Evening star., 1939-02-10

marriages are retained 1Or O1SSenterS
and agnostics. Protestant and Jew
ish, clergymen have the same right
to unite members of their faiths in
wedlock as have Catholic priests.
BY this pact Plus XII secured for
his church full liberty of action
throughout Italy without, as Mus
solini said In a famous speech,
making the Pope the Kings cham
berlain or the King and Pope's altar
boy"
On the government side the
treaties cured an old sore in the
body polite and eliminated di-
vided allegiance between church
and state which at one time threat
ened to become serious.
The months following the proc
lamation of the treaties were
marked by some sharp controversies
between Plus and Mussolini, the
premier putting interpretations on
their portent that the pontiff would
not accept. He said this frankly in
speeches to pilgrimages and in let
ters which were addressed to the
papal secretary of state and the
vicar-general Of the Roman diocese
and then made public.
Plus objected particularly to Mus
solini's insinuation that it was Rome
that saved Christianity from obliv-
ion in the dark ages by the force
Of its mighty empire. The Pope de-
nounced this idea as heretical.
Other points of difference arose
over the military training which the
Fascist party gave to the youth of
the land, alleged discrimination
against members of the Catholic
Action" society and what the Pope
termed an excess in gymnastic
teaching of young girls by the
Fascist sports division. Though
neither protagonist mentioned the
other by name, it was obvious at
whom each was hitting and at times
the controversy bordered on the
acrimonious.
An audience accorded by Plus to
Secretary Turati of the Fascist
party late in 1929 apparently did
much to dispel the misunderstand-
ings and the dispute died down.
Father of Plus
Was Silk Worker.
The family name Of Pope Plus XII
was Achille Ratti. He was born at
Deiso, near Milan, May 81, 1857, the
son OF Francesca and Teresa Ratti.
His father was a silk worker, who
became manager of the business in
which he was employed, and later a
partner.
| The future Pope was a brilliant
student from childhood and in the
records Of the various institutions
which he attended many praiseworthy
remarks may be found opposite his
name. He obtained his first education
in country school conducted by Don
Giuseppe Volonteri, priest, and which
he attended until he was 10 years old
His academic education was completed
at the seminary of St. Peter the
Martyr, under the tutelage of his
uncle, Damiano Ratti, and at the high
school at Monza.
The young Ratti showed so much
aptitude for mathematics that some
OF his teachers recommended that
although he was inclined toward the
priesthood, he ought to take a math.
ematical course in the University ol
Turin. At that time he had nearly
finished his course in the theological
seminary and disregardfng the recon.
mendation Of his teachers went tc
Rome and in October, 1879, entered
the Lombard seminary.
On December 20, 1879, he was Or
dained a priest and celebrated his
first mass in the church of San a.
Corso, in Rome, while still continu.
ing his studies in the seminary, where
he was specializing in philosophy
theology and canon law. 1t was while
he was attending this seminary that
his father died, and left the young
priest to fight his own way through
life. a heavy blow inasmuch as the
pursuit of study required considerable
financial support.
In 1882 Father Ratti was graduated
from the seminary, receiving at the
same time. the diploma in philosophy
at the Pontifical Academy Of St
Thomas Aquinas, instituted by Pope
Leo XIII to promote the study Of that
historic teacher. The young priests
work was of such high order that
before leaving Rome, he was presented
to Leo XIII together with his COM
rade Lualdi, with whom he had taken
the examinations and who later be-
came director of the Lombard semi
nary and then cardinal. The two
were destined, years later, to sit in
the conclave which chose one Of them
as successor to Benedict XIV.
Father Ratti returned to Milan and
at the behest of the Archbishop. Msgr
Nazri di Calabiana. took charge OF
the courses in sacred eloquence in the
theological seminary. He remem-
bered these years, even after he had
become Pope. as the most emotional
in his career.
1t was here that he was imbued
with a passion for historical research
literature and philology. Observing
his aptitude in these branches, Msgr
Certani, prefect of the Ambrosiana
Library, in Milan, urged him to re-
quest admittance as doctor in that
institution. This request was granted
The library. rich in manuscripts
and old works, was founded in 1903
and always under the care of the
clergy. Father Ratti entered into the
work Of the institution in 1888 and
in 1907, when Msgr. Ceriani died, was
made prefect.
Intense Research
Filled His Years.
His years as prefect of the insti-
tuition were full Of intense activity ir
research and literature. Most OF his
written works were short pamphlets
on church history, but there was one
long work, three Volumes which re.
ceived high praise from Leo XIII.