Frost (VERSE)
Payne, Anne Blackwell
October z, I929 T H E C 0 M MONWEAL t and in Italy have been particularly numerous in agri- cultural sections. (It may be noted that they were mostly small institutions and that many...
...Now that the Vatican has become an independent state, even though the smallest state in the world, its conditions have changed so much as to make private administration of funds difficult, if not impossible...
...rost He came in silver buckles, On a crisp, windless night...
...Prince Agostino Chigi is remembered as "the banquer of the Holy Roman Church," and the Banco di Santo Spirlto was created by Pope Paul V (Borghese) ; so that in establishing a bank Pius XI would be in perfect harmony with the great traditions of the Church, besides demonstrating his sense of practical reality...
...October z, I929 T H E C 0 M MONWEAL t and in Italy have been particularly numerous in agricultural sections...
...The most immaculate pirate, And the stillest buccaneer, With cool, efficient fingers Unsheathed a jeweled spear...
...The administration of Vatican funds would be its major function, and by its very nature and its direct dependence upon the Holy See it would probably enjoy the confidence of all Catholic institutions...
...The bank would first of all be the Bank of the Vatican State--that is, cntirely independent from the Catholic banks and all institutions governed by Italian laws...
...Many Catholics who were in the habit of using the Catholic banks will probably patronize the pontifical bank...
...The aid rendered was, therefore, nothing more than an act of charity, and has in every case been made in favor of the depositors, not of the institution...
...The Vatican has never had any direct connection with these banks...
...The Pope himself in the first speech delivered after the conciliation, addressed to the parish priests and preachers of Rome, referred to the economic aspects of the spiritual mission, saying that while the Holy See confided in Divine Providence for its ultimate destinies, it was the duty of the Church to secure some assistance from human providence...
...ANNE BLACKWELL PAYNE...
...It has, therefore, every chance of becoming an institution of considerable importance...
...Thus, while it seems every day more probable that the bank will be inaugurated in the near future, the only definite step taken so far has been to commission some well-known financiers to make a study of the situation and submit tentative plans...
...The denomination "Catholic" implies only that these banks are managed by Catholics and that they seek the patronage of Catholic institutions and congregations...
...There flashed across the clover An iridescent heel...
...In the second place, it will become the natural deposit for funds belonging to religious congregations which, before the Lateran treaties, were not allowed to own in their corporate names...
...The economic problems of Catholicism are no small entity...
...their services have been solicited at times, but always in the form of a private transaction...
...On one or two occasions the Holy See has come to the assistance of Catholic banks which were temporarily in trouble but this has always been through the personal interest of the Pope who feared that the failure of the bank would result in suffering among the poorer depositors...
...On the other hand the project encounters many obstacles, mostly deriving from the somewhat general feeling of the members of the Roman Curia that it would be better not to have the Vatican take too direct and conspicuous an interest in financial operations...
...Vatican City will presumably coin money, not only to facilitate exchange but also to give a traditional sanction to the newly constituted state, inasmuch as the act of coining money is an indication of sovereign prerogatives...
...We can also recall the efforts of the Church to regulate its financial problem in the past...
...Part of their ancient property will now be returned, and they will be further enriched by the legacies and donations which they constantly receivc...
...While the plans for the bank are still somewhat vague, stamps have been issued and the type of currency to be used in the Vatican City has been definitely decided...
...The Vatican may have an area consisting of about forty square miles, it may have a population of only 5oo souls, but it has spiritual, political, religious and economic interests spreading far and wide, with agencies and ramifications in every part of the globe...
...Affluent heirs of April And summer's tall trustees, Bedazzled by his manners Gave up their legacies...
...There fell upon the aster A sudden breath of steel...
...With scarlet trail behind him Upon a ravished land, Fastidious, he departed, No spot upon his hand...
...The directors are chosen from Catholic laymen, because the Pope has indicated on several occasions that he did not wish to have ordained priests accept positions involving financial responsibility...
...Vatican currency will also be used in payment of rights obtained through the various offices, such as special marriage licenses and legal fees for the procedure requesting matrimonial annulment...
...Twenty-lira gold pieces, and five-lira silver coins will be used for the purchase of Vatican stamps and for the payment of entry fees into museums and galleries...
...With lace upon his bosom, And a wig of gleaming white...
...The spiritual mandate can be exercised only if sufficient means are provided, and until the present moment expenses have proven very much in excess of returns...
...It may be noted that they were mostly small institutions and that many have recently failed...
...The coins will be legal tender in all Vatican offices located in Rome, even if not within the City, and presumably will be purchased and treasured as souvenirs by the many pilgrims visiting Rome...
Vol. 10 • October 1929 • No. 22
