PIUS IX.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 429, 1 July 1881, Page 15

PIUS IX.

Among the many incidents brought to light on the thirl anniversary of the death of Pope Pias IX.. on the 7th of February, one of the most edifying is a letter which was published in the Voce della Verita in reply to those Liberals who accuse Pius IX. of ambition :—: — " A person residing in Rome, and iv relations of close intimacy with Mgr. Mastai, Bishop of Imola, recognising the rare gifts of the young prelate, addressed to him the following letter : — " I come now to ask a favor of you. You must descend for the moment to imagine yourself my friend, and I arise to the same point. With such a premise I ask you frankly whether, if a CardinalSecretaryship, or something of that kind, should become vacant, it would please you to be named to it 7 Remember that, lam speaking only as a friend, and wish a clear and not a diplomatic reply. It is true that the Church of Imola is the spouse intended for you, but if he who appointed you there should, without any complicity of your own, appoint you elsewhere, I do not see that there would b 3 any harm in it. St. Philip thought he could be more useful in India, and yet he was told, as you know, that his India was in Rome. I have so far spoken as a friend. It now belongs to you to give me a coherent response." " Monsignor Mastai, at the opening of that career which was to lead him later to the Pontifical throne, replied as follows :—: — " Imola, June 25th, 1835. "Most Esteemed Friend,— l thank you for the good will you show me, and I pray you to aid me only in such things as may be truly useful to my diocese when I write to you concerning them. For the rest do not move a straw, and I say this from my heart, because I should be greatly displeased at your doing so. I cannot, I ought not, and I will not desire such things. Believe me always affectionately, " G.M., Bishop of Imola. " Here we have the true character of Mastai even before he was made a Cardinal. He is writing to a person in the secrecy of confidence, and certainly never could have for a moment supposed that forty -five years later this letter would become public property. The door to the Cardinalate is opened to the Bishop of Imola, and he replies with these frank and memorable words, ' I cannot, ought not, and will not desire such things.' His sole ambition is to be ' aided in such things only as are truly useful to his diocese.' Contrary to his own desire, God exalted him to the highest of earthly dignities, but he always preserved and manifested these same humble sentiments, both in word and deed, amid the honours of the Supreme Pontificate. He was pleased that respect and deference should be shown the Holy See, but his own person he looked upon as merely an instrument in the hands of the Lord." On account of this and his other eminent virtues, it has pleased Divide Providence to glorify him after death by many graces granted to the faithful through his intercession. We have already mentioned several of these, and now give another, which we take from the Divin Salvatore :—: — " I hope so to interest the goodness of the reverend editors that they may announce to all Tertiaries the following favour obtained through the intercession of our departed brother, the great Pius IX., the honour of the Third Order of the Seraphic St. Francis. " A Sister of Charity of the Immaculate Conception, who assisted in taking care of the sick in the Italian hospital at Constantinople, for several months had been able to retain nothing on her stomach, all kinds of food being rejected almost as soon as taken. The chief physician of the hospital did all in his power for her relief, but in vain, she grew weaker, and seemed to fail day by day. The Mother Superior, directress of the hospital, hai. the happy thought of recurring to the intercession of the great Pius IX., Franciscan Tertiary. The good Sisters of the hospital began a novena with this intention recommending themselves to their beloved colleague. Wonderful to relate, from the second day of the novena the vomiting ceased, the Sister was able to retain her tood ; she recovered her former state of health, and resumed her duties of caring for the poor sick. This happened during the month of September of last year, 1880. Thanks be to God, who thus glorifies His servants. '•Father Cherubino op Macerata, Capuchin, Apostolic Missionary."