If Pope says black is white, that's it, right? - a very special young man knew better than that

From our 2012 series on the Life and Thoughts of Cardinal Merry del Val, on the centennial year of the death (dies natalis) of Pope Saint Pius X:

Beside the exceptional and amiable figure of St. Pius X, we have, in marvellous splendor, the figure no less exceptional and extraordinary, of his Secretary of State, Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val. Of noble birth, but still more of noble aspirations, as from the first years of his life he had one unique and most noble goal: to be a Priest of God.

ENLIGHTENING PRESENTIMENTS

Born on the 10th October 1865 in London, to the Spanish Marquis of Irish descent, Rafael Merry del Val, and to the Countess Josephine de Zulueta, English but of Spanish descent, the future Secretary of State received Baptism the following day, and was named Rafael. The prestigious Del Val family, illustrious due to the nobility of their blood no less than for their virtues, could boast that amongst their ancestors there was a martyr of the Church: Little St. Domingo del Val ... . The future Cardinal nourished a very special devotion to him.

Rafael Merry del Val was, therefore, an aristocrat , but far from being fascinated by noble society, he demonstrated even from his infancy the signs of a divine calling. At only eight years of age, when asked by an elderly Jesuit what he wanted to be when he grew up, he replied: “I want to be a priest.” And when he was saying goodnight to his parents that evening, he drew out of his sleeve a biscuit and raising it on high, said: “I will do this with the host when I become a priest.” He would also, from time to time during meals, take a glass of water and a biscuit, and raising it a little would exclaim: “This is what I will do when I celebrate the Mass.” Having learned at an early age to serve the Holy Mass, he took delight in preparing little altars and imitating the sacred ceremonies, as well as speaking of these things with various priests who, with admiration, perceived in the young Rafael the divine calling.

One day, whilst out walking with his governess, a funeral cortege was passing by. The little Rafael took off, mingling with the crowd which was following the coffin. When the governess after an anxious search finally found him and asked him why he had done such a thing, he answered candidly: “Mother told me that those who die go to Paradise: and I also want to go to paradise with that deceased person.” The Mother of the future Cardinal recounted also that on another occasion, whist she was explaining to him the meaning of papal infallibility, she decided to test him. Taking a book bound in black in her hand, she asked him: “Rafael, if the Pope said that this book is bound in white, what would you say about that?” The little boy, after a moment’s reflection replied: “Mother, the Pope would not be able to say such nonsense,” showing – by his reply – the acuteness of his most refined intelligence.

We are reposting this because some readers were curious about a recent mention of the matter in a Rorate article, in which a paraphrase of the Ignatian words was quoted: "if the Pope says that black is white then we should believe that it is white."

The Life and Thoughts of Cardinal Merry del Val - VII Sarto and Merry del Val, communion of thoughts and ideals - and a long recess

"Silence and solitude make up the atmosphere of the cross: and we cannot live without the cross: it is the gift of Our Lord for those who love Him." 

Card. Merry del Val

COR UNUM ET ANIMA UNA

Though different in culture, language and nationality, there was such a communion of thought and of ideals between Pope Sarto and Merry del Val that the famous French writer Renè Bazin could write that St. Pius X “in naming Cardinal Merry del Val as his Secretary of State, showed that he possessed one of the primary qualities of a Prince, which is to know men and to choose his ministers for the good of the kingdom. To suddenly place the young prelate in such a high position, required courage: but Pius X had recognized in Rafael  Merry del Val an extraordinary character and a superior intelligence.” Upon the death of the Cardinal in the year 1930, an influential German daily newspaper wrote: “It is not possible to state precisely to what point the extraordinarily fruitful Pontificate of Pius X was the work of that pontiff and which was the part of his Secretary of State.”

