I've labeled Pope Pius XI as "Italian priest" in today's birthday list, but reading more about this leader shows that teacher, diplomat, and librarian would all have been accurate. He was a librarian for most of his career prior to his election, then was called to diplomacy, and his papacy seemed to occupied primarily with diplomatic efforts at holding off the evils he saw in the totalitarian governments of Germany, Italy, and Russia. While he negotiated a place for the Roman church in the stormy years before WW II, he didn't hesitate to denounce the governments he was dealing with. He also ended up in the position, like his successor, of opposing Germany and Italy (which were overwhelmingly Catholic) and siding politically with Russia (officially atheist) and the US and England (predominantly Protestant). The theme for today's quotes is books and libraries in his honor.
A tsar who had no interest in power? Weak in body and mind, this emperor of Russia is hardly known. He followed his father, Ivan the Terrible, and his government was dominated by one of his advisors, Boris Gudunov. He was called The Bellringer, and he really didn't much care about matters of state.
And we rediscover the catacombs of Rome, note an Englishman winning the first bicycle race a year after bicycles were invented, and mourn the loss of most of a city in India.
1578 - Italian archaeologist Antonio Bosio became the first man in modern times to rediscover the Christian catacombs in Rome. Researchers (e.g., Giovanni B. de Rossi) who followed him dubbed Bosio "the Columbus of the Catacombs."
1868 - The first formal bicycle race was held at Paris in the Parc de St Cloud. James Moore of Great Britain was first to complete the two kilometer course in 3 minutes 50 seconds, the race was sponsored by Napoleon III.
1935 - Magnitude 7.5 earthquake demolishes 80 percent of Quetta, Pakistan (India at the time) during the night. Fatalities are estimated at 50,000 to 60,000 by most sources.
Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day, Brunei - Commemorates the formation of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The occasion is celebrated with military parades, artillery displays, parachuting, and exhibitions.
1557 - Fyodor I the Bellringer, Russian politician - Born to Tsar Ivan IV (the Terrible) and Anastasia Romanov. Fyodor was short, with spindly legs too weak to let him stand and walk, and simple minded. Ivan established a five-member council of advisors which included Fyodor's brother in law Boris Gudunov. Fyodor was crowned in 1584 and by 1587 Gudunov was the only surviving member of the council. Religious Russians weren't sure if Fyodor's mental state was simple mindedness or, as most believed, a kind of constant religious trance. Not only was Fyodor unfit to rule, he didn't want to. The Tartar Gudunov was crowned Tsar and the Rurik dynasty came to an end when Fyodor died in his bed on 7 January 1598.
1857 - Achille Ratti, Italian priest - Born at Descio near Milan to a silk manufacturer, studied in Milan and at the Gregorian University of Rome. Ordained 1879, taught at Milan seminary, researcher at Ambrosian Library 1888 (earned fame in paleography), chief librarian 1907. Summoned to Rome to head Vatican library 1914, papal legate to Poland 1918, cardinal-archbishop of Milan 1921, became 259th pope in 1922 as Pius XI. Forged concordats with Germany and Italy, both were violated by the Axis powers, both countries were denounced. Restored papal sovereignty to Vatican City, created Catholic Action (which later sheltered many Jews), created the festival of Christ the King as the last Sunday of the church year. Wrote a discourse condemning totalitarian governments which was not delivered due to his death on 10 February 1939.
A faithful woman looks to the spring, a good book, perfume, earthquakes,
and divine revelation for the experience others find in a lover. They
deceive their husbands, so to speak, with the entire world, men excepted.
- Jean Giraudoux
We should be as careful of the books we read, as of the company we keep.
The dead very often have more power than the living.
- Tryon Edwards
All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really
happened.
- Ernest Hemingway
Never lend books, for no one ever returns them; the only books I have
in my library are books that other folk have lent to me.
- Anatole France
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too
dark to read.
- Groucho Marx
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