CHRISTVS REGNAT, Vol. VII, No. 2, December, 2014

In the December, 2014, issue of CHRISTVS REGNAT:

• 1914 By Mr. Thomas Murphy

A retrospective of the Catholic heritage of the centenary.

• St. Pius X and Little Nellie of Holy God By Mr. Thomas Murphy

One of Ireland's little saints, the four-year-old who inspired the admission of children to Holy Communion.

• The Holy Thing By Mr. Seamus O’Connor

How Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich saw the Effectuation of the Immaculate Conception

• Sacrosanctum Concilium 50 Years On – Part II,  Reform of the Rite of Mass By Mr. David McEllin

Some personal considerations on the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.

• On the Blessed Virgin’s Love of God By Msgr. Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

From the collected sermons of the greatest preacher of France's golden age of sacred eloquence.

• Out of the Common – Introduction & Part I

Extracts from the commonplace book of a member.

• The Kildare Jacobites – Part II – Sir Charles Wogan By Mrs. Ellen Wilson

An account of a Kildareman who upheld the cause of his King and eloped with his Queen.

• The Architects of Kildare and Leighlin – Part IV By Mr. Paul Hannon

The final part of a survey of the individuals behind the architectural heritage of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin

 

You can obtain copies of CHRISTVS REGNAT by becoming a member of the Catholic Heritage Association.  Further details are available from membershipcommitteecha[AT]gmail[DOT]com.  Further details on how you can contribute an article to CHRISTVS REGNAT are available from christusregnatjournal[at]gmail[dot]com.

 

St. Pius X - Part XIV

On this day in 1914, Our Most Holy Father, Pope (later Saint) Pius X died in the odour of sanctity.

Sancte Pie Decime, Gloriose Patrone, ora pro nobis!

St. Pius X - Part XIII

On this day in 1914, Our Most Holy Father, Pope (later Saint) Pius X issued his exhortation Dum Europa to the Christian peoples of Europe appealing to them to hold back from the war that was about to engulf them.

Sancte Pie Decime, Gloriose Patrone, ora pro nobis!

St. Pius X - Part XII

On this day sixty years ago, Pope Pius XII delivered the address Si Diligis at the Canonisation of Pope St. Pius X.

Sancte Pie Decime, Gloriose Patrone, ora pro nobis!

Latin Mass in the Church of St. Pius X, Templeogue, Dublin 6W

St. Pius X - Part XI

The Mutiny of the Swiss Guards

On a singularly ominous date, one hundred years ago today, members of the Swiss Guard mutinied. The position of the Holy See, imprisoned in the Vatican since the conquest of the States of the Church, and at odds with the Savoyard Administration beyond, was perilous to say the least. It would not be for another 16 years that working relations would be established with the Italian State, so any instability within the small territory of the Vatican, much less an armed revolt, could have meant the destruction of the Papacy's temporal position, frail though it was.

There had been earlier crises. In March, 1878, the customary bounty of three months pay given to the Swiss Guard upon the election of a new Pope was demanded of Pope Leo XIII, upon a threat of mutiny and an outbreak of riot. There was talk of the suppression of the Guard but the situation was quieted by the promise of sum of money equal to an extra year's pay for each member of the Guard. The Palatine Guard, drawn from the Roman Citizenry, had seen some discontent in June, 1907, due to the severity of command by the nephew of the late Pope Leo XIII, Count Camillo Pecci. However, a more serious event was the mutiny of the Swiss Guards in July, 1913. The New York Times of 15th July, 1913 reports:

LONDON, Monday, July 14. - The Rome correspondent of The Daily News says that there has been a mutiny among the Swiss Guards at the Vatican, caused by the arrest of one of them for refusing to perform patrol duty. The insubordination has caused much annoyance to the Pope. The original rebel has been sentenced to two months' imprisonment, and the others will also be punished.
A week later the position had deteriorated. the New York Times reports:

ROME, July 20. - Several members of the Swiss Guard at the Vatican, who are charged with insubordination, proceeded this morning to the office of the Major now commanding to protest against the statement which appeared last evening in the Ossarvatore Romano, particularly that part which alluded to their possible dismissal. According to the report, the commanding officer was obliged to threaten them with a revolver before they dispersed.
By the next day, things had taken a further turn. Again, the New York Times reports:

