AN ANECDOTE OF PIUS IX.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1689, 17 October 1887, Page 3

AN ANECDOTE OF PIUS IX.

* . Lady Horbert haß translated from the French of Mgr. Beaaon a life of the late Mgr. Merode. The following anecdote will give some idea of the work. It relatea to a visit paid to the Hospital of St. Andrea dnring the epidemic of cholera: — ' Piua IX atarted alone with bis Chamberhin, taking care to say nothing to his Secretary of State, and not eveu letting hla servants know where he was going. It was only after hia usual drive that his coachman received ordere to stop at the door of the house where death was reaping twenty-five aoldiera a day. The coachman was so panic-striken that he > caught the disease, and died two daya j aft*r. The footman were left m the street, and the Pope went into the hospital alone, only being -accompanied by Mgr. de Merode. Ptoo the Ninth went to every bed, and saw all the sick consoling, cheering, and blessing them, with tears In his eyes. * * * On his return he found the whole Vatican m oonsternatlon. Cardinal Antonelli, turning to Mgr. Merode, reproached him bitterly. " What a fearful responsibility you have taken upon yourself," he exclaimed, " and to what danger you hare exposed His Holiness Only think for a moment it might have been his death V " Well, 1 replied Mgr. de Merode, "and if the Pope had died on the spot, what death would have b.-tm more glorious, or more worthy of the Vioar of Jesua Christ?" Piua the Ninth approved of bis words, andjffith a bright smile and a tender voice replied: "You are quite right, Merode, I have only done what waa my duty 1" i ir ■ \ 3