The Twilight of Rome's Papal Nobility

Contents 
Forewords by HSH Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi, T. Corey Brennan
Translator’s Note by Carol Cofone
INTRODUCTION

• To My Few Readers

CHAPTER I

• Casa Borghese
• My Grandfather’s Wedding—My Mother is Born
• The Death of my Grandmother, Guendalina
• My Mother Always Remembers This Death
• My Grandfather’s Second Marriage
• My Mother Up To the Age of Twelve
• The Revolution of 1848
• Pius IX Departs from Rome
• From My Mother’s “Journal:” Pius IX and the Borghese in Gaeta
• The Borghese in Naples
• The Miracle of San Gennaro
• The Devotion to the Sacred Heart—The Doria
• The News from Rome
• The de Ligne
• The Taking of Rome
• Pius IX in Portici and the Borghese in Vico
• Two Small Volumes of Memories
• Her Mother
• Her Father
• The “Journal” of Her mother
• The Borghese Return—My Mother’s Education is Completed

CHAPTER II

• “L’entrée dans le monde” of My Mother...My Mother’s Entry into the World
• The Engagement and a Misunderstanding with the Porter
• The Marriage
• Letters of My Grandfather Borghese
• Travel to Paris and England
• My Birth
• Other Letters from My Grandfather Borghese
• My Brother Luigi is Born
• A First Excursion
• Aunt Princess Doria Dies
• My Sister Guendalina
• Political Events—Francesco II in Rome
• Don Bosco and Francesco II at Villa Ludovisi
• Letters of Francesco II
• One of My Audiences with Francesco II
• Family Relations—Some Names
• My Sister Maddalena and My Brother Giuseppe are Born
• My First Communion
• A Warning That is Almost a Prophecy
• Three Trips to Paris
• In Mentone, in Switzerland, in Bavaria
• We Do Not “diamo del tu” Anymore
• In Belgium, in Cologne, and Again in Paris
• I Get Lost in the Garden of the Exposition
• Return to Rome and Meetings with the Countess Pianell, Monsignor di Canossa and the Garibaldini
• A Trip to Mentana and the De Charette
• La Quiete
• The Institute of the Blind
• The Charity Bazaar
• My Mother’s Serious Illness—My Sister Maria is Born
• My Uncle and Aunt Venosa at La Quiete
• The Faith of My Mother
• Une Matriarche
• Her Faith and Affection for the Roman Pontificate
• Gregory XVI
• Pius IX
• Leo XIII
• Pius X
• Benedict XV
• The Political Philosophy of My Mother, The Division in Roman Society
• I Fall Sick
• A Deficiency in the Education of My Mother
• A Faithful Cook
• Providential Care of the Staff
• The 20th of September, 1870
• My Mother, the Pontifical Prisoners and Two Courtly Officers of the Bersaglieri
• The 20th of September and Several Years Spent at La Quiete
• A Few Among the Visitors of La Quiete in Those Years
• Don Bosco
• The Chapel of La Quiete and the Sacred Heart
• Other Visitors at La Quiete—Abbott Lisi and Abbott Ancaiani
• A True Tridentine Patriot
• A Train Accident—Aunt and Uncle Bomarzo at La Quiete

