Evening star., 1939-02-10

strength ne naQ SupmlCCeQ 10 b
medical examination. Inasmuch as
earlier In the year he had Cancelled
several engagements and had fore
gone his usual Easter mass at st.
Peters, rumors arose that lis health
was critical. 1t was reported that
he had Inflammation of the heart.
These reports were discounted to
some extent, but the early months
Of 1886 marked a definite increase in
the infirmities of the aged Pontiff.
He made longer stays at his summer
residence at Castel Gandolfo, some-
times was forced to relinquish GUS
tomary activities, and on several oc-
casions had to take to his bed for
weeks at time.
One of his most serious attacks
came December S, 1896, when he was
stricken with paralysis in both legs.
Two lapses, at intervals of five days
each, set back his recovery, and
period of weakness on December II
was so pronounced that Eugenio
Cardinal Pacelli, papal secretary Of
state, took over administration of
ecclesiastical affairs.
Baked at Efforts
OF His Physicians.
Physicians found the Pope inclined
to balk at their efforts to minister
to his bodily ills and, despite their
protests, he radioed worldwide
Christmas Eve message. Propped
up in bed, he spoke for 20 minutes
into a microphone held to his lips.
His voice quavered, at times faded
to a murmur, and he was fatigued
when he finished, but when told
that his words had been heard as
far away as New York and Buenos
Aires he exclaimed: Thanks be to
God!"
In the address Plus called for a
union of men of good will to oppose
propaganda by enemies of Christen-
dom. He spoke of the many great
evils which, these days, have fallen
like a scourge upon humanity, civil
society and the church." and added:
The sorrowful note which this
year is mingled with the joys OF
Christmas is even more profound
and distressing because there still
RACES, with all its horror, hatred,
carnage and destruction, civil war
in Spain.
Here are signs and portents Of
terrifying reality of what is being
prepared for Europe and the world
if they opponents of communism
do not hasten to prepare the neces-
sary remedies of defense"
He concluded with plea for "the
tranquility of order in which alone,
he said, peace could exist, and closed
with a pontiflcal blessing upon all
nations. But not all nations heard
the address. 1t noticeably was alb
sent from the receiving sets of Ger
many.
At midnight, for the first time
since he was ordained to the priest
hood ST years before, Plus failed
to celebrate a Christmas mass.
Wearied by his broadcast, he listened
to masses read by his secretary and
audible through the open door be-
tween his bedroom and private
chapel. The day after Christmas
the partial paralysis spread to his
entire left side.
This setback kept the ailing pom
tiff in bed until January 13, 1887.
He was up then, but for several
weeks more was confined to a wheel
chair, as gangrenous condition
threatened his left leg. But IN Feb
ruary he began to show signs of
improvement and gradually resumed
his duties. He took faltering steps
in his room on February IA, walked
on crutches in the sunshine on
February 26, was able to celebrate
a mass on March 10 and on April
II went for his first automobile
ride in six months.
Quietus Was Placed
On Coughlin Fight.
He journeyed to his summer home,
at Castel Gandolfo, on May /, the
earliest date on which he had fled
Rome's heat, and remained there
six months.
In October, 1887, a quietus was put
on a subject which for nearly two
years had been causing American
comment. Rev. Charles E. Coughlin,
"Detroit's radio priest" was the cen
ter of this by reason of his opposi-
ton to the New Deal policies of
President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He
climaxed this in the 1886 campaign
by calling the President liar and
betrayer, expletives which brought
rebuke from Bishop Michael Gal
lagher of Detroit and an apology
from Father Coughlin.
The bishop was one of the callers
at Castel Gandolfo in August, 1886,
and it was announced then that Fa-
ther Coughlin's activities had been
explained satisfactorily. Just what
Pope Plus said was not revealed, but
few days later Osservatore Romano,
the Vatican newspaper, echoed the
bishops disapproval of applying such
terms to the head of a government.
Bishop Gallagher died January 20,
1887, and the see was raised to an
archbishopric for his successor, Most
Rev. Edward Mooney. When Father
Coughlin renewed his broadcasting
in October, 1887, the new prelate
ordered him to submit radio speeches
for approval before delivery. Father
Coughlin thereupon gave up his air
program. Officials of the priests
National Union for Social Justice ap-
pealed to the Vatican against this
censorship" and an informed pre-
late said:
"The Vatican doesn't censor Fa-
ther Coughlin. Furthermore, it can
not interfere to prevent Father
Coughlins bishop from ordering him
to show his radio speeches before
they are delivered. Such an order to
priest is within any bishops
rights"
Vatican prelates and physicians
marveled as they watched the aged
pontiff rally from successive physical
ills through this wear and a half of