The Cardinal lent his service to the Holy Father with such rectitude, that neither the common desire of praises nor servile fear nor temptations of popularity could influence him in the least. St. Pius X usually referred to Merry del Val as “his” Cardinal and every time he spoke of him, he could not hide the joy of having him at his side, saying on several occasions that “he knew not how to thank Our Lord enough for giving him such a precious collaborator.” That is why the writer Cammillo Bellaigue,  Chamberlain to His Holiness, could rightly witness: “During the whole of the pontificate of the saintly Pope Pius X, there were occasions when I had dealings with Cardinal Merry del Val. His intelligence was equal to his soul. I served as best I could this great servant of the greatest of masters. I can still hear St. Pius X saying to me: ” To separate myself from Cardinal del Val? I would rather be separated from my head.”

These two great souls lived united for eleven long years in the guidance of the Church of God, according to the principles of the Gospel which know no compromises. They worked, battled and suffered together, to the point that in a signed note to his Secretary, the Pope wrote: “…I have asked Our Lord, that as long as He desires to have me down here, He grant me the grace of always having you by my side.” And the young Cardinal loved his Pope with  a disinterested love, wholly aimed at the good of the Church and the salvation of souls.

These two great men of the Church cannot be separated in the story of that blessed Pontificate – one of the most glorious on record. Even before their government of the Church, they were kindred spirits in the spiritual life, which left a deep impression on the world due to their holiness of life and unconditional love for the truth.

Providence had disposed that Pius X and Merry del Val would work together, battle and suffer together to the point that, after the death of Pius X, Merry del Val would remain in the eyes of the world as the depositary and representative of the thought of St. Pius X. It is not by chance that on the death of the Cardinal someone wrote: “It seems that twice over we have lost the admirable and holy Pope.”

THOUGHTS

“Let us have faith. God will guide all things for the best. We see only one page in the great book that he has written for us. He sees everything and can do everything.  He loves us.  Fiat!"

“The beautiful virtue of humility seems to be so little understood. God, in as much as He is God could not practice humility, but used condescension. He lowered Himself to come to us…let us strive to descend; to lower ourselves in order to imitate Him.”

Cardinal Merry del Val 

                                                                                  
To be continued

[Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, Italy. Translation: contributor Francesca Romana]

The Life and Thoughts of Cardinal Merry del Val - VI Merry del Val was "HIS Cardinal"

On the 18th of October 1903, by the firm and decisive will of the Holy Father, St. Pius X, Abp. Merry del Val was nominated Secretary of State. In this delicate decision, the Holy Father was (as was the case for all the decisions he made) neither constrained by external pressure nor by the humility of the young prelate who would rather exempt himself from such a duty. From that moment forth, the young Cardinal was always at the side of the Holy Father with whom he shared joys and sorrows in order to “instaurare omnia in Christo.”

SECRETARY OF STATE

Nominated pro-Secretary of State by St. Pius X, Mgr. Merry del Val carried out his delicate task with extreme diligence, an admirable spirit of sacrifice, and to the great satisfaction of the  Pope. Meanwhile, the name of the new Secretary of State was expected. The voices began to circulate, but St. Pius, a great scrutinizer of souls, did not reveal his thoughts.

The Life and Thoughts of Cardinal Merry del Val - V Cardinal Sarto and Abp. Merry del Val: a meeting that changed the Church

At the conclave of 1903, the Patriarch of Venice, Giuseppe Sarto, and the young Titular Archbishop of Nicaea, R. Merry del Val, met for the first time. In the unfathomable designs of Providence, these two men of the Church , so different in their culture and birth, would give unforgettable lessons to the history of the Church and prepare the triumph of the Catholic Faith in the face of the assaults of modernism. 

The Conclave of 1903 

On July, 20, 1903, the Holy Father, Leo XIII, died at ninety years of age. A few days before his death, Abp. Volpini, Secretary of the Sacred College of Cardinals who was to be the secretary of the future Conclave, died suddenly. Therefore, it was necessary to nominate a successor. 

The eyes of the Cardinals turned unanimously to Abp. Merry del Val, who was elected secretary of the future conclave, and that was due not only to his outstanding capacities, but above all to his eminent virtues, that rendered him the figure of a model priest, whom everyone looked upon with veneration. The young Archbishop of Nicaea sought to evade this election, showing forth his incapacity and inexperience in filling such a burdensome task, but nothing would convince the Cardinals who remained firm in their nomination. 