ROME, July 21. - The Italian police are ready to intervene in case of disturbances by the Swiss guards should the Vatican authorities request their assistance in the re-establishment of order. The mutinous Swiss Guards to-day presented to Cardinal Merry del Val, the Papal Secretary of State, a memorial relating to their grievances and setting forth the conditions on which they are disposed to remain in the service. Otherwise, they declare, they are ready to leave Rome. The conditions are as follows:

1. The dismissal of the commander of the Swiss Guards.
2. An increase in the number of the Swiss Guards from 80 to 100.
3. The commander and all the officers to be chosen from among themselves.
4. The abolition of the order that the Guards shall not frequent stores on the right bank of the Tiber and the granting of permission to frequent wineshops.
5. A return to the original discipline system of military instruction, with the abolition of bayonet drill, target shooting, and the climbing of roofs to protect the Vatican from imaginary assaults.
6. No punishments to be inflicted in connection with the present agitation.

Cardinal Merry del Val afterward conferred for a long time with the Pope in an endeavor to find a satisfactory solution of the trouble.

The Swiss Guard at the Vatican has existed since 1505, when it was formed by Pope Julius II. The men are recruited from the cantons of Zurich and Lucerne, and they enlist for a term of five years. They must be at least six feet in height, and all of them belong to families in which is has become a hereditary custom to serve at the Vatican.

The next day, the New York Times also gave more sinister details:

ROME, July 21. - Another mutiny of the Swiss Vatican Guard, the third in three months, caused such trepidation to the Papal household that the Pope, in order to avert threatened bloodshed, to-day ordered the total disarmament of the guard.

The order was executed by a surprise movement on the part of the pontifical gendarmerie while the Swiss Guards were in their barracks. The few on duty had stacked all their rifles, bayonets, and halberds, and these, together with all the ammunition, were seized.

The revolt of the Swiss Guard is due to the severe military régime introduced by the new commander, Col. Repond, who insists on the drill and practice common to the great armies of Europe, although the Swiss number only 80, formerly having numbered 150.

Strong discontent also exists in the ranks of the Pope's Noble Guard because of the recent innovation whereby the Pontiff extended the recruitment to all noble families, whereas they were formerly restricted to Italy.

It is declared to-night that at one moment the possibility of an armed conflict was so great that the Pope was on the point of telephoning to the Italian Court requesting the dispatch of a squad of Carabinieri to restore order among the Pontifical army inside the Vatican.
In the New York Times of 24th July, 1913, the following report appeared:

ROME, July 23. - Throughout the day the Vatican was in a veritable state of siege. This was an outcome of the mutiny of the Swiss Guards, whose demands, in the form of a memorial relating their grievances and setting forth the conditions on which they would remain in the Pope's service, were flatly rejected to-day.

Three of the leaders of the movement were expelled from the Vatican. Four others departed to-night, and twelve have requested to leave to depart for their homes in October.

Those who left were accompanied to the gates of the Vatican by their comrades. At the moment of separation they cried "Viva Garibaldi!" and some of them joined in singing the "Marseillaise." Never before was such a scene presented in front of the Vatican.

Yesterday the Guards were relieved of their cartridges, and to-day even their rifles were taken from them, as it was discovered that they had succeeded in concealing cartridges.
Count Coceopieri, commander of the Vatican gendarmes, has been ordered to hold his men in readiness for emergencies. They are in control of all the exits and have instructions to prevent any of the Swiss Guards from leaving the building without express permission, and from communicating with those outside. The entire neighborhood is patrolled by strong forces of police.

Serious trouble was expected when the guards were notified that all their claims had been rejected, and it has been arranged that any of the Guards attempting a demonstration should be arrested by the Papal gendarmes and turned over to the Italian police for transportation to the Swiss frontier.

When the reply to the memorial was read, the commander and other officers, armed with revolvers, stood ready to suppress any show of force. A letter was also read from Cardinal Merry del Val, the Papal Secretary of State, strongly condemning the attitude of the guards.

