THE POPE'S' CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH

Southland Times, Issue 19104, 22 July 1903, Page 2

THE POPE'S ' CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH

gin. The mother wjsHed both of them to become priests, and oaVpd could not they receive the tonsure without interfering with their freedom of choice later. Mgr. Lolli then the boys to dinner and asked -them if they would like to receive the tonsure. But both refused, saying that they were not yet sure. Besides, they did not like to be the only boys to wear the colla*' and the three-pointed hat. \ Before leaving this school Vincenzo did receive the tonsure, and Joseph thought his calling to the Society of Jesus clear". In his studies Vincenzo xoatle .."great Strides, especially ih Latin, writing verses in excellent style at a very early age with remarkable ease and purity.. Oh June 21st, 1821, he received bis first communion- in the college church.. But, soon the course hero was finished, * and the boys were promoted to the Gollegio Romano. In July, 1&24, Joseph had decided to become a Jesuit, and Vincenzo gave his mother tLe. crowning joy of -- her life by coining home wearing the clerical three-cornered hat. It was her last great joy, for she died in August. | After his mother's, death Vincenzo used the name <sloacchino, Ijeginning to stud}' tho higher branches of rhetoric, philosophy and theology. In 1830 he passed so brilliant an examination that a special note was inscribed upon the register of tho college, stating in conclusion, "He is destined for higher things." In 1832 he finished his studies at this college, receiving the title doctotv of theology, entering into the Academia dei Noili Ecclesiastici. Her* he again distinguished hiunself by n thesis on "Appeals to the Pope." receiving a> diploma of doctor of theology from the University of Sapienza, honor ia causa. He had not, however, burled himself in theology. He had watched thp world and its doings- with intense interest- His only relaxation was to go to a quiet cofTee house and read the newspapers. During his occasional visits home be snowed he had- not lost his great love for outdoor sports. He was an eager sportsman, outdoing his com-pa-nion in leaping chasms and climbing crags. This early friend still lives in Cflrivmeto. an/1 is known as Father Salvangi. being very old. When seen not long since and a» ! »ed about Nino, he was eager to speak of him. "I wanted him to stay here iand hunt "With ITpe ,j /j !>■»*. he' would xr&t" • ttJidrj ' -«e<s what he is? Shut up in a palaco day and night. Do you See this gun ? Sir Nino helped top buy It. What hunts we bad together ! We wer« up bright and early- scouring the forests. Sir Nino was 'more fearless than I. He Climbed to the very top of ; Melalna .arid tfie Fageta. How often we watched tho ounset from these preafes as it gilded ojur feet with its parting beaaps. To-day Nino is the head of the world. He is called pompously Lao XIII. H» has no other peak before him than that of St. Peter's, which fills the palaw prison with shadows long .before danfc. I pjity him." " v

Leo XIII. became -o, pritfS.fc -in hJa 28th year, " after ""vniariy /prayers- "—" To *be completely a; priest' and a prelate, that is my ideal;" The '.;. letter* written -to his brothers and sisters "at this' time are filled with misgivings and fears, : hot of his success in the world, but^ of lU9 own lack of power ' to , be all that wouM. It is «win.v years since that memorable day. and the ageh priest and statesman:, poet, aad litterateur, philosopher and theologian, in the lingering days of his mortal iljness had; no cause to fear the final verdict upon his life and charattenj •

SOME INCIDENTS .

