登陆注册
15468300000160

第160章 FIVE 1938-1953 FEE(23)

His Grace Archbishop Ralph de Bricassart, at the present time aide to the Secretary of State of the Holy See of Rome, was today created Cardinal de Bricassart by His Holiness Pope Pius XII. Ralph Raoul, Cardinal de Bricassart has had a long and illustrious association with the Roman Catholic Church in Australia, extending from his arrival as a newly ordained priest in July 1919 to his departure for the Vatican in March 1938.

Born on September 23, 1893, in the Republic of Ireland, Cardinal de Bricassart was the second son of a family which can trace its descent from Baron Ranulf de Bricassart, who came to England in the train of William the Conqueror. By tradition, Cardinal de Bricassart espoused the Church. He entered the seminary at the age of seventeen, and upon his ordination was sent to Australia. His first months were spent in the service of the late Bishop Michael Clabby, in the Diocese of Winnemurra.

In June 1920 he was transferred to serve as pastor of Gillanbone, in northwestern New South Wales. He was made Monsignor, and continued at Gillanbone until December 1928. From there he became private secretary to His Grace Archbishop Cluny Dark, and finally private secretary to the then Archbishop Papal Legate, His Eminence Cardinal di Contini-Verchese. During this time he was created Bishop. When Cardinal di Contini-Verchese was transferred to Rome to commence his remarkable career at the Vatican, Bishop de Bricassart was created Archbishop, and returned to Australia from Athens as the Papal Legate himself. He held this important Vatican appointment until his transfer to Rome in 1938; since that time his rise within the central hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church has been spectacular. Now 58 years of age, he is rumored to be one of the few men actively concerned in the determination of papal policy.

A Sydney Morning Herald representative talked to some of Cardinal de Bricassart's ex-parishioners in the Gillanbone area yesterday. He is well remembered, and with much affection. This rich sheep district is predominantly Roman Catholic in its religious adherence. "Father de Bricassart founded the Holy Cross Bush Bibliophilic Society," said Mr. Harry Gough, Mayor of Gillanbone. "It was-for the time especially-a remarkable service, splendidly endowed first by the late Mrs. Mary Carson, and after her death by the Cardinal himself, who has never forgotten us or our needs."

"Father de Bricassart was the finest-looking man I've ever seen," said Mrs. Fiona Cleary, present doyenne of Drogheda, one of the largest and most prosperous stations in New South Wales. "During his time in Gilly he was a great spiritual support to his parishioners, and particularly to those of us on Drogheda, which as you know now belongs to the Catholic Church. During floods he helped us move our stock, during fires he came to our aid, even if it was only to bury our dead. He was, in fact, an extraordinary man in every way, and he had more charm than any man I've ever met. One could see he was meant for great things. Indeed we remember him, though it's over twenty years since he left us. Yes, I think it's quite truthful to say that there are some around Gilly who still miss him very much."

During the war the then Archbishop de Bricassart served His Holiness loyally and unswervingly, and is credited with having influenced Field Marshal Albert Kesselring in deciding to maintain Rome as an open city after Italy became a German enemy. Florence, which had asked in vain for the same privilege, lost many of its treasures, only restored later because Germany lost the war. In the immediate postwar period, Cardinal de Bricassart helped thousands of displaced persons seek asylum in new countries, and was especially vigorous in aiding the Australian immigration program.

Though by birth he is an Irishman, and though it seems he will not exert his influence as Cardinal de Bricassart in Australia, we still feel that to a large extent Australia may rightly claim this remarkable man as her own.

Meggie handed the paper back to Fee, and smiled at her mother ruefully. "One must congratulate him, as I said to the Herald reporter. They didn't print that, did they? Though they printed your little eulogy almost verbatim, I see. What a barbed tongue you've got! At least I know where Justine gets it from. I wonder how many people will be smart enough to read between the lines of what you said?"

"He will, anyway, if he ever sees it."

"I wonder does he remember us?" Meggie sighed. "Undoubtedly. After all, he still finds time to administer Drogheda himself. Of course he remembers us, Meggie. How could he forget?" "True, I had forgotten Drogheda. We're right up there on top of the earnings, aren't we? He must be very pleased. With our wool at a pound per pound in the auctions, the Drogheda wool check this year must have made even the gold mines look sick. Talk about Golden Fleece. Over four million pounds, just from shaving our baa-lambs."

"Don't be cynical, Meggie, it doesn't suit you," said Fee; her manner toward Meggie these days, though often mildly withering, was tempered with respect and affection. "We've done well enough, haven't we? Don't forget we get our money every year, good or bad. Didn't he pay Bob a hundred thousand as a bonus, the rest of us fifty thousand each? If he threw us off Drogheda tomorrow we could afford to buy Bugela, even at today's inflated land prices. And how much has he given your children? Thousands upon thousands. Be fair to him."

"But my children don't know it, and they're not going to find out. Dane and Justine will grow up to think they must make their own ways in the world, without benefit of dear Ralph Raoul, Cardinal de Bricassart. Fancy his second name being Raoul! Very Norman, isn't it?"

