The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-24
END COMES TOBELOvEO
PRIMATE Of AMERICAN
CATHOLIC CHURCH TODAY
Pope Benedict Delivers
Apostolic Benediction;
Sketch Of Career.

Baltimore, March 24-Janes
Cardinal Gibbons srchblahop
Of Baltinere and pfinate sf the
American Catholic hierarchy
died at the arcAepiscopal resl.
denoe here today after . pre-
lOngod illness which mainly af.
fectea hid heart He was in hls
67th year. The end came peace.
fully ut 11:33 e'clock.
Pope Benedlct who has fol.
lowed the course Of Cardinal
Gibhons' illness with the deep.
est interest and sympathy seat
his blessing In the following
cablegram from Rome, received
1t the archspiscopal residence
this morning..
~The holy father, invoking
heavenly Dressings and ON.
forts on his emineace, Cardinal
Gibbons sends 70 hin from the
bottom Of his heart, the apos-
tOllc bcnedictlon."
The message was signed By
Cardinal Gaspsrri, fapal tecre.
tary Of statA
Imparts Blessing.
Rev. Leuns X Stiekney, rec
tor Of the cathedral, surrounded
by members Of the household
and the nursing sisters In At
tendenoe on the cardinal, I'm.
parted the blessing In behalf Of
the pope.
The touching feature Of the
incident Was that all during the
ceremony, the cardinal lay IN.
conscious.
Palm Sunday Relapse.
Cardinal Gibbons, who had been
showing pronounced signs Of in-
provement in health ever since his
return home about Jan. l. last
from Union Mills, Md, where he was
taken seriously Ill early in Decem-
Der. suffered a relapse Palm SUM-
day evening. His fainting spells
returned and when he was put to
bed from which, 1t was realized by
those closest TO him he probably
never again would arise
Although not of robust build the
cardinal enjoyed remarkably good
health and his close associates
often marveled at his capacity for
work, his tireless industry and re-
Operative powers. But about six
months ago a change began to be
noticeable. He grew a little thin
ner; he became less active In his
movements, and other signs indi-
eating a breaking up appeared.
Nevertheless the cardinal continued
his usually daily routine.
Nevertheless the cardinal con-
tinucd his usual daily routine, in
terrupted only by visits away from
home to church functions. the most
notable of these being the Pan
American mass at Washington ON
Thanksgiving day. A short time
afterward he went to Emmittsburg,
Md, to participate in a religious
celebration where he exhibited
symptoms of weakness. Then, in
pursuance Of a plan for . rest.
the cardinal went to the home Of
his lifelong friends, the ShriverD,
at Union Mills, Carroll county
Twice COllapses.
Instead of staying there only q
few days as he had intended, It
was a full month before his medi-
cal advisers deemed it prudent to
permit the journey home. Twice
during his stay at Union Mills he
collapsed and so grave was the
crisis that the last sacraments
were administered during the first
spell.
The attacks Of weakness which
first brought realization to the car
dinal's household that he was aging
rapidly began with Q cold. While
preaching at Havre do Grace, ON
Sunday, Nov. 6, after having con.
firmed $50 children. he suddenly
became faint but was able to con-
tinue his discourse in q few NOM
ents. These seizures became more
frequent and usually followed some
over-exertion in the line of his do
cesean duties. 49,.
The cardinals mental faculties
were nowise impaired by his ply
sical infirmities. On the contrary
his mind seemed to become keenez
as his body grew weaker. He real
lied that his end was approaching
and prepared for 1t fearlessly.
RequIen Thursday.
The chief features Of the ar
rangements for the cardinals fu-
neral were announced at the arch
episcopal residence this afternoon.
The requiem mass will be cele-
brated next Thursday at 10 q M,
at which Monsignor John Bonzano
apostolic delegate at Washington
will oiAciate. Tho interment will
be in the crypt under Tie high altar
Of the cathedral.
Tho late cardinal was born ia
Baltimore. Nd, Of Irish parents,
July q. 1884.
James Gibbons spent his youth
in Ireland. but when he was . lad
Of II years his family returned to
America, settling II New Orleans
(Conttnued On Pags Foar).