CHAPTER III

• Vittoria Patrizi
• A Thought about Marriage
• My Marriage
• The Death of Princess Adele Borghese
• The Wedding of My Sister Guendalina
• My Little Guendalina and My Mother
• Alton Towers Castle in the Past
• The Religious Vocation of My Sister Maddalena and My Mother
• The Departure, the Investiture of My Sister in the Letters of Monsignor Czaski and My Mother
• Isabella Rondinelli Marries My Brother Luigi
• La Quiete, Its Visitors Cardinal Pecci and Cardinal Nina
• Two Oratorians Sacred to La Quiete: Monsignor Fabiani, Father Agostino da Montefeltro
• The Death of My Vittoria, My Sorrow, the Affection of My Mother
• My Mother and San Francesco
• San Francesco—His Shrines—Franciscan Festivals
• My Grandfather Piombino Dies
• Laura Altieri
• At Palazzo Piombino in Piazza Colonna
• A Great Sorrow: the Death of Her Father
• My Mother’s Thoughts on Maternal Authority
• A Very Small Book Where She Wrote Down Her Memories About Her Children
• Little Political Newspapers
• October 20, 1886, a Very Happy Day for My Parents
• My Father on the Verge of Death and Guido Baccelli
• Arduina di San Martino Marries My Brother Giuseppe
• The Palazzo in Via Veneto and My Mother
• My Mother and the Memories of Casa Boncompagni
• My Laura Dies—My Mother and Extreme Unction
• Our Serious Financial Difficulties; Charity, the Fortitude of My Mother’s Soul
• A Look at Her Affection for My Father That Manifested Itself More in The Days of Suffering
• The Sorrow of My Mother Over the Death of Princess Teresa Borghese
• My First Mass and The Long-Standing Prayer of My Mother in Loreto
• Three Great Sorrows, Three Perished...My Brother-In-Law Cattaneo Dies
• My Grandmother Piombino Dies
• My Son-In-Law Malvezzi Dies
• The Last Party At La Quiete—The Wedding of My Guglielmina
• It Is the Hostess Who Makes the Salon
• The Golden Wedding Anniversary
• The Canon Don Andrea Muzzarelli
• A Good Friend, Today Bishop of Noto
• My Francesco Marries Nicoletta Prinetti. Their First Child
• My Mother and Her Affection for Her Husband in His Last Years
• The Death of Our Father; The Great Sorrow of Mammà

CHAPTER IV

• Her Vision; The Painful Privations That It Imposed
• Conversation Is a Welcome Relief
• The Loss of a Beloved Sister and Two Dear Brothers
• The Grandmother and Her Affection for Her Grandchildren
• The Heart of My Mother, And My Son
• My Daughter Guendalina, Her Grandmother and Her Social Work
• My Mother’s Thoughts About the Work of Women
• The Congregation of San Vincenzo in Foligno
• A Son Respected for His Love for His Mother
• Activities Aimed at Spiritual Improvement
• Belfiore and the Children of The Workers
• The Turchine and Some of Her Ways of Carrying Out Charity
• The First Communions—The Last Hundred Lire My Mother Gave
• Mons. Faloci and the Charity of My Mother
• Going Back to My Mother’s Characteristic Qualities
• My Mother and Culture—The Book
• Another Loss—Her Last Sorrow
• She No Longer Goes To La Quiete
• Mother Savina Petrilli and The Last Summer Seasons
• The Last Summer Seasons in Her Letters
• The “Sisters Of The Poor”— The Dear One Of My Mother —“Leonetta"
• Gleaning Among the Reading Done “With Pen in Hand”
• Charity and Manual Work
• What Those Who Knew Her Write
• Maddalena Patrizi
• Father Martens
• Carlo Santucci
• The Count of Linange
• Raffaella Conestabile
• Monsignor Di Somma
• Matilde Fiorilli
• Return To Rome!
• Her Life in The Last Months
• Everything Is in Order
• My Sisters Tell Me
• Always Full of Life ... But Life Is Near Its End!
• Last Days—The Sacraments—Memories—Goodbyes
• Last Hours—The Prayers of The Dying
• I’m Standing in That Room! She Breathes Her Last! ... It’s Five Minutes to Midnight.

