THE DEAD POPE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 170, 24 August 1914, Page 7

THE DEAD POPE.

BISHOP GRIMES AT THE CATHEDRAL. At. the Roman Catholic Cathedral yesterday morning, Bishop Grimes spoke of the death of the Pope as one of the first evil consequences of the war, saying that the international conflict which so greatly grieved him had undoubtedly hastened his end. On his death-bed he had spoken of the sorrow for the great numbers of his people who had fallen in the war. The Bishop also referred to the simplicity and humbleness of the Pope, and of his progress in the Church which was won by his devotedness to duty. He had gradually risen until he was created Patriarch of Venice, then he became a Cardinal, and finally became Pope, eleven years ago, though it was greatly against his desire that he accepted the charge. He was the people's Pope, and as Patriarch and Bishop he had done much to assist the poor and outcast, and because lie humbled himself he deserved to be exalted. Bishop Grimes mentioned as a curious coincidence that on the same morning as he had received the news of the "Pope's death lie had also received, through the Secretary of State, Cardinal Merry Del Val, a letter from the Pope, containing a contribution towards the new altar at the Cathedral. The Bishop said that, when in Rome, he had asked the Pope for a small contribution to the altar fund, but until the letter had been received he thought it had been overlooked. He asked the congregation to .join with him in praying that his soul might rest in peace through the mercy of God, and to also pray that his ' successor might be speedily appointed, for perhaps in the history of the Church there Avas never a more trving time than the present.

VERY REV. FATHER PRICE AT ADDINGTON.

'Referring to the dentil of tlie l.itc Pope at the Aldington Roman Catholic Church yesterday, the Very Rev. Chancellor Price said: — <' Pius X., Pope, the 285t1i of his line — the great High Priest—the iirst, of Bishops —tin; heir of the Apostles —the Universal Pastor—the Vicar of Christ—is dead, and we are summoned by the Church to offer public prayer for the happy repose of his soul. Denied the melancholy comfort Of" assisting at his last funeral rites, we can in our quiet •■rieving only picture to our minds the scene in distant Rome whiie we here ask Cod to give him rest. There was no one who approached him, who had the privilege of holding converse with him, but who came away struck by the beauty, by the simplicity, by the earnestness of his character. And even those who were is enemies were forced to confess that he was a man marked by single-minded devotion to the sacred inI forests of which lie was the custodian. All bore the same testimony, that he was a man who commanded the affection and veneration of all those who were brought into contact with him. We know what his purpose was. He never swerved from the lirst. day on which he assumed the supreme control of the Church, from endeavouring, as he declared he would, to restore all things

iu Christ. What were the things that were of most moment to him? The instruction of the people in the Word of God, the due order of divine worship, the adequate training and education of the clergy. These were the things to which, had he been left alone, he would have given all his attention, and if he was obliged to come into contact with the powers of this world, it was because the conflict was forced upon him. To every sovereign Pontiff without exception we owe devotion and affection, but when we saw his conception of his sacred office, the discharge of that duty was very easy and became indeed a loving task. '' Pius X. is no longer 'with us. Death has closed that golden mouth that has uttered so many oracles. The lamp of Israel is extinct; the light which was raised to give light to those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death has gone to diffuse its rays in another hemisphere. In this solemn hour, ivhen the sense of his passing is strong upon us, let us remember that he now stands before the throne of God. Our hope forbids us to be sorrowful, for we know that he was one of those who lived for God, and whom God will take to Himself. But our faith reminds us of the most holy and most pure God, before Whom even the angels who have never known siii veil their faces, and into Whose presence nothing defiled can enter. Our charity reminds us that our late supreme Pastor lived a long life in this vale of tears, and it is possible there may be some defilement which needs cleansing away before he can reach his eternal reward, the seeing, knowiug, and enjoying God for evermore. Let us unite, then, in praying the Good Shepherd that as He conducted him safely through life until with trembling limbs he stood upon the brink of the grave, He might lead him still further into the realms of eternal peace and happiness."