Merry del Val, seeing in that the evident manifestation of the will of God, resigned himself to it, and began preparing for the Conclave with zeal and an exactitude which revealed his profound and unconditional love for the Church. The task was arduous. 

25 long years had passed since the last Conclave and the situation had changed very much. But the Secretary of the Conclave was able to organize everything with extreme competence and decision, drawing upon himself the admiration even of those who did not know him. On July 31, the Cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel to start the Conclave. 

Though Merry del Val had worked for many years in the Vatican, he had never met the Patriarch of Venice, Giuseppe Sarto. He saw him at the Conclave for the first time, when the votes started to increase for him. Cardinal Sarto, bewildered and fearful, sought to convince the Cardinals not to elect him. In reality these attestations of the most profound humility drew upon him even more admiration and sympathy. And the number of votes increased. 

Then the Cardinal Dean charged the Secretary of the Conclave, Merry del Val, to go to Cardinal Sarto in order to beseech him, in the name of the Sacred College, not to persist in his refusal of the Pontificate. Merry del Val went to the Patriarch’s room, but he was not there. He found him, instead, completely alone, kneeling upon the floor, with his head in his hands, praying intently before the Blessed Sacrament in the Pauline Chapel. The Secretary kindly referred the message of the Cardinals to him. The Patriarch in tears, with imploring eyes, said: “No, no, tell the Cardinal Dean, I beg of you, that they must not consider me; ask them to do me this kindness!” to which Mgr. Merry del Val humbly added: “Courage, Eminence!” But at last the insistence of the Cardinals and the manifested will of the Sacred College overcame the Patriarch’s resistance who was thus elected as Pontiff. That was the first meeting between the future St. Pius X and his Secretary of State, who together would govern the Church during what was defined as the “Supernatural Pontificate”. 

In the act of accepting the Pontificate, Cardinal Sarto said: “If this chalice cannot pass by me unless I drink it, may the will of God be done.” When asked what name he would take, in a prophetic tone he replied: “Since the Popes who have suffered the most for the Church in this past century have taken the name of Pius, I will also take this name.” 

It was August 4, 1903. Having finished the most important of the duties, Mgr. Merry del Val, at the end of the audience, said to the new Pontiff: “Holy Father, my office as Secretary of the Conclave is over. I thank you for your kindness to me and ask you to forgive me my inefficiency and the mistakes I many have made in my official capacity. I leave to your Holiness these papers relating to the affairs still outstanding and on returning to my dear Academy, I beg your fatherly blessing.” Pius X looked at Merry del Val with those eyes of his which “seemed to go through eternity” and with a sweet and fatherly voice he said: “What, Monsignore, do you wish to leave me?” Deeply moved the young Secretary replied: “No, I have no wish to leave Your Holiness, but my office is at an end. The Secretary of State whom you will nominate will take my place and continue to direct affairs.” But Pius X replied: “Take back your papers, Monsignore. I beg you continue in your office as Pro-Secretary of State until I am ready to make a decision.” The young Archbishop of Nicaea could not resist the Pope’s plea and remained at his side. 

“We have a saintly Pope,” - he wrote during those days to an English friend - “he seems very prudent and alert; he is very mild and has a charming personality.” 

[From: De vita contemplativa , Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, Italy. Translation: Contributor Francesca Romana]

The Life and Thoughts of Cardinal Merry del Val - IV Disregard for self

Merry del Val neither desired dignities nor the responsibilities with which (it being the will of the Supreme Pontiff) he was invested, throughout the years of his wonderful service to Holy Mother Church. He, instead, filled with that profound humility , which sought out hiddeness and the last place in everything, fled from honours and receptions, and loved to dedicate himself with particular care above all, to the most humble duties of his priestly ministry, such as visiting the sick, hearing confessions and preaching.