Notes on Contributors
Appendix: Who’s Who

Foreword xv
HSH Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi
T. Corey Brennan
Translator’s Note xxv
Carol Cofone
Introduction: To My Few Readers 1
Chapter 1 3
Casa Borghese 3
My Grandfather’s
Wedding—My
Mother
Is Born 5
The Death of My Grandmother,
Guendalina 6
My Mother
Always Remembers This Death 7
My Grandfather’s
Second Marriage 11
My Mother
Up to the Age of Twelve 13
The Revolution of 1848 15
Pius IX Departs from Rome 18
From My Mother’s
“Journal”: “Pius IX
and the Borghese in Gaeta” 19
“The Borghese in Naples” 28
“The Miracle of San Gennaro” 36
“The Devotion to the Sacred Heart—The
Doria” 38
“The News from Rome” 40
“The de Ligne” 42
“The Taking of Rome” 43
Pius IX in Portici and the Borghese in Vico 44
Two Small Volumes of Memories 45
Her Mother
47
Her Father
50
The “Journal” of Her Mother
54
The Borghese Return—My
Mother’s
Education Is Completed 55
Chapter 2 59
“L’entrée dans le monde” of My Mother
(My Mother’s
Entry into the World) 59
The Engagement and a Misunderstanding
with the Porter 62
The Marriage 63
Letters of My Grandfather
Borghese 66
Travel to Paris and England
68
My Birth 71
Other Letters from My Grandfather
Borghese 73
My Brother
Luigi Is Born 74
A First Excursion 74
Aunt Princess Doria Dies 75
My Sister
Guendalina 76
Political
Events—Francesco
II in Rome 76
Don Bosco and Francesco II at Villa Ludovisi 77
Letters of Francesco II 79
One of My Audiences with Francesco II 82
Family
Relations—Some
Names 83
My Sister
Maddalena and My Brother
Giuseppe Are Born 86
My First Communion 87
A Warning That Is Almost a Prophecy 88
Three Trips to Paris 88
In Mentone, in Switzerland, in Bavaria 89
We Do Not “Diamo del Tu” Anymore 90
In Belgium, in Cologne, and Again in Paris 91
I Get Lost in the Garden of the Exposition 92
Return to Rome and Meetings with the Countess
Pianell, Monsignor di Canossa, and the
Garibaldini 94
A Trip to Mentana and the De Charette 96
“La Quiete” 97
The Institute of the Blind 98
The Charity Bazaar 100
My Mother’s
Serious Illness—My
Sister
Maria Is Born 104
My Uncle
and Aunt Venosa at La Quiete 106
The Faith of My Mother
106
Une Matriarche 108
Her Faith and Affection for the Roman
Pontificate 108
Gregory XVI 109
Pius IX 109
Leo XIII 111
Pius X 112
Benedict XV 113
The Political
Philosophy of My Mother,
the Division in Roman Society 113
I Fall Sick 114
A Deficiency in the Education of My Mother
115
A Faithful Cook 120
Providential Care of the Staff 121
The 20th of September 1870 123
My Mother,
the Pontifical Prisoners, and Two
Courtly Officers of the Bersaglieri 124
The 20th of September and Several Years
Spent at La Quiete 125
A Few among the Visitors of La Quiete in Those
Years 129
Don Bosco 130
The Chapel of La Quiete and the Sacred Heart 132
Other Visitors at La Quiete—Abbott
Lisi
and Abbott Ancaiani 134
A True Tridentine Patriot 136
A Train Accident—Aunt
and Uncle
Bomarzo
at La Quiete 139
Chapter 3 141
Vittoria Patrizi 141
A Thought about Marriage 142
My Marriage 143
The Death of Princess Adele Borghese 143
The Wedding of My Sister
Guendalina 144
My Little
Guendalina and My Mother
145
Alton Towers Castle
in the Past 145
The Religious Vocation of My Sister
Maddalena
and My Mother
148
The Departure, the Investiture of My Sister
in the Letters of Monsignor Czaski, and
My Mother
149
Isabella Rondinelli Marries My Brother
Luigi 153
La Quiete, Its Visitors Cardinal Pecci and
Cardinal Nina 154
Two Oratorians Sacred to La Quiete:
