Characteristics of the Holy Father

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 12, 23 March 1905, Page 6

Characteristics of the Holy Father

In an address delivered recently in St. Mary's and St. Michael's Church, in the East End of London, Father Bernard Vaughan gave a sketch of the life and character of Pope Pius X. He described the simple surroundings of his boyhood, his keen lo\e for learning, and the gentleness and unselfishness which marked his bearing towards others!. When he became a pxicst, he said, the only thing he neglected was his own ill-fed and ill-clotheki body x aud his sifter, who was hit* housekeeper, had to hide away his things under lock and key lest they should be all given away. In later years tihe diocese of Mantua became, under his rule, a centre of good works His very presence was an inspiration. N*or did he neglect tihe social and industrial needs of Mantua. He recognised the principle that to cotnqucr you must replace, so the Bishop set on foot co-operative societies, savings banks, and made himself responsible for a newspaper, '11 Ciliadino d|i ManUna.' knowing that it was a mockery to as\k people to gi\e up food, however injurious to them, unless yo,u supplied them \\ath a diet thai was wholesome. ' Few persions,' he said later when Pope, ' have a nobler mission than the journalist in the world to-day. My predecessors blessed the swords and s'hiclds of Christian warriors, while we choose to bless the pen which the journalist must use in the cause of righteousness.' As illustrating His Lo\ing Character, Father Vaug/han said that when the children saw him approaching they ran to him knowing that his pockets were full of good things for them, while the poor would extdnd their hands to recehe the alms which never failed. It was his delight to share all that he had with the poor, and that he might have the wherewithal to give he sold everything he could lay his hands on, even his watch, his pectoral cross, and whatever else would bring him in more to gn c away. Being asked to accept- a gold watch enriched with precious stones, he replied, ' Thank you ; my nickel watch keeps good time, and I am not so likely to sell it.' However, the gold watch was forced upon him, but soon after the old nickel timepiece was seen hanging £fom his pocket by a shoe string — the gold watch had gone, like everything else of any value. How pathetic it was, said Father Vauglian, describing the Pope as he is to-day, to watch the coi ntefnance of the So\ereie;n Pontiff as he sat on his throne during any great function in St. Peter's, surrounded by the College of Cardinals, and countless bishops and prelates. The Sight was Truly Pathetic. There was a fixed look of bowed resignation to a burden which, but for strong help from on high, seemed to threaten the Pope's life by its crushing weight. Only the other day he had said in a private audience, 1 Pray for me constantly that I may lme strength to endure my life — it is on a cross on Calvary.' And yet when ouie was with the Holy Father alone that look of distressed anxiety changed to an expression of fatherly sweetness, whilst the different emotions that chased each other across his fine and open countenance re\ealcd tihe beautiful blend of beautiful virtues that went to make up a character the most Christ-like the preacher had yet met with. The Pope, it was said, was no diplomatist. It was true he was no professional 'diplomatist, but he ■was a man of infinite resource and tact — a man who knew his own mind, which when made u<p on any matter of importance was as fearle/ss as it was resolute. The quiet but firm step, the soft but strong hands, the sweet but clear voice, the kind but keen eyes, the easy but dignified manner, all served to pourtrav a man of dauntless resolution. It was saUl that the Pope wanted to come to terms with the Quirinal, whatever thai might mean. They might fae sure that the Holy Father wo.ild come to no terms that might in any way compromise his unique position. He would always assert his absolute iniiependedice, so that no terms whatever could e\en be considered that did not undertake to restore to him at least territory enough to give him an independence and a sovereignty sufficiently clearly defined to cause him to be regarded and recoeni?ed by all the Powers of Europe as the Sovereign Pcn 1 iff. Father Vaughan said the Holy Father's last words to him were— Preach, preach Chris-t ; to bring souls to know and love Jesus Christ and His beautiful mother is tJlie missian of the preaches ; and what sublimer vocation can there be ? Go, then, take with you to England ' the Child and the Mother,' and make them better known and better loved throughout the length and breadth of your island home, once called the Isle of Saints, England.