Fee got up, walked over to the fire and threw the front page of the Herald onto the flames. Ralph Raoul, Cardinal de Bricassart shuddered, winked at her, and then shriveled up.

"What will you do if he comes back, Meggie?"

Meggie sniffed. "Fat chance!"

同类推荐
  • 双溪醉隐集

    双溪醉隐集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说梵志女首意经

    佛说梵志女首意经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 龙角山记

    龙角山记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 紫团丹经

    紫团丹经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 铁花仙史

    铁花仙史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 无人生还之最后的航班

    无人生还之最后的航班

    以追求纯净文字而生,让我们青春永存。这是一本科学幻想和历史幻想小说,我们人失去了现有社会会变成什么模样?
  • 每天一堂销售课

    每天一堂销售课

    从一个刚入行的销售菜鸟到业绩辉煌的顶级销售员,需要多长时间?销售是一个没有硝烟的战场,客户即是敌人又是战友。
  • 摩尔的预言之漆黑与闪光

    摩尔的预言之漆黑与闪光

    摩尔的预言曾经主导我们的世界。如今,预言再次降临又会如何改变我们?将来,我们会重蹈覆辙;还是按部就班;或者挣脱重生?而预言又会给我们带来什么?架空大陆‘我们的世界’,预言率先降临在其东北区域的‘五行域’的‘北源市’。这里已然成为漆黑与闪光的交汇处;这里有虚拟现实的神秘机器;这里有魔幻多变的符文能力;这里有各个势力勾心斗角的明暗争夺;这里有友谊、情感、职责、牺牲与复仇!但一切又是否能摆脱预言的束缚呢?本篇三主角:科隆、郑邦、郑菲(菲尔)会如何面对他们的危机?是一步步误入漩涡;还是一步步走出迷雾;或交织、徘徊随预言逐流?
  • 九曲忘川情

    九曲忘川情

    九步奈何桥,三步一回眸!情断红尘路,枯坐阴司牢!问情几湘渡?孟婆汤一勺!垂泪何相许?伤去痕尤绕...爱的错误!就是因为!爱的太真太深!才会伤了自己
  • 凤帐暖:唇情帝王宠上瘾

    凤帐暖:唇情帝王宠上瘾

    狗血!首席鬼医穿成为刺史府庶女,欲火焚身且流落军营;可恶!战神皇帝竟然被蒙住眼睛强了,他颜面何在!她咬牙发誓要杀回刺史府、有仇报仇!他切齿发誓要找出羞辱他的女人,折磨再折磨!结果,她扶着快要被折断的腰,怒踹男人下床,男人一脸得意,“你说我雏鸡技术,这不是让你再验证验证么!再来!”
  • 饿狼前夫:娇妻再来一次

    饿狼前夫:娇妻再来一次

    原以为,三年之约足够赢得你的心,可是现实却给了沈慕薇一巴掌。“既然不爱,那就放手吧,三年一见误终生,就当我从未爱过你!”“不要~三年只是观察期,现在才是正式恋爱呢!”“放手啊!你摸哪里呢?我们已经离婚了!”“是哦!我们离婚了!那你告我强暴吧!”某总裁直接化身饿狼,狠狠的扑了上来。“不要~”“我知道你说的是不要停,如你所愿咯!”
  • 少年游岁月静好

    少年游岁月静好

    最美好的时光总是如梦一场,是空欢喜,还是尽悲伤。错误因稚嫩得到宽宥,感情经历淬炼而得到升华,是非曲直别有论断。少年游是没有返场的青春历程,是悲喜交集抑或潸然泪落。而岁月静好抚平无疾而终的爱情留下的伤痛。爱,所以理解,所以信任。即使你步步为营,也难逃他人处心积虑的设计。爱情终究讲究的是两情相悦,而非一厢情愿。遇见你,是命里的劫,也是恩赐。爱情的真谛,多少人用其一生而求之不得。
  • 夏风吹过的夏天

    夏风吹过的夏天

    青春的岁月里,我们最害怕的是孤独,而最喜欢的也是孤独吧。那年夏天,阵阵微风,拖着重重的步子,季小雨进入高中。低着头走在拥挤的人群中间,让她无暇顾及身边的风景。老树上的知了声声的叫着,听在季小雨的心里更加的烦躁,不知道是因为这个漫长的夏天,还是......
  • 我的黑暗王国

    我的黑暗王国

    黑暗王国的掌门人意外附身于一位妈妈身上,从此掌门人和这位妈妈的命运……
  • 妃卿莫属之琴寒转

    妃卿莫属之琴寒转

    那个大雪纷飞的冬季,他们相拥在连理树下,默默写下他们对爱情的誓言。那时的她很开心,很满足…或许,这就是琴寒曾经期许,也是她一直期许的爱情。在红瓦高墙的皇家内院,她渴望这份爱情可以平平淡淡,长长久久的持续下去。人心所愿,却执拗不过世事无常。那条去往冷宫的路上,再也听不到他那句温润怜惜的话语:“莫怕,无论怎样,我总会陪着你”。只是,此时此刻的你,究竟在哪里…