Abbey-Roads2

 May 24 - Help of Christians

Fr. Steve, a Salesian priest who authors the blog, Da Mihi Animas, also celebrates Our Lady’s feast today.   Happy feast day Father! 

The origins of the feast.

Returning to Rome in 1815 from several years of captivity imposed by the emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, Pope Pius VII instituted this feast in thanksgiving for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin on behalf of the Church. Napoleon had kidnapped the Holy Father and held him captive to demonstrate that the Vicar of Christ was subject to the emperor first and then to almighty God.

The decree of 1809 ordered that the papal States be joined to the French empire; insurgency broke out in Rome, when the French flag was flown and the papal arms destroyed. The Pope immediately excommunicated Napoleon. Soon the Holy Father was arrested and taken captive by the French.

The sacrilegious kidnapping of the Pope accomplished, he subsequently spent five years in exile in various places ending finally at Fontainebleau, France. After 1815 when Napoleon had been deposed, the clemency of the Pope towards the Emperor and his family is a matter of history; the latter were afforded a secure refuge in Rome itself. When the Emperor himself, exiled to the island of Saint Helena, the Pope pleaded for clemency with the Prince-Regent of England. When Napoleon died, it was with the assistance of chaplains sent to him by Pius VII. - Rome-ing Catholics 

Speaking of Pius VII. 

The following is an anecdote I gleaned from Fr. Z’s comment box regarding something the Pontiff said to Napoleon:

“I am reminded of a story about Napoleon threatening Pius VII that he would destroy the Church if the Pope didn’t go along with his policies. The Pope just laughed and said, ‘Priests have been trying to destroy the Church for 1500 years and haven’t succeeded. You won’t either.’”