Pope Leo XIII 1884
Feastday not known
Born 1810
Died 1903
Born
at Carpineto, and was the 6th of 7 sons of Count Lodovico Pecci and his wife
Anna Prosperi Buzi. There was some doubt as to the nobility of the Pecci
family. At 8 with his brother Guiseppe who was aged 10 he was sent to study at
the new Jesuit school in Viterbo, the present seminary. He stayed there for 6
years. After his 3 years course of philosophy and natural sciences he remained
as yet uncertain as to his calling, though it had been the wish of his mother
that he should embrace the Ecclesiastical stste. During the cholera epidemic in
Rome he ably assisted Cardinal Sala in his duties as overseer of all the City
hospitals. His zeal and ability was fitted for larger responsibilities and he
was again urged to enter the priesthood. Yielding to these solicitations he was
ordained priest in 1837. He was elected Pope in 1878.
“This
wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men
of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of
blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and
iniquity. THESE MOST CRAFTY ENEMIES HAVE FILLED AND INEBRIATED WITH GALL AND
BITTERNESS THE CHURCH, THE SPOUSE OF THE IMMACULATE LAMB, AND HAVE LAID IMPIOUS
HANDS ON HER MOST SACRED POSSESSIONS.
IN THE HOLY PLACE ITSELF, WHERE HAS BEEN SET UP THE SEE OF THE MOST HOLY
PETER AND THE CHAIR OF TRUTH FOR THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, THEY HAVE RAISED THE
THRONE OF THEIR ABOMINABLE IMPIETY, WITH THE INIQUITOUS DESIGN THAT WHEN THE
PASTOR HAS BEEN STRUCK, THE SHEEP MAY BE SCATTERED….” 1
1. Pope Leo XIII’s “Prayer to St Michael”
Raccolta (New York Benziger Bros 1930), p 314 –315