The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-01-11
HOLY FATHER HOLDS AN EXAM
NATION.

To Bishops, superiors of seminarles
ana seminarists no more Interesting
event has occurred in the Vatican for
wears than that of last year when Ben
odict XIV. laying aside for the hour at
fairs of the universal Church, acted
as examiner of his own seminarists.
It appears that in July, 1917, the
students of the Pontifical Roman Sem
mary were received in audience by
the Popc, the Bishop of the Diocese of
Rome. This was the end OF the AGA
demic year, and they wanted the Holy
Fathers blessing before going on yaca-
. tton. His l72liness gave them some
paternal advice and exhorted them to
study by heart the New Testament
during their term of rest, especially
she Gospel of St. Mark as being writ
ten in the narrative style and most
easily committed to memory
IF YOU learn only one verse each
day." added the Vicar of Christ, you
will know good deal at the end of
the vacation"
Vacation passed, and November
found the seminarists in the same
hall in the Vatican again, this time to
ask the Pope's blessing on their stud
les the coming year. The Pope was
leaving the chamber, when some
thought struck him and he turned
back.
Il would like to know how the
study of st. Mark went" he said. All
who feel prepared to answer IN 1t
NAV stand forward" None moved UNI
Til the President of the Seminary per
suaded one bright young man to dc
so. Finally five seniors and ten jun
Tors stood near the Pope. Wei, lei
us say Sunday at O'Clock in the gar.
dens.,' said His Holiness. And so the
audience ended. At the appointed
hour the superiors and the fifteen sem
inarists stood on the heights OF the
Vatican Gardens waiting the arrival OF
the Pope. Principally at three o'clock
the bugle note of Pontifical gendarmes
announced the coming Of the PapaI
carriage. and in one minute Benedict
, XIV drove up from the Vatican, accom-
panied by Mgr. Nigoni. Here are tbs
soldiers ready for battle" the Holy
Father said with a smile, looking al
the Young men. Stand up, stand up.
The August Examiner.
His Holiness at once led the way
TO the little edifice known as the Chi
nes.e chalet, where he often rests, anc
taking his seat at a table, told all t.
he seated around him. Taking {
fountain pen he ran his eye down the
list. of names and called the name o
one young man. One after anothe
the whole fifteen were examined, TIT
Pope correcting, encouraging with pa
thence, sweetness and singular dig
nity. He would not allow the slightes
word to be changed in "a text. Some
times he asked for an explanation o
"a text. After each students name h
Zaffixed mark Finally the Vicar o
Christ called out the name OF hin
who merited first place, and taking
from a case. a silver watch he passes
if to Mgr. Nigoni to wind and sci
s. Then the Pope handed it tothe sem
narist with word of congratulatioI
Three others received slInllar pres
..ent. On each of the watches ran tn
words.
Souvenir of the love of father t
the piety of son.
But the Others studied too oil
served His Holiness, and drawing tt
: wards him a. box, he handed to each
medal of Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Now you need some sweets to talk
away. the bitter taste OF the eXamin;
tion,'' said the Pope with smile 0
the youths. 4 brought some car;
mels with me-" And two boxes (
caramelss We're divided among then
!. At this, saws sssLa Croixpof Paris, th
clock struck 4s3O, and all arose
b Let us go now TO salute the MI
4 DONNA said the Holy Father, leadin