This was the last straw, as the guards had hoped that the Cardinal would favor their side. They decided to maintain a relatively calm attitude, however, wishing, as they expressed it, "to obtain their rights through persuasion, rather than violence."
The report of the following day's New York Times is hardly more comforting:

ROME, July 24. - Cardinal Merry del Val's decision to expel the ringleaders of the mutinous Swiss Guard at the Vatican and his refusal to give satisfaction to the others until the agitation has ceased has not produced the desired effect.

A large quantity of concealed weapons and ammunition has been seized. Fearing a plot against his life, the unpopular Col. Repond, commander of the Swiss Guard, so the press states, had a quickfiring gun installed at the entrance to his appartments.

The Pope is so upset by the scandal particularly by Col. Repond's conduct in confronting a deputation of the guards with a loaded revolver, that he has signified his personal wish to abolish the Swiss Guard altogether. Since his election to the papal chair his Holiness has never ceased to express his repugnance at being everlastingly surrounded and followed about by armed men.

Lest there should be a fresh outbreak, the Vatican authorities have arranged with the Italian Government that pontifical gendarmerie shall drive out the Swiss rebels into the Piazza of St. peter's, where they will be captured by a big force of Italian carabinieri stationed there for emergencies. The men will then be sent on the first outgoing train to the Italian-Swiss frontier.
The whole story was reprised in the New York Times of 27th July, 1913, with a full set of pictures. The first set of colours was awarded to the Swiss Guards on 1st November, 1913, and was blessed by Pope St. Pius X on 5th May, 1914. Also in 1914, Col. Repond, who was to command the Guard until 1921, designed the now familiar gala uniform.

A similar incident involving the Papal Gendarmes was quelled immediately by Msgr. Pizzardo, Under Secretary of State and an armed detatchment of Swiss Guards on 7th July, 1922.

Sancte Pie Decime, Gloriosae Patronae, ora pro nobis!

St. Pius X - Part XI

On this day one hundred years ago, St. Pius X issued his Encyclical Singulari Quadam on Labour Organisations.

Sancte Pie Decime, Gloriose Patrone, ora pro nobis!

St. Pius X - Part X

On this day one hundred years ago, St. Pius X issued his Encyclical Lacrimabilis Statu on the Indians of South America.

Sancte Pie Decime, Gloriose Patrone, ora pro nobis!

Red Scapular of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary

The small scapulars with which we are familiar as sacramentals owe their origin to a reduction of the large scapulars that formed part of the habit of Religious Orders and Congregations. This scapular was another of the scapulars approved during the reign of Pope Leo XIII without a confraternity. Although it was never the habit of any Order or Confraternity the Congregation of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart, founded at Antwerp in 1873 created this scapular in 1877 and were responsible for its promotion (Acta S. Sedis, XXXII, 633 sq.). It was approved at the request of the Archbishop of Marseilles, by the S. Congregation of Rites in 1900. Indulgences were granted to those who wear it habitually in 1901 and were enlarged in 1906.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, be Thou my Salvation!
Immaculate Heart of Mary, be thou my refuge!

White Scapular of Saint Dominic

Pope Pius X again in 1903 granted an indulgence to wearers of the Scapular of Saint Dominic. The Scapular is of white wool, and while no image is necessary yet the scapular given in the house of the Dominican General in Rome bears a picture of Saint Dominic kneeling before the crucifix, on one side, and of Blessed Reginald receiving the habit from Our Blessed Lady, on the other.

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us!
Saint Dominic, pray for us!
Blessed Reginald, pray for us!

