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Dot re Dame Scholastic • DI5CE• QV/ASI • SEMPER-VICTURV/S- -VIVE- QV/ASI • CRA5 • M0RIT\/RV5 • •F-X'A- VOL. XLI. NOTRE DAME, INDIANA, APEIL 25, 1908. No. 2S: sin, which were then most prevalent. A Weak Man. momentous period in history had been reached. Good contended against evil. To THOMAS A. LAHBY, '11. which side would the tide turn? That rested entirely with those concerned in STOOD loeside a lo^ pyramid, choosing a successor to the late incumbent I And gazed in awe upon the massive mount of Peter's chair. And who can estimate the Of solid rock, whose time-defying crest, Upreared into the clouds, still stands to count sagacity exhibited by all Christendom as The flight of ages numberless. And long she fixed her gaze upon a humble, monk, and I viewed that monument of human skill, hailed as Peter's successor one w^ho had So vast and huge in its entirety, been private counsellor to not less than five Until in wonderment, my soul athrill popes, and had frequently acted as papal With conscious pride upwelling in my heart, legate on the most complicated missions; I thought, "0 man, how like a god thou art!." hailed him as the one designed by the I gazed upon the Himalayan chain. Almighty to wage, among clergy and laity- That huge, stuj)endous bulk uptowering high, alike, that war of reform so manifestly Its hoar)--, element-emjjattled brow imperative ? Hildebrand was the man, the Above the very clouds that deck the sky; I rode three hundred leagues along its base. much-calumniated saint, and reformer of And lo, tremendous sight! its snow-capped peak the eleventh century, known also in history Still towered there in solemn majesty. as Pope Gregory the Seventh. "b man," 1 cried, "presumptive worm! how weak Seated on the throne in an age of dark­ Thou art! Thy pun^^ work seemed grand to me Before; but now, 0 God, I see, I see." ness, he had to contend with difficulties far beyond human comprehension. The masses and the nobles were woefully ignorant and Gregory the Seventh. nesrlectfLil of their most essential duties. The Church, fettered hand and foot, was JOSEPH A. OUIXLAN, '11. tyrannized over by despotic barons and princes, who always set God's honor second ^^h^,T the decease "of Alexander II., to their own, and never "iaUowed justice to when tolling' bells announced stand in the way of their own ambition." that another of Christ's Vicars The clergy were sometimes appointed by the :had passed beyond the portals king from a court of professed libertines, and of death, the heart of every then, as his "sworn vassals," shamefully devoted Catholic was reani­ forced upon that Church that had afterward mated with a fire of zeal and charity to bear the disgrace and ignominy brought brighter and more unquenchable than, for down upon her by their disreputable lives. many years, had glowed in Christian Other abuses, notably, simony and infidelity breasts. Yet, apace, with their ardent love among the ministers of the Gospel, were for justice and righteousness grew a bitter the natural fruit of such seed. Each setting hatred and utter detestation of vice and sun found the high standard of morality, 4^6 iSfOTRE DAME SCHOLASTIC implanted by the early Fathers, sinking such violent and relentless opposition. To ever nearer and nearer to the rock of attempt to enforce them was to expose destruction. oneself to any angry mob whose sole aim Under these unfavorable circumstances, was to hinder their execution. it was with the utmost reluctance that Paternal warnings fell upon Henry's ears (Gregory had assumed the onerous respon­ only to be contemptuously resented. His sibilities of governing the flock of Christ. ungracious response to Gregory's fatherly Humility, so rare in those days of crime admonitions—rgproofs dictated by the xDurest and depravity, far from permitting him to charity'-—w^as a letter announcing- that the seek high honors and exalted stations, had venerable patriarch had been dethroned as placed forcibly'- before his eyes—indeed, too a fallen monk. Think of it!—a subject has much so—his own unfitness, and made him arrogantly presumed to depose his king! shudder at the very thought of being created But if Gregory is to be considered great on Pope, compelling him, but in vain, to beg account of the iron-willed resolution with exemption from the torture of elevation which he iDrosecuted so rigid, so drastic a to an ofiice of dignity. But once convinced reform, it must not be forgotten that he is that it was God's will that he be there, he far more worthy of our admiration because determined to be exact—y^es, scrupulously of the extraordinary serenity and composure exact—in the discharge of his functions, he displayed at all times when his personal cost what it might. His ascension to.the honor and dignity were at stake. His