- Early life of Pope Pius XII
Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli, later
Pope Pius XII was born March 2,1876, to Filippo and Virginia (Graziosi) Pacelli, in Rome, where he spent his childhood. His was ordained as a priest in 1899.Family Background
Eugenio was born into a family, which for most of the 19th century, was in service to the
Holy See . The Pacelli family had a long tradition of legal training. His grandfather, Marcantonio Pacelli, had beenminister of finance forPope Gregory XVI and deputy minister of interior underPope Pius IX from 1851 to 1870. He founded theL’Osservatore Romano on July 20, 1860. [The Origins of L’Osservatore Romano, Vatican Website: http://209.85.135.104/searchq=cache:RXKo_HAWxg8J:www.vatican.va/news_services/or/history/hi_eng.html+Marcantonio+Pacelli+osservatore+romano&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=de] His father Filippo Pacelli, was as solicitor (lawyer) in the Congregation of the SacredRota . His brother,Francesco Pacelli , a Vatican lawyer as well, wasdean of the lawyers of the Rota [The top 100 Catholics of the Century, DAILY CATHOLIC December 3-5, 1999, vol. 10, no. 230] He was also the legal advisor toPius XI , in which role he negotiated theLateran Treaty in 1929, bringing an end to theRoman Question . It established the independence of the Papacy with the formation of Vatican City as a souvern entity.Francesco Pacelli described in his "Diario della Conciliazione " details and difficulties of these negotiations from a Vatican perspective. [Francesco Pacelli. Diario della Conciliazione Citta del Vaticana: Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 1930]The family's parish church in Rome was the
Chiesa Nuova where the body of St.Philip Neri was under the altar in a silver casket. The saint with his unending sense of humor and love for education, music and culture, was one of the great heroes of young Eugenio Pacelli. Eugenio served as an alter boy at Chiesa Nuova, and, after his ordination as a priest, took weekly confessions there. [At the second confessional at the left side of the Church] Eugenio was the third of four children, the second son. Two days after his birth, he was baptized at the Church of "Saints Celso and Giuliano" by his uncle, Monsignor Giuseppe Pacelli. Hisgodparent s were his maternal uncle Filippo Graziosi and paternal aunt Teresa Pacelli. [Gilla Gremini, Il Santo Padre Pio XII, Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana, 1943, p.24] In the apartment where he grew up, there was a shrine of the Madonna with a prie-dieu Pacelli would frequently pray. He attended a kindergarten and elementary school conducted by the "Sisters of Divine Providence" at the age of four. In 1939, a bust of Pius XII was unveiled at the school.Education
After elementary school, at age seven, Eugenio began his studies at the "Ennio Quirino Visconti Lyceum", where he learned several languages, including
Latin . At age twelve, he announced that he would enter thepriesthood , rather than becoming a lawyer like most of his family. Nobody was surprised, said his sister Elisabetta Pacelli. [Ilse Lore Konopatzki, Eugenio Pacelli, Pius XII. Kindheit und Jugend in Dokumenten, Pustet, Salzburg und München, 1974, S.253 ]Eugenio’s Self-Portrait
Thirteen years old, Eugenio was asked by his Professor Ignazio Bassi, to write a self-portrait, which is one of several school essays of Eugenio Pacelli in original school books. [Ilse Lore Konopatzki, Eugenio Pacelli ]
** I am thirteen years old and for this age I am, as one can see, neither very tall nor small. My figure is slender, the colour of my skin brown, my face rather pale, my hair chestnut and soft, my eyes black, my nose rather bent. I will not say much of my chest, which to be true, is not very big. I have a pair of long and thin legs, and two feet, not minor size. From all this, one can understand, that physically, I am an average young man
** Nature awarded me with sufficient gifts, so I may with good will, do many things. …I am inspired the classics and the study of Latin gives me the highest sense of enjoyment. Since I love music, I enjoy playing an instrument in my free time especially during vacations.