THE FULLNESS OF THE PRIESTHOOD

 From the 1st of April to the 3rd of July 1897, Mgr. Merry del Val remained in Canada where the Holy Father Leo XIII had sent him as Apostolic Delegate on an extraordinary Mission to resolve a difficult political-religious question which disturbed souls greatly and therefore demanded unusual tact and competence. The mission was brilliantly successful, to the point that the same Supreme Pontiff, in the Encyclical Letter which derived from it, (addressed to the Canadian episcopate) declared that his Apostolic Delegate had carried out his mission in Canada “naviter ac fideliter,” with diligence and fidelity.

 In 1898, due to his competence and culture, the young Monsignor was nominated Consulter of the Sacred Congregation of the Index. In virtue of this nomination, he was often entrusted with the attentive examination of texts, specially in the English language. Upon addressing himself to the Secretary of that Congregation when submitting some work, he revealed the profound humility of his soul by writing the following words: “I do not know if you will be content, because I am worth little and don’t know how to do much, but I placed all my good will and all the care that was possible into it.”

 In 1899 he was named President of the Academy of Noble Ecclesiastics, from where he had come. He sought to be dispensed from such a nomination which destroyed once more his desire for an apostolate amongst the Anglicans, but he had to submit himself to the will of the Pope. On April 19, 1900, he was elected titular Archbishop of Nicea and on the following 6th of May, he received the fullness of the priesthood. On this occasion – after the solemn celebration – instead of the customary party, he wanted to offer lunch to 200 poor people, also giving some new clothing to each of them, in this way, breaking the tradition of having costly and lengthy receptions.

 His life in the Academy which prepared the young priest for service to the Holy See, was wonderfully edifying. Faithfully observant to the rule, he was present at all the common acts. In the morning, the pupils always found him in the Chapel where he read the points for the meditation.

 Preferring to increase his apostolic works and life of piety, he avoided receptions, even though those were permitted. Those who knew him at this time, were able to affirm: “…he was never to be seen at high society receptions, unless there was some good to be done there. Only in order to obey the desires of the Pope, whom he loved so much, did he attend, on rare occasions, those of his father, who was then Ambassador of Spain to the Holy See, but from his behavior it was easy to understand that he was present there unwillingly, feeling like a fish out of water.”

 Being very devoted to the Sacred Heart, he promoted this devotion both within and outside the Academy. He never made use of disciplinary measures since his life and example were a continuous admonition and a tacit exhortation to always do better. Though totally dedicated to his pupils, he managed to find time for ministerial works, such as visiting the sick, hearing confessions, preaching and religious instructions for Protestants, who were always the favoured object of his priestly duties. We have yet another testimony in the following letter, sent in 1901 to the Holy Father, Leo XIII:

Most Blessed Father,

Prostrate at the feet of Your Holiness, and with sentiments of filial submission, I submit to you the intimate desire of my heart and, with solicitation, ask a grace, which, in my eyes, is the greatest which I could obtain from the paternal benevolence of Your Holiness towards the most humble of your sons.

Until now I have asked Your Holiness for nothing for myself, and this is the first grace, and perhaps the last, that I implore. I would like Your Holiness to grant me the faculty of renouncing the office which I occupy, though unworthy, in the Academy of Ecclesiastics, and to withdraw to Trastevere, or another part of Rome; where, free from every other commitment, I could consecrate myself entirely to the priestly ministry in the midst of people, and at the same time, work for the good of our foreign brethren in Rome, and especially those who speak the English language.

I do not have great financial means, but that which is provided by my family is enough for me to live on decorously, and I neither ask for nor desire more. Perhaps this decision will cause many to be amazed and it could be interpreted in a different way by those who know me; but I will be happy to accept the consequences, certain of doing that which is pleasing to Our Lord.

Nothing has caused me displeasure at the Academy, and rather than seeing myself promoted to other responsibilities I would be happy to remain in this Institute until the end of my life. But, if Your Holiness would grant me the grace which I now implore, my happiness would be complete and my gratitude towards Your Holiness eternal.

