his
Christgiven mandate to teach nations.
People who see the frail white figure
Of Benedict XIV for the first time con-
clude the Pope Is man Of weak
health. The fact is, the Holy Father
scarcely ever felt sick in his life. In
deed. have been assured physicians
and medicines are unknown to him. A
man cannot rise at 4:30 each morning
and go through long days mental
work-as young Monsignor Della Chic
81 used to. do when living With his
mother years ago near the Pantheon
in Rome-unless he is of pretty robust
constitution.
But let us see how the Popaa puts In
hit day. The Hody Father rises, it's !:
q. M, an hour before three-fourths Of
Rome leave dreamland. At 6 O'Clock
prayer and mediation are over, the
Vicar Of Christ stands vested TO- offer
mp the holy sacrifice, attended by a.
couple Of prelates attached to the Vati-
can. His-Mass is served by lay.
brother of the Order of st. Augustine.
En- passant, one can we'll imagine.
with what reverential and loving solici-
tude the good old man lavishes his care
on the preparation of the beautiful lit
tie chapel each evening.
At z O'Clock, when Mass has been
heard by way Of thanksgiving and the
small hours" of his breviary are said,
the light Italian breakfast of coffee and
rolls is served. Then comes the peru.
sal of the newspapers by statesman
who has the politics of Europe, Austria
lasia and the two Americas on his fin
ger-tips. One of the duties Of Cardinal
Gasparri, Papal Secretary of State, is
to mark for the Pope's notice items Of
special Importance. The present Pom
tiff, like Leo XIII, likes the whole pa
per to be laid before him. Plus K used,
believe, to feel content at receiving
cuttings on important matters to be
laid before him each morning.
While the clock is striking Bene-
dict XIV is sitting at his desk amid his
private secretaries to begin the labors
of his long day. Work goes on until
9, at which hour the Secretary Of State
arrives with portfolio filled with doc
uments for the Pontiff's consideration.
BY 10 o'clock, commence private audi
ences to cardinals, bishops, laymen Of
prominence who may have special mat
ters to treat on with the head Of the
Church, and ambassadors representing
the different countries on diplomatic
relations with the Holy See. Only
rarely, of course, is an ambassador re-
ceived by the Pope in person, because
it is the duty of the Cardinal Secre-
tary of State to receive the diplomatic
corps one day every week and the re-
port which each individual has to
make.
j
A Cardinal or Bishop has always
some official business to transact dur
ing his audience, but this is not neces.
sarily the case with laymen OF dis
tinction;. very often gentleman's
prominent status in his own sphere
in life or particular services, to the
Church in his own country attains for
him special recognition in this way at
the Vatican. Or he may be given q
special audience, that is, an audience
at which not more than five or six per.
sons-all of whom may be his own
party-are permitted to be present.
Private special audiences over, public
or collective audiences begin towards
11:30. At the public audiences any
number of persons are received. The
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