** My character is pretty impatient and strong. But I feel an obligation to modify it through education. I am comforted, to see that in my heart resides an instinctive generosity. As I won’t tolerate disagreement, I easily forgive those, who insult me. I hope that age and reflection will contribute to a disappearance of the damaging shortcomings, which I recognize. It seems I have said the truth”. [Ilse Lore Konopatzki, Eugenio Pacelli, p.24]Self-discipline
Being somewhat sicklish, he tried to overcome this physical
handicap with exercise and sports. In his family summer home inOnano , he would ridehorse s,swim andcanoe in Lake Bolzena. Eugenio hiked frequently. Throughout his life to his old age, he undertook long daily walks and morning exercises. Discipline, allowed him to find time for his favourite musical instrument, the violin, which he played often and “so well, that he might have participated in an orchestra”. [Burkhart Schneider, Pio XII, pace, opera della giustizia, Torino, 1984, p. 11] He preferred to play classical and romantic German composers,Bach ,Mozart ,Beethoven and Mendelssohn. He had a passion for acting and public speaking. "This was his way of overcoming shyness and an early speech defect, with determination and energy". [Burkhart Schneider, Pio XII, 10] He was also interested in stamp collecting andArchaeology . The latter would manifest itself years later inDivino Afflante Spiritu , in which he encouraged going back to the language, culture and society of ancient Israel, in order to better understand theOld Testament .To gain time for his many interests, Eugenio from early on forced himself to methodical work and prayer habits. He confirmed later, that he liked to pray and study as a child, and that he never really understood, why other people would talk or do nothing, rather than pray and study. [Ilse Lore Konopatzki, Eugenio Pacelli, p.16 ]
Theology
Theology and the Catholic Church were not popular in late 19th century Italy. [Martina, Giacomo. "La situazione degli istituti religiosi in Italia intorno al 1870" in: Chiesa e religiosità in Italia dopo l’unità. Atti del quarto Convegno di Storia della Chiesa. Relazioni. Milan: Vita e Pensiero, 1973, I, 194-335.] Following the hostile take-over of papal Rome by Italian forces in 1870, religion was banned from public schools. Freedom and positivist philosophies were politically popular. The Catholic Church was seen as a reactionary enemy of the Italian people. [Piero Bargellini, Il Pastore Angelico, Pio XII, Roma, 1950, pp 35-36] In 1894, at the age of 18, he entered the
Capranica Seminary and enrolled at theGregorian University . He lived at home (an unprecedented dispensation) while continuing his studies at theSapienza School of Philosophy, and the PapalAthenaeum of St. Apollinaris for Theology. He receivedBaccalaureate andLicentiate degreessumma cum laude . His frail health prevented his participation at the graduation ceremony Records show that he graduated with highest honors and is reported to have had aphotographic memory .Ordination
Eugenio Pacelli was ordained on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1899 and celebrated his first mass the following day in Borghese Chapel of the Basilica of
Saint Mary Major in Rome at the altar of "Salus Populi Romano ", where in 1949, fifty years later he celebrated the anniversary. Vicenzo Cardinal Vanutelli attended his first mass as did his spiritual guides, Monsignor Azzochi and Father Lais and his family. [ C. Verwoort, Pius XII, Pergamon, Antwerpen, 1949, p.40-41] He celebrated his second mass at his favorite churchChiesa Nuova April 4, 1899 on the altar ofPhilip Neri . [ C. Verwoort, Pius XII, Pergamon, Antwerp, 1949, p. 43]Beginning Vatican Service
A few weeks thereafter, on the Feast of
Corpus Christi , the young Priest Eugenio Pacelli gave his first major sermon, which he concluded with these words:** Christ accepts all the calumnies and accusations and asks only for our hearts, so He can lighten the fire of His love and spread His kingdom all over the earth. Today, let us replace ungratefulness with our love and thus warm up His heart. Today, we go to Jesus with humility and love, ashamed of our misery and unworthiness. Like the Blind, we near the fountain of eternal clarity". [Ilse Lore Konopatzki, Eugenio Pacelli, p.259]
