Largely forgotten today, Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val was the product of a Spanish father and an English mother, and equally at home in both languages. Ordained in 1888, his brilliance propelled him upward at a very rapid pace. At age 38 he as made a Cardinal and Secretary of State for the Vatican. Serving as the right hand man of Pope Pius X, Cardinal Merry del Val led the fight against Modernism.
In the Conclave of 1914 ten ballots were needed to elect a successor to Pope Pius X. Cardinal archbishop of Bologna, Giacomo della Chiesa was elected by one vote. Ballots on their reverse side had a number to make certain that a ballot had not been cast by a cardinal for himself, which was forbidden. Merry del Val had not been a candidate, but he was none too fond of Chiesa. He asked that the ballots be checked. This was done, and no indication being found that Chiesa had voted for himself, he was acclaimed as Pope. Each Cardinal them pledged his obedience. When it came time for Merry del Val to do so Pope Benedict supposedly said, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” (Psalm 118:22). Merry del Val instantly responded with the next verse:By the Lord has this been done; it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Pope Benedict XV appointed him Secretary of the Holy Office in 1914, not quite as prestigious as Secretary of State, but still quite powerful, a post he held until his death during an operation for appendicitis in 1930 at age 64. He is best remembered perhaps for his Litany For Humility:
A canonization process was started for him in 1953, but has stalled since then.
Oh, to have a holy one like him today! Of course, he would be cancelled by the false church.
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