pontificate marks the last instance where coolness on this occasion recalls to one's papal election was confirmed by an em^Deror, mind what astounding patience and gentle­ and the first gigantic stride to a long- ness . he manifested on Christmas Eve of needed reform, the accomplishment of which the previous year when, without resistance, was to be his life-work. he allowed himself to be dragged from the Behold with what indomitable energy, with altar and, bleeding and faint as he was, what undying courage, with what unflinching to be hurried off to prison. But his spiritual resolution he dealt that first blow directed sons realizing that, in a mass of debris, they against the unfaithful clerg)^; with w^hat had found a pearl, at once demanded and rapidity—fearless of consequences, ready, if obtained his deliverance; then in triumph need be, to face death itself in the cause of he was conducted back to the altar from justice—he followed up that first blow with which he had been so shamefully taken. others in condemnation of simonj- and lay^ Who but a saint could have endured such investitures. He did not so much as hesi­ insults ? Why was he so treated ? The tate, though he knew he must oppose one answer comes back, because he was a lover of earth's mightiest monarchs. To him king of truth and an enemy of sin. Yet the fact and pauper were alike. that he bore uncomplainingly all personal Momentarily Henry repented of his faults, injuries is an incontestible proof that he and besought pardon. But it was only for labored not for selfish interests, but for the a moment. Elated by new victories, urged One above. on by depraved courtiers, unw^orthy priests Nor did the amiable ruler of Christendom and bishops, 'Ejenrj once more renewed his attempt to vindicate himself. His humilitj'-, old tactics; reinstated imperial counsellors his spirit of mortification, inculcated in w^ho had been formerly excommunicated childhood by his tender mother, would not by Alexander II., stole precious stones from permit it. Henrj'^,-with all his accomplices, Catholic churches, and began again to viras branded with anathema: for that oppress unjustly the Saxons, Reassured by the dignity of the one concerned had these encouragements, voluminous storms no influence upon Gregory's actions—^^and of reproach and the vilest calumnies were w^ould w^e had more such men—^is evident thrust by the discontented with increased not only from his treatment of Henry of force' and audacity up^n Gregory. Decrees Germany, but likewise in his dealings with had often provoked dissatisfaction and Philip of France and . Boleslaus, King of murmuring; but never before—and never Poland: Courage of this stamp belonged, more unreasonably—had they met w^ith not to the Dark Ages, but to apostles eager NOTRE DAME SCHOLASftG 467 to suffer for Christ; therefore his gireater Gregory's just apprehensions were not claim to our praisCj our admiration. long wanting confirmation. Having returned The result of Henr3''s excommunication to Germany, King Henry most shamefully was instantaneous. No longer capable of violated those conditions to which he had ruling he was deserted hy friends and coun­ so lately promised fidelity. Not greatly sellors. In this way the justice of Gregory's surprisedj the sagacious shepherd of the measures was universall}'- acknowledged. He Catholic flock, unshaken in his resolve to who had been the target at which were see that the laws were carried out,.at onde hurled the most malicious accusations was renewed the sentence of excommunication, confessed to be guiltless. And no proof of and declared Henry incompetent to rule. one's innocence can be more irrefragable Though. conscious that his mere silence than to have it proclaimed by his bitterest would have insured for him unlimited con­ enemies. Henrj^ in a flash saw the precari- cessions, Gregory would rather die than ousness of his j)osition; he must either render sanction what his reason could not approve. allegiance to Rome, or forever lose his king­ His words to Matilda are an ineffaceable dom. Always actuated hj the most selfish evidence that he labored for something more motives, he preferred to suffer any humilia­ than "gold, jewels and the treasures of this tion rather than let slip from his tenacious world." His goal was heaven, and he knew grasp an office so productive of ease and that the way was rough. > luxur3^ There was no alternative: the Compliance with Henry's will would have anathema had to be removed. obtained the deliverance of the Anti-Pope It was during that frightfully cold winter into his own hands; it would have obtained of '76 and '77 that Henry, all but alone, Henr3^'s homage, and eventually have ended came as a penitent into •Ital3\ Every step the already long-protracted struggle.

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