Shortly afterwards, Pacelli was at home playing his favourite
violin , when an unannounced visitor from the Vatican showed up. MonsignorPietro Gasparri came, to ask for help in the Vatican bureaucracy. Pacelli was not impressed, telling Gaparri, "this is not why I became a priest” [Alden Hatch, Seamus Walshe, Crown of Glory, The life of Pope Pius XII, New York, 1956, p.53 ] Pacelli wanted to work with real people, doingParish work. “I understand”, replied Gasparri, “you want to be aShepherd and I turn you into asheep dog ”. But there are many mansions. All service to the Church ispastoral . And he continued describing the important work in the State department of the Vatican. Eugenio Pacelli accepted and was introduced to CardinalMariano Rampolla , the Secretary of State and toPope Leo XIII in 1901. This started acareer , which ended with the death ofPope Pius XII , October 9, 1958. [Otto Walter Pius XI, Leben und Persönlichkeit, Olten und Freiburg, 1941, p.53-54 ]Quotations from Young Eugenio
Good books
Eugenio loved to read. Favourites included
Saint Augustine ,Cicero andManzoni . In 1889, At age 13, Pacelli describes a good book as man's best friend.** A good book is not only useful, it gives us joy, enriching our spirit with new knowledge, and educating our emotions with noble feelings. A good book is always useful. In good times, it enriches our joy, in bad times, it provides consolation and strength, . It teaches us, to accept the tragedies of life. A good book will never leave us. It will not change, its principles will not change either. From all this, one can easily understand, why a good book is the best of friends. [Ilse Lore Konopatzki, Eugenio Pacelli, p.30]
Enemies
The date of this last school essay is March 1894, when he was 17, almost 18 years old. The topic “my enemies” was not of Pacelli’s choosing, it was given to Eugenio Pacelli and the other students by his professor as a project for the whole class.
** As a child I saw in long sleepless nights bad, ugly, black fairies dancing around me. Fairies, who are the enemies of good children and as these terrible faces appeared in front of me, changing into ever more terrible appearances, I put my head under the covers. One could say, that they were anticipations, what will happen later in life.
** I will have enemies, no doubt. Some of my ideas, may be a little original. Some may be not totally correct in the opinion of others, although I am convinced of their goodness. Some of my ideas I will pronounce with a loud voice, and may be with a careless openness. All this will create enemies, hate and vengeance. But this will not hold me back, or, not to mention, give up.
** Of course, everybody acts different against his enemies. Some get really angry, others highly upset, others are incapable of reacting and fall into resignation. Not me. I want satisfaction. And the satisfaction, which I seek is a subjective one. My pride, why should I hide this feeling, comes out in full force. But this has something good. After great tension I am looking for consolation, for a meadow of my pride, and so I am going after what is for me the cure of all pain, which makes me forget everything bad, study.
** When I have to fight against my enemies, I develop a powerful drive to do studies, strong, and numerous as never before. The prospect of the great works illuminates and strengthens me. This is my revenge. [Ilse Lore Konopatzki, Eugenio Pacell1, p. 220]
=Pope Pius XII
References
* Piero Bargellini, Il Pastore Angelico, Pio XII, Roma, 1950
* Gilla Gremini, Il Santo Padre Pio XII, Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana, 1943
*Alden Hatch, Seamus Walshe, Crown of Glory, The life of Pope Pius XII, New York, 1956
* Sr.Pascalina Lehnert , La Profondita di un anima da una testimonianza vivente, in: Rivista delle Religiose, 1968, 12
* SrPascalina Lehnert , Ich durfte ihm dienen, Erinnerungen an Papst Pius XII, Würzburg, 1985
* Ilse Lore Konopatzki, Eugenio Pacelli, Pius XII. Kindheit und Jugend in Dokumenten, Pustet, Salzburg und München, 1974
* Margherita Marchione ?
* Burkhart Schneider, Pio XII, Pace, Opera della Giustizia, Torino, 1984
* C. Verwoort, Pius XII, Pergamon, Antwerpen, 1949
* Otto Walter Pius XI, Leben und Persönlichkeit, Olten und Freiburg, 1941ources
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