POPE PIUS IX.’S LOVE STORY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5302, 23 March 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

POPE PIUS IX.’S LOVE STORY.

From the manuscript of a forthcoming volume, the work of a pious Catholic lady, the daughter of one of the oldest Catholic citizens of Baltimore, the late David Williamson, of Lexington Manor, the London correspondent of the Cincinatti Inquirer relat-s the only true love story of Pius IX., as related by the Baroness de Kinsky, the Holy Father’s intimate friend. The youug Count Giovanni Mastai Feretti, the story says, a native of Senigaglia, met and loved at Rome Camilla-Devoti, the lovely and accomplished daughter of a widow lady, and to whom he had been especially drawn by her marvellous singing. They read the poets together, and it came to pass that the young nobleman desired to be a soldier to be more worthy of his promised bride. He applied to Prince Barberini, Commander of the Papal Body-Guard, and was repulsed somewhat rudely with the remark that his slender frame was better fitted for a priest’s garb than a dragoon’s. The young Count appealed to" the Pope, Pius VII., was promised his commission, and spent a happy evening with i Camilla. The next day he did not visit | her, nor the next. Weeks passed, and he seemed to have disappeared from the city. She fell sick of fever at last, and on that same day the Count knelt before the Pope and told his story. He had been stricken with epilepsy in the street. With this disease hanging over him he dared not marry. The Holy Father bade him interpret the affliction as a token of the will of God directing his thoughts heavenward and his life to the Church. He sent the young Count a pilgrim to the shrine of Loretto to learn God’s will. No tidings came to Camilla, and after some little time, knowing that a hidden yet good and proper reason for this seeming desertion must exist, and yielding to the earnest persuasions of her mother, she consented to listen to the solicitations of the Baron Oarnuciui, who sought her hand in marriage. It strangely happened on that same evening, while Camilla and her mother were sitting together in their quiet and comfortable home, talking over the past and the future events, the door was suddenly opened and the figure of a young man clad in black stood before them. The mother of Camilla, looking up, immediately recognised the face as that of Count Maatai, and gave a cty of joy, but he remained perfectly silent and motionless.' Camilla’s heart at once sank, for she quickly discerned that he was dressed in the garb of a priest. She now saw that all was ended between them. The Signora Devoti, not noticing in the darkness of the evening the priestly robes ho wore, asked quickly, “ Where have you been all this time, and why have you so deserted us ?’’ “I have been on a pilgrimage to Loretto,” he quietly replied, 11 and subsequently to the Convent of St. Agnes, where I was anointed a priest.” The Signora Devoti nearly fainted on hearing these words, so unexpectedly by her,; but Camilla remained perfectly calm ; and, forcing a smile, said, in her gentle voice : “ It is well that you have come to me; Heaven has sent you in my hour of need to give me counsel and support. My brother is absent, and I have none other ; will you take his place, as his old friend and companion, and advise me ? The Baron Camucini seeks my hand in marriage ; my mother earnestly wishes it ; what shall I do ? Will you now counsel me how to act ?” “ I would strongly advise you to accept him as your husband,” said the young priest, “ for I know him well as.being the most amiable and honorable, having every quality to ensure your future happiness. I will unite you in holy wedlock to the man you will love and who will prove ai true and tender husband to you, but let it be soon, for I cannot tarry long ; I have my mission to accomplish, and have come but to say farewell. In a few days I leave for the Convent of Senignglin, the city of my early

1 childhood, there to prepare myself before leav- * ing Italy on a long journey, as I intend to i, prepare for and devote myself to a monastic ■ life” A few days later Camilla Dcvoti knelt [ before the altar by the side of the Baron i Caraucini, and the holy rites were performed by the young priest, Mastai Ferctti, who, after joining their hands, fervently prayed that God would bless them and theirs for ever. Years after, when time in its many changes had placed Count Mastai on the Papal throne as Pius IX., at one of th.-; usual Thursday receptions at the Vatican, when ladi s of rank ace presented to Ids Holiness, the Baroness de Kiusky, au old friend of Cardinal Antonelli’s, presented a plain and venerable-looking matron, whose features still bore traces of great beauty. She happened to be among the last presented, and on , her name being mentioned an emotion was visible in the expressive face of the Pope. The lady bent her knee for his benediction, and, looking quietly in his face, said, in a voice full of sweetness and melody of other days, “ Holy Father, I have come to beg of you a great favor—that you receive my grandson into your Garde d’Elite. They hesitate to receive him because of his delicate appearance; but he is well and strong, and most eager to devote bis life to the Holy Father.” Having thus expressed her desire she showed a slight emotion, but casting her eyes upon the ground she awaited quietly his reply. Pius IX. well understood how she felt from his own past experience, so kindly laying Ins hand upon her white head in benediction, he said in gentle tones : “I know too well the pain and mortification of such a refusal, having once experienced it. Your wish shall be fulfilled, and your grandson shall at once enter into my Garde d’Elite.” After speaking he then walked quickly to one of the sidewalks, and intimated to one of the Camerieri, who prepared to follow me,' that he wished to be alone. The following day, meeting the Baroness de Xiuksy, he said to her, “I know that you are an old and dear friend of the Baroness Oamucini, and that she has spoken to you of the days gone by ; and I will also tell you, my daughter, of a secret that until now has long lain hidden in my heart, but which now the old man may release from its prison, and consecrate as a last salute to his early friend.” He then recounted the reason why he had left Camilla so suddenly at the time, and why he had taken the priestly vows, following, as he believed, a direct call from God. “ Tell her now,” he said, “it was a trial the Holy Father imposed upon me that I was to keep silence, and give no explanation of my actions ; that at the time I suffered, but God, in His great mercy, ordained it all wisely and well for our good, and that Plus IX., who no longer indulges in earthly illusions, sends her this last message as a memory of the happy ' evenings spent with Camilla Devoti.” !