St. Pius X - Part IX

On this day one hundred years ago, at a Public Consistory, Pope St. Pius X created Cardinals their Eminences:

António Mendes, Cardinal Bello, Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Marcellino e Pietro in pecore, Patriarch of Lisbon;

José María Justo, Cardinal Cos y Macho, Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria del Popolo, Archbishop of Valladolid;

Diomede, Cardinal Falconio, O.F.M., Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Ara Coeli, then Apostolic Delegate to the United States of America and later Prefect of the S. Cong. of Religious;

Antonio, Cardinal Vico, then Apostolic Nuncio of Spain, later Prefect of the S. Cong. of Rites; Gennaro, Cardinal Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte, Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria degli Angeli, then Apostolic Nuncio of Austria and later Prefect of the S. Cong. of Ceremonies;

John Murphy, Cardinal Farley, Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria sopra Minerva, Archbishop of New York;

Francis Aphonsus, Cardinal Bourne, Cardinal-Priest of S. Pudenziana, Archbishop of Westminster;

František Salesky, Cardinal Bauer, Cardinal-Priest of S. Girolamo dei Croati, Archbishop of Olomouc;

Léon-Adolphe, Cardinal Amette, Cardinal-Priest of S. Sabina, Archbishop of Paris;

William Henry, Cardinal O'Connell, Cardinal-Priest of S. Clemente, Archbishop of Boston;

Enrique, Cardinal Almaraz y Santos, Cardinal-Priest of S. Pietro in Montorio, Archbishop of Toledo;

François-Virgile, Cardinal llard, Cardinal-Priest of S. Susanna, Archbishop of Chambéry;

Franz Xaver, Cardinal Nagl, Cardinal-Priest of S. Marco, Archbishop of Vienna;

François-Marie-Anatole, Cardinal de Rovérié de Cabrières, Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria della Vittoria, Bishop of Montpellier;

Gaetano, Cardinal Bisleti, Cardinal-Deacon of S. Agata de’ Goti, later Prefect of the S. Cong. for Seminaries and Universities and President of the Pont. Biblical Commission;

Giovanni Battista, Cardinal Lugari, Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Portico;

Basilio, Cardinal Pompilj, Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Domnica, then Secretary of the S. Cong. of the Council, later Vicar General for the Vicariate of Rome and President of the Pont. Commission for Sacred Archaeology;

Louis, Cardinal Billot, S.J. Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Via Lata;

Wilhelmus Marinus, Cardinal van Rossum, C.SS.R., Cardinal-Deacon of S. Cesareo in Palatio, later President of Pont. Biblical Commission, Major Penitentiary Apostolic, and Prefect of the S. Cong. for the Propagation of the Faith.

Sancte Pie Decime, Gloriose Patrone, ora pro nobis!

St. Pius X - Part VIII

On this day one hundred years ago, St. Pius X issued his Apostolic Constitution Divino Afflatu on the reform of the Roman Breviary.

Sancte Pie Decime, Gloriose Patrone, ora pro nobis!

White Scapular of the Passion

In 1900 also, acceding to the representations of the Archbishop of Marseilles, the Scapular of the Passion was approved. Again this scapular is in two segments of white material. On one segment appears an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with the emblems of the Passion; on the other a small cross of red material. Pope Pius X granted indulgences to wearers of the Scapular in 1901, and again in 1906.

May the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints and also whatever good we do or evil we endure merit for us the remission of our sins, the increase of grace and the reward of everlasting life. Amen!

St. Pius X - Part VII

On this day one hundred years ago, Pope St. Pius X issued his Encyclical Iamdudum in Lusitania on the Law of Separation in Portugal.

Sancte Pie Decime, Gloriose Patrone, ora pro nobis!

St. Pius X - Part VI

On this day one hundred years ago, Pope St. Pius X issued his Encyclical Letter Ex Quo on the return of the Eastern Schismatics to the Catholic Church.

Sancte Pie Decime, Gloriosae Patrone ora pro nobis!

St. Pius X - Part V

On this day one hundred years ago, the S. Cong. of the Holy Office authorised the use of Scapular Medals in place of Scapulars.

Sancte Pie Decime, Gloriose Patrone, ora pro nobis!

Feasts dependant on the Exaltation

It was interesting for me to read how the Exaltation has been treated like a mini Good Friday to place feasts that would otherwise fall in Lent. The most obvious of course, is Our Lady of Sorrows, which formerly fell on the Third Sunday of September (and thus after the Holy Cross) until St. Pius X fixed it for September 15.

