The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger

CHRONICLE OF THE COUNCIL

The Pope and the Boatman.—We are persuaded that nothing can be more agreeable to our readers than to hear of the words and acts of our Holy Father Pius IX. at this momentous crisis.

On the last day of February, his Holiness went to the church of the Gesu to adore the Blessed Sacrament. About two hundred persons were assembled in the corridor leading from the sacristy to the church, and Pius IX. ascended a temporary throne which had been prepared for him and received their homage. The gentle and gracious Pontiff spoke to all whom he knew or who were pointed out to his attention by the Very Rev. Father Becks, the General of the Jesuits, who stood on his right hand. Among the company were about thirty Bishops, who display on every occasion the same anxiety as the humblest of the faithful to receive the benediction of the Vicar of Christ. When he saw so many venerable prelates gathered round him, he observed, with that incomparable charm of voice and manner which captivates all hearts: "Quam bonum et quam jucundum habitare fratres in unum," then, pausing for a moment, he repeated, in a louder tone and with greater emphasis: "in unum!"

Not long ago, being in his carriage outside the walls of Rome, Pius IX. overtook the Bishops of Poictiers and Angouleme, who were taking a walk with their theologians, Canon Sauve and Father Dorvan. Descending from his carriage, the Pope said to the Bishops: "My brothers, I must join you in your walk." His step was firm and active, and as he observed that the Bishop of Angouleme walked with a stick, he said gaily: "As for me, I do not use a walking-stick; I like to present a good appearance to my children, and it is only when I am in the country that I allow myself one." Pursuing their way, they found a man on his knees in the road, holding his horses by their bridle. "What! are you there? my dear Michael, my poor Michael!" exclaimed the Pope. "You have then left your oars and your boat. It is a long while since we were at Gaeta." Then, turning to the Bishops, he added: "This good man was my boatman when I was in exile at Gaeta." Michael shed tears of joy in being thus recognized after twenty years by the Vicar of Christ.

A little further on they came to a poor man sitting by the side of the road. The Pope went up to him, gave him his blessing and calling him by his name, put a few pieces of money in his hand. "Cognosco oves meas," he said to the Bishops, with that indescribable accent of tenderness which belongs to him alone.