Monsignor Fabiani, Father
Agostino
da Montefeltro 156
The Death of My Vittoria, My Sorrow,
the Affection of My Mother
158
My Mother
and San Francesco 158
San Francesco—His
Shrines—Franciscan
Festivals 159
My Grandfather
Piombino Dies 163
Laura Altieri 163
At Palazzo Piombino in Piazza Colonna 164
A Great
Sorrow: The Death of Her Father
164
My Mother’s
Thoughts on Maternal Authority 166
A Very Small Book Where She Wrote
Down Her Memories about Her Children
170
Little
Political
Newspapers 172
20 October 1886, a Very Happy Day for
My Parents 174
My Father
on the Verge of Death and
Guido Baccelli 174
My Sister
Maria Marries Francesco Caffarelli 175
Arduina di San Martino Marries My Brother
Giuseppe 179
The Palazzo in Via Veneto and My Mother
179
My Mother
and the Memories of Casa
Boncompagni 180
My Laura Dies—My
Mother
and Extreme
Unction 182
Our Serious Financial Difficulties; Charity,
the Fortitude of My Mother’s
Soul 183
A Look at Her Affection for My Father
That
Manifested Itself More in the Days of
Suffering 185
The Sorrow of My Mother
over the Death
of Princess Thérèse Borghese 188
My First Mass and the Long-Standing
Prayer of My Mother
in Loreto 189
Three Great
Sorrows, Three Perished . . . My
Brother-in-
Law
Cattaneo Dies 190
My Grandmother
Piombino Dies 191
My Son-in-
Law
Malvezzi Dies 192
The Last Party at La Quiete—The
Wedding
of My Guglielmina 192
It Is the Hostess Who Makes the Salon 193
The Golden Wedding Anniversary 194
The Canon Don Andrea Muzzarelli 199
A Good Friend, Today
Bishop of Noto 201
My Francesco Marries Nicoletta Prinetti.
Their First Child 202
My Mother
and Her Affection for Her
Husband in His Last Years 202
The Death of Our Father;
the Great
Sorrow of Mammà 204
Chapter 4 207
Her Vision; the Painful Privations That
It Imposed 207
Conversation Is a Welcome Relief 209
The Loss of a Beloved Sister
and Two
Dear Brothers
209
Grandmother
and Her Affection for
Her Grandchildren 211
The Heart of My Mother,
and My Son 212
My Daughter
Guendalina, Her Grandmother,
and Her Social Work 213
My Mother’s
Thoughts about the Work of
Women
214
The Congregation of San Vincenzo in Foligno 215
A Son Respected for His Love for His Mother
216
Activities Aimed at Spiritual Improvement 217
Belfiore and the Children
of the Workers 218
The Turchine and Some of Her Ways of Carrying
Out Charity 218
The First Communions—The
Last Hundred
Lire My Mother
Gave 219
Mons. Faloci and the Charity of My Mother
220
Going
Back to My Mother’s
Characteristic
Qualities 220
My Mother
and Culture—The
Book 222
Another Loss—Her
Last Sorrow 223
She No Longer Goes to La Quiete 224
Mother
Savina Petrilli and the Last Summer
Seasons 225
The Last Summer Seasons in Her Letters 231
The “Sisters
of the Poor”—The
Dear One
of My Mother—
“
Leonetta” 235
Gleaning among the Reading Done “with
Pen in Hand” 238
Charity and Manual Work 244
What Those
Who Knew Her Write 244
Maddalena Patrizi 245
Father
Martens 245
Carlo Santucci 247
The Count of Linange 248
Raffaella Conestabile 248
Monsignor Di Somma 249
Matilde Fiorilli 251
Return to Rome! 254
Her Life in the Last Months 255
Everything
Is in Order 258
My Sisters
Tell Me 259
Always Full of Life . . . but Life Is Near Its End! 260
Last Days—The
Sacraments—Memories—
Goodbyes
262
Last Hours—The
Prayers of the Dying
269
I’m Standing in That Room! She Breathes
Her Last! . . . It’s Five Minutes to Midnight 271
Who’s Who in The Twilight of Rome’s
Papal Nobility 275
Notes on Contributors 281