The Pope's fatther, Itydbv&co P<scci, cjwn© of a famous amd devout family, having been a colonel in the service of Italy. ; His mother, Anna Prosjieri' Buzi, was a descendant "of Cola <Ii Kienzi, the Tribune of the People, who had dreamed o£ reestablishing tire Roman repfutflic. It is not remarkable that; the Pope of the "Social Question" had in nis veins the blood of the great republican. <His father, fnithful to r church and country, was not conspicuous, hut. as is the case with the .mpMners'o! most, great toen, his mother was" tt. woman of feharkeji force of characteii-a modern type of ( Roman matron. 'Her chief cares were 'her children' and her household- " The little Vlncenzo (forfso'l.eo; was called as a r childi), found two 'sisters- and live brothers already in the household when he entered it, and one othen brother followed him into tho family circle. His: mother greeted' Viflcenzo as a special gift from heaven, naming: him after tho famous Vincenzo Ferrer. He was christened in the Chapei-of Pecci Pu'lace on tho 4th pt May, receiving also the name of Uioacchhio Iroxn Wcmsignor Tosi, tbe.Biahop of Anagni. It is interesting to note the character givfen Leo by his another, ere ye* he wtis 1 known beyomi her apron strings. While his father was away, and he but a "few months .-old,' his mother wrote :— ; "Jly r.lltrtilo Vittcenz© walks alono already atifl goes everywhere: 1 iHe is passionately fond, of horses. „. Although he is so' small that you can" hardly gee him. he jumps up and rides all the funnituro without waiting for help H'otn anyone. You ltiay well believe that 'this child is not the cause of inucb »iulancholy. Titta Uiis elder brother by eight years, John Baptista) does nothing hut snake little altars ; the Church seems, tq attract- hnn strongly." . * Strangle.! Fpn Vlnt'enzp was to beopine Pope and Titta was the only. pne\of,the family to.niarry. . ,- f V 'V : ': : ':: .; ; Walking;; <wi;th~; ; his ; «ojh ione >$a.f, Ji^xdovico Pecci pointed but the spot where Atjuino and Montecassino lay. To his astonishment Nino spoke -up : " Aquino where the father of the Church, .St. Thomas, was born ; Montecassino, where he learned to read an<l write?- Babbo (papa).;cat|'t' t l go there and learn as he dhl how' to "road and write?" Upon a further enquiry the ;f at her lenj-nt t bnJt Niiio knew the history , of St. Thomas Aq.uino's ns well as' that of Bonaparte, perhaps 'better.-.,.. ;' ". . "And I want td malio «• general of him," said the . honesty soldier;.? 'IWell, wiiat ilpes it lftatter ? ,V6u will iuiaike a Pope- oJ hiiu;''L laughftigly replied fata wife. ' ■ ■ ' ';:- •* w;-.'::,/ ;-V'> ; - - : ''■ '■■■ And when; they were tVis.cussing the future of their sons a little later, Liulovico said :— "I firmly belieVe that Joseph will become a Jesuit, but I cannot free myself frofm the idea that Gioncchi--110 will return hither as pastor of this village. " To which the mother replied :— "I-iste-n to 'me, GioaceliJno will be Pope and Joseph Cardinal ; thoa you an ay rest easy as to Uie futuie of our children." ' While riding with his teacher one day Nino saw a little- peasant lying by the side of tho road crying. Ho stopped the carriage and ran to .the boy. - "What's the anatton ? Js your leg broken? he enquired. "I don't klnow. A cart passed here anifl ?fvock©d *)>e down before I could get out of tho way. Oh, how my foot hurts." ... Nino snatched off his cap' and ran and filled it with water, giving the boy some to dnink. ami washing the dirty, swollen foot: with the'-rest .of it. - ' ' •7r 1 ... ".Where .'do' you live ?" said he. Ho named ; a clistant : village in the lmrantains.' ' '■-.-. '•'."'. . ..:.;... '.. v ;.-•*"-. . : "Y ( ou can never get home," said Nino. "Corhe with mo," and he helped 'htm limp to the carriage. , i. -.■"-_-* -'■'" • " What . are yow doing L ?"-- 'said his teucher. ._ - ">Vliat am > I doing ? What every Christian soul should do," was the reply. ."I suppqnt the unfortunate. Can we leave this helpless, hurt' 'boy on the road?" . - . .. .. „■...' : „.,:;.;- ...'.'-.-:■ ...£■" "But if you take him home, what will your parents say'?" "They will «a.y_ tlmjt I have donft T right. Is .it sou ounusual' t6 . help -ahurt child V . 'Wouldn't :, everyone -.do/. 1 have in ray place 7.!-^ " V- ":■■;..-' : --;':^,i When jtvome was /reachedi ijc . eageVjy j asked- his mother, !-*Did I 'do rightr inip^' ther ?" "Yes, dear child, your deed was a «qb!p ono," and tijift pressed him proufllyxjto her 'bpsbm; ?• : ; , -';; '■;:■: ' f s; U ThCchUH /afc, s^sn' '^iYiai\]gr to' ;the;' ?ope at ninety— "l have always obeyed^ my conscience." It was after this that mother and children.- -wont to Koine, and' then the two hoys were taken' to the College^ of ,^t. Ignatius/- in-, y^tepbp.;'---At school .tJio' :: 'b'^ltiiera.\^re" L 'qtiiiQ' >v'different fr6m each other. Joseph was stronger than -'tho quiet -Vincenzp. -Father l?baldini (one of their tbnehors.) cnllod thft tatter "ungioletto." (tlie aaigel). His ,pla,ymaJte« called lihh ."iflatei; „ pietMis" (mo^hei: b,epaus e : of '■ ; a reseanblanfe tp- pjje QtHftt) pi<?t;ui|'^-:pi the 'YiN