But another interesting feast that depends on the Holy Cross is the Transfiguration on August 6. 40 days before the Holy Cross as, according to tradition, the Transfiguration took place 40 days before Good Friday - but that would place it in Lent. Unlike the later mediaevel and Renaissance eras, people then were finicky about including feasts in Lent - it was the custom of the Fathers that it be solely for penitence. So they decided to have it forty days before the Holy Cross. You'll also note that a number of martyrs are placed around this feast and that the Stigmata of St. Francis occurs in close proximity to it.

This tradition is also why the Gospel of the Second Sunday of Lent is that of the Transfiguration.

Published in September, 2007

Abhinc Duos Annos

So tomorrow is the feast of Pope St. Pius X. St. Pius X is remembered for many things - his promotion of frequent communion, his motu proprio Tra le Sollecitudini on sacred music (whose prescriptions encountered enough evasion even in his day, but I'll leave that for another time), his encyclical Pascendi and the Anti-Modernist Oath. Possibly the latter two were in mind when the author of his collect wrote "the strength of an apostle to defend the Catholic faith"? In any case, I think he must be best remembered for that- it certainly earned him a society.

One of the things he is not remembered perhaps so well for is his role as a reformer. Perhaps nowadays reformer has a decidedly negative connotation for some. I think in some ways he was a bit of a purist. He initiated the original reform which, in addition to touching on various aspects such as sacred music, the purity of liturgical art (no more depictions of the Blessed Virgin dressed in priestly garments), also touched on the liturgical year and the breviary and the missal. I've always been interested in that, particularly since so little information seems to be available about the work of his commission.

In any case, truthfully or no, every pope from Pius XII to John Paul II, have attributed their reforms as a continuation of his work particularly as espoused in his letter Abhinc Duos Annos. The encyclical was written months before his heavenly birthday (23 Octobris 1913): AAS 5 (1913), 449-450.

ABHINC DUOS ANNOS, cum Constitutionem Apostolicam ederemus Divino afflatu, qua id proprie spectavimus, ut, quoad fieri posset, et recitatio Psalterii absolveretur intra hebdomadam, et vetera Dominicarum Officia restituerentur, Nobis qui dem alia multa versabantur in animo, partim meditata, partim etiam inchoata consilia quae ad Breviarii Romani, susceptam a Nobis, emendationem pertinerent; sed ea tamen, cum ob multiplices difficultates tune exsequi non liceret, differre in tempus magis commodum compulsi sumus.
Etenim ad compositionem Breviarii sic corrigendam ut talis exsistat, qualem volumus, id est numeris omnibus absoluta, ilia opus sunt:
-Kalendarium Ecclesiae universalis ad pristinam revocare descriptionem et formam, salvis tamen pulcris accessionibus, quas ei mira semper Ecclesiae, Sanctorum matris, fecunditas attulerit;
-Scripturarum et Patrum Doctorumque idoneos locos, ad genuinam lectionem redactos, adhibere;
-sobrie Sanctorum vitas ex monumentis retractare;
Liturgiae plures tractus, supervacaneis rebus expedites, aptius disponere lam vero haec omnia, doctorum ac prudentum iudicio, labores desiderant cum magnos, turn diuturnos; ob eamque causam longa annorum series intercedat necesse est, antequam hoc quasiaedificium liturgicum, quod mystica Christi Sponsa, ad suam declarandam pietatem et fidem, intelligenti studio conformavit, rursus, dignitate splendidum et concinnitate, tamquam deterso squalore vetustatis, appareat.
Interea ex litteris et sermone multorum Venerabilium Fratrum cognovimus ipsis et permultis sacerdotibus esse optatissimum, ut in Breviario una cum Psalterio nova ratione disposito suisque rubricis adsint mutationes omnes, quae ipsum novum Psalterium vel iam secutae sunt vel sequi possunt. Quod cum instanter a Nobis peterent, simul significarunt se vehementer cupere, ut et Psalterium novum usurpetur frequentius, et Officia Dominicarum serventur ea studiosius, et incommodis Officiorum translationibus occurratur, et alia quaedam quae bonum videatur mutari, mutentur. Huiusmodi Nos vota, utpote rerum veritati innixa Nostraeque admodum consentanea voluntati, grate equidem accepimus: iis autem obsecundandi nunc esse tempus arbitramur. Certiores enim facti sumus officina Aores libraries, qui sacrorum Rituum Congregation! inserviunt, exspectantes dum Breviarium Romanum decretorio modo ac definitive corrigatur, in eo esse ut novam interim ipsius Breviarii editionem adornent. Hac uti occasione visum
(he goes on to list several reforms later incorporated into the breviary, such as Sundays, psalms during Octaves and other stuff)