Most Blessed Father, I place at your feet this my prayer, and with sentiments of the most perfect submission to Your sovereign Will, I submit myself.

But his request was not granted this time either. 

 To be continued 

 From: De vita Contemplativa, The Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, Italy [Translation: Contributor Francesca Romana]

The Life and Thoughts of Cardinal Merry del Val - III The conversion of the Anglicans

Besides the supreme ideal of the Priesthood, God placed in the heart of young Mgr. Merry del Val that which would always remain the great passion of his life: the conversion of the Anglicans. Under the guidance and at the service of the Supreme Pontiff, Leo XIII, in fact,he would work indefatigably – by prayer and action- for the return to God of that which was defined “the land of the Angels” England, his beloved homeland. 

 THE CONVERSION OF THE ANGLICANS 

 Having been ordained a priest, the young Monsignor finally hoped to be able to dedicate himself to the conversion of the great nation of his birth. This was the passion of his entire existence. But, though, in his untiring apostolic zeal, he had worked for the conversion of many Anglicans, Divine Providence had other plans for him. Meanwhile, notwithstanding his noble lineage, in 1889, during his free hours, he began to exercise his priestly ministry amongst the youth and the poor of the populous area of Trastevere, establishing the first foundations of that pious Association which would become one of the most beautiful jewels of his priesthood. 

 In 1891, Mgr. Merry del Val was nominated private Chamberlain of His Holiness. By this, the Holy Father Leo XIII called him to his direct service, admitting him to his noble pontifical Antechamber. The young prelate was not enthusiastic about this nomination, since he saw that his dreams of an apostolate amongst the Anglicans of his homeland would not be fulfilled. With humility of heart and words, he expressed to the Holy Father, his disturbance of heart, his desires and above all the request to be exempted from that duty, desiring to live as a simple priest. The Pope answered him with a question: “Tell me, Monsignor, are you disposed to obey the Pope and to serve the Church?” “Yes, if your Holiness commands it of me!” replied the young prelate, moved. “Very well,” concluded the Pope. At these words, which would mark his life, the Monsignor bowed his head to the will of the Vicar of Christ and set forth, without reticence, upon the path which the Lord had showed him. 

 In reality, Leo XIII wanted to make use of the young prelate above all for the questions regarding the Anglican countries, and in particular England. One can imagine with what ardent zeal and untiring charity Merry del Val would correspond to the desires of the Holy Father to help the return of the Anglicans to the bosom of the one Church. And in fact he played an important part in the editing of the Encyclical Ad Anglos regnum Christi in fidei unitate quaerentes of the 14th April 1895, in which the Pope recommended the unity of minds and hearts in one Faith alone, inserting also a marvelous prayer to the Sorrowful Virgin for the conversion of the “separated brethren” and their return to Rome, which was composed by the young Merry del Val. 

But still more incisive was his intervention in the difficult question of Anglican ordination, the validity of which had been disputed for centuries without any conclusions ever having been made. He well knew that the hope of the return of the Anglicans to the Church of Rome could not be nourished unless the question of Anglican ordinations was clearly defined. That is why he insisted that they should proceed to such a decision, without giving into compromises of any sort, nor to the pressure which came from the Anglican world. 

By this singular experience of the Anglican world and by the light which came to him from his intense prayer life, Merry del Val marked the fundamental lines of the Encyclical Apostolicae curae of the 13th September 1896 with which the Pope pronounced in a definitive way on the invalidity of the ordinations of the Anglican clergy. The Encyclical had a vast echo in the Anglican world as much as it had in that of the Catholic. This was followed by a publication of a study by the young Monsignor entitled: “Regarding Anglican Ordinations: An unpublished document on the religious situation in England,” which raised much interest. In it, the future Secretary of State revealed (apart from his profound knowledge of the Anglican world) his theological competence and ability as a polemist. He understood that the return of the separated brethren implied a conversion, and that such a conversion in order to be authentic, demanded the recognition of the specific error. 

