PIOUS VII. AND THE TAILOR.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 454, 23 December 1881, Page 19

PIOUS VII. AND THE TAILOR.

Whilst Pius VII. was kept a prisoner in Savona by the Bmperor Napoleon, he lived most simply, or rather poorly, for he had refused the princely household that was offered him, aßalso a yearly grant of two million francs. The venerable Pontiff bare his hard lot heroically ; and suffered his privations with pious and dignified resignation. Tbe festival of Easter, 1810, was approaching, and the saintly Pontiff wished to celebrate it with the people, as they had petitioned him to do. His cassock being thread-hare and torn, he sent for a tailor to have it mended ; the tailor came, received the orders of the Holy Father, and promised to do his best. When he reached home, his heart, deeply touched by the sight of the humiliations and proverty of the Pontiff, he broke oit into lamentations to his friends ; with deep grief he showed them the poor cassock of the Holy Father. They entered into his feelings, lamented the hard fate of the venerable prisoner, apd the «ad story was repeated everywhere. They began to make pilgrimages to the house of the pious tailor— pilgrimages which in number resembled those to tbe holy shrine at Loretto. Every one wanted to see the poor garment ; every one, wanted a piece of it as a relic of the Holy Father, and at the same time each one made an offering towards the purchase of a new one for Easter. It was not long till the old cassock was cut up, and not a fragment of it remained ; but instead, the table was literally covered with gold and silver. Tbe tailor had the new cassock ready very soon, gathered up the spontaneous offerings of the faithful, and bronght the garment and a well-filled purse to His Holiness. " What is this, my son ?" asked Pius VII., in surprise. I "This is sent by your loving people, with their sympathy," answered the tailor, and then he related what had passed at his house. The holy old Pope accepted the garment witb lively emoUon, but be returned the puTse, pleasure beaming on his countenance : "My son, "he said, " the Almighty watches over his loyal servants, and makes use of the kindly dispositions of some to alleviate the sufferings of others ;He overshadows all with His blessings. The garment, which you bring me will doubtless last for the balance of my sojourn in this world of trial ; but tbe most urgent wish of my heart, as it is the first duty of my state, is to relieve the distressed. lam but a poor prisoner ; you are free, and Providence, in sending me this money through your means, has been pleased to show me the faithful hand that is worthy to dispense it. Go, and relieve the sorrows of the most needy in tiavona." From that time the good tailor received many a donation for the Holy Father, and in his name distributed it to the poor. And thus the residence of the saintly Pontiff in Savona was a well-spring of beneficent deeds. — Exchange.

The wife of Colonel O'Callaghan was fined 60s. at Tulla for carrying a rifle without a license. The prosecution was undertaken on the information of John White, who had been fined £5 for shooting on Colonel O'Callaghan's land. The O'Callaghan 's are " Boycotted," and carry arms for self-protection.