TWO YEARS AGO, in publishing Our Apostolic Constitution, Divino Afflatu, We had especially in sight the recitation, as far as possible in its entirety, of the Psalter on weekdays, and the restoration of the ancient Sunday offices. But Our mind was occupied by many other projects – some mere plans, others already on the way to realization – relating to reform in the Roman breviary.
However, because of the numerous difficulties preventing Us from executing them, We has to postpone them for a more favourable moment. To change the composition of the Breviary to make it in accordance with Our desires, that is, to give it a finished perfection in every part would involve:
-restoring the calendar of the Universal Church to its original arrangement and style, retaining meanwhile the splendid richness, which the marvelous fruitfulness of the Church, the Mother of Saints, has brought to bear upon it.
-utilising appropriate passages of Scripture, of the Father and doctors, after having reestablished the authentic text;
-prudently correcting the lives of the Saints according to documentary evidence
Perfecting the arrangement of numerous point of the liturgy, eliminating superfluous elements. But in the judgment of wise and learned persons, all this would require considerable work and time. For this reason, many years will have to pass before this type of liturgical edifice, composed with intelligent care for the spouse of Christ to express her piety and faith, can appear purified of the squalidness brought by time, newly resplendent with dignity and fitting order.
In the meantime, through correspondence and conversations with a number of bishops, We have learnt of their urgent desire – shared by many priests – to find in the Breviary, together with the new arrangement of the Psalter and its rubrics, all the changes which have already come or which might come with this new Psalter. They have repeatedly asked Us, indeed they have repeatedly manifested their earnest desire that the new psalter be used more often, that the Sundays be observed more conscientiously, that provision be made for the inconvenience of transferred offices, and that certain other changes be affected which seem to be justified. Because they are grounded in objectivity and completely conform to Our desire, We have agreed to these requests and We believe the moment has come to grant them.

Most of the reforms envisioned in this Apostolic Constitution were not carried out. But it is not difficult to see the rationale in this letter for the reforms of the 1950’s and the early 1960’s, even to an extent of the Liturgia Horarum though I’m pretty sure he would have balked at the extent of the latter. Calendar correction, “superfluous elements”, emphasis on the documented vita of the saints for the II Nocturn. Most shocking, perhaps, (at least, for me it was) his description of the Office as “squalore”, squalid (keep in mind this is the breviary used until John XXIII). It is quite a strong word, perhaps one that might occasion a lot of criticism today.I had thought of a super ending to this post, but I can't remember it now. Drat. In any case, contemplating our liturgy today (as a whole and not just the breviary), can we say that the reforms of the 60's have brought us "dignity and fitting order"? Lord God, you filled Pope St. Pius with wisdom and gave him the strength of an apostle to defend the Catholic faith and to renew all things in Christ. Grant that we may follow his example and teaching and so come to our reward in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Lex Orendi, lex credendi. Holy Pius, pray for the defense of the Catholic faith especially through an authentic renewal of the liturgy.

Published in August, 2007

St. Pius X - Part IV

On this day one hundred years ago, St. Pius X issued the Oath Against Modernism to be sworn to by all clergy, pastors, confessors, preachers, religious superiors, and professors in philosophical-theological seminaries.

Sancte Pie Decime, Gloriose Patrone, ora pro nobis!

St. Pius X - Part III

On this day one hundred years ago, St. Pius X issued his Encyclical Letter Notre Charge Apostolique on the state of the Church in France.

Sancte Pie Decime, Gloriose Patrone, ora pro nobis!