 This always proved to be (and still proves to be) a huge obstacle due to national and individual pride, especially in the duty of recognizing as Supreme Pastor, he who for centuries had been pointed out to be the “antichrist.” But the unity of the Church can only base itself on truth. [To be continued.]

Testimonies 

Cardinal Merry del Val, ardently zeal for the conversion of the English Protestants, for whom he would work so much, knowing well that the most valid means of defense of the apostolate is prayer, and that the Mediatrix of all graces is Mary, composed a beautiful prayer to the Sorrowful Virgin which the great Leo XIII, of happy memory, wanted to add a heartfelt appeal to his separated sons.

“O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England, Thy dowry, and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in Thee. By Thee it was that Jesus, our Saviour and hope, was given to the world, and He hath given Thee to us that we may hope still more. Plead for us Thy children, whom Thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O Sorrowful Mother. Intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the Chief Shepherd, the Vicar of Thy Son. Pray for us all dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, with Thee in our heavenly home. Amen.

From: De vita Contemplativa, Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, Italy [Translation: Contributor Francesca Romana]

Merry del Val - novena prayer and intentions

A reader sends us the following:

As has been stated in Rorate, Rafael Merry del Val was educated at Ushaw College in the north of England. He commenced his studies at Ushaw College in 1883 before he went to Rome in 1885. In 1955, the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, in whose diocese Ushaw College is situated, wrote to the people of the diocese and asked them to support a novena to further the cause of His Eminence. I have attached scans of the bishop’s suggested novena prayers and a brief summary of Cardinal del Val’s life. Some of Rorate's readers may wish to recite these novena prayers to help the cause of this great servant of the Church.

Ushaw College was the major seminary for the north of England and was formed in 1808 by students who had fled some years earlier from Douai College in northern France during the French Revolution. It expanded over the decades and by 1962, at the opening of the Second Vatican Council it housed 400 students, although some were secular students. It was ordaining about 22 priests per year. Following the introduction of the changes in the 1960s the numbers dropped quite dramatically and by 2010 there were less than 30 students. It was closed by the English hierarchy in June 2010.

Merry del Val - Part 2

THE LIFE AND THOUGHTS OF

Cardinal R. Merry del Val

Secretary of State of Saint Pius X

Through the manifest will of the Holy Father Leo XIII, young Rafael followed his studies in Rome at the Academy of the Noble Ecclesiastics. The aged Pontiff had perceived his intelligence and virtue and, notwithstanding the fact that he was still very young and not yet a priest, he entrusted him with important diplomatic duties in London and Berlin. But the soul of the future Secretary of State, far from the glitter of earthly glory, desired to receive the sacred unction which would make him a priest forever.

TOWARDS THE SPLENDOURS OF THE PRIESTHOOD

During his stay at the College of Ushaw in England, young Rafael won everyone over, teachers as well as pupils, with his courteous and jovial character as well as his great intelligence and natural goodness, but even more for his supernatural and angelic piety which made of him one of the most illustrious glories of the famous College. In the spring of 1885, he received the tonsure and the four minor orders at Ushaw.

Merry del Val - Part 1

THE LIFE AND THOUGHTS

OF Cardinal. R. Merry del Val

Secretary of State of St. Pius X

Part 1

Beside the exceptional and amiable figure of St. Pius X, we have, in marvellous splendor, the figure no less exceptional and extraordinary, of his Secretary of State, Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val. Of noble birth, but still more of noble aspirations, as from the first years of his life he had one unique and most noble goal: to be a Priest of God.

ENLIGHTENING PRESENTIMENTS

Born on the 10th October 1865 in London, to the Spanish Marquis of Irish descent, Rafael Merry del Val, and to the Countess Josephine de Zulueta, English but of Spanish descent, the future Secretary of State received Baptism the following day, and was named Rafael. The prestigious Del Val family, illustrious due to the nobility of their blood no less than for their virtues, could boast that amongst their ancestors there was a martyr of the Church: Little St. Domingo del Val ... .  The future Cardinal nourished a very special devotion to him.