After the official creation of the Papal Zouaves on January 1, 1861. The 600 man battalion swore a solemn oath to defend the Papal States. The oath ceremony took place on January 10, 1861 at St. John Lateran in Rome.
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The Papal Zouave chaplain Fr. Daniel administered the oath to the Zouaves. He said to them
"So far you have committed yourself individually but today all together we want to solemnly swear fidelity to God, to His service, to the Church and her rights. To it's kingly head,
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temporal prince, spiritual head. We promise to defend his rights and die rather than abandon them cowardly. For my part gentleman in the presence of this battalion which I respect and love in the presence of God and the Church,
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I swear to remain always faithful to the Church, to her doctrine, and to her rights. I say this oath out of complete fidelity and devotion to serve you and for the salvation of your souls. Now I will hear your oath."
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The formula of the Papal Zouave solemn oath.
"I swear to Almighty God to be obedient and faithful to my sovereign, the Roman Pontiff, our very Holy Father, Pope Pius IX and his legitimate successors.
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I swear to serve him with honor and fidelity and to sacrifice my life for the defense of his august and sacred person, for the support of his sovereignty and for the maintenance of his rights.
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I swear not to belong to any civil or religious sect, to any secret society or corporation, whatever they might be, having for its direct or indirect goal to offend the Catholic religion and to corrupt society.
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I swear to not join any sect or society condemned by the decrees of the Roman Pontiffs.
I swear also to the very good and great God to not have any direct or indirect communication with the enemies, whoever they might be, of religion and the Roman Pontiffs.
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I swear all of this on the holy Gospel, so help me God. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, so be it"
Immediately after the oath was said the Officers raised their swords and arms were presented by the battalion. Thus the Church had new protectors
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Bl. Pope Pius IX,
Pray for us!
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Oil portrait of the Villèle Papal Zouave brothers, 1867🇻🇦🇫🇷
From left to right: Corporal Gaston de Villèle, Lieutenant Louis de Villèle, Sergeant Charles de Villèle.
In the right-hand corner is Papal Zouave Colonel Athanse de Charette and Msgr. Xavier de Mérode.
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Gaston was born on Nov. 25, 1846. He joined the P.Z. in Mar. 1866 and promoted to CPL in Jan. 1867. During the summer of 1867 a cholera outbreak spread across the Papal States and hit the town of Albano especially hard. His company was tasked with tending to the sick,
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afterwards he was promoted to SGT. That Fall, he fought in the 1867 campaign to defend the Papal States and was made a SGM after the Papal victory. A month later he promoted to LT on Dec. 14. 1867.
He defended Rome during the Italian siege on Sep. 20 1870.
The relationship between Jefferson Davis and Bl. Pius IX
A thread in honor of Confederate Memorial Day🧵
When the Civil War ended in April 1865 Confederate President Jefferson Davis was thrown into prison and placed in solitary confinement with his legs riveted with iron.
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Pius IX upon hearing of Davis's mistreatment in prison sent him two photographs of himself, one includes the Bible verse Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all all ye who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest, sayeth the Lord" Pius IX had a previous relationship with
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Davis through Confederate ambassadors to the Vatican. It's probable he also sent the photo because he empathized with Davis on losing temporal power. Since he had lost the majority of the Papal States to the Italians in 1860, he would lose the rest 4 years later in 1870.
If you're in Rome for the upcoming conclave, consider checking out these sites related to the history of the Papal Zouaves🇻🇦🧵
#1 Monument dedicated to the fallen of the 1867 campaign.
Location: Campo Verano Cemetery next to San Lorenzo Outside the Walls
#2 Tomb of Papal States Army Commander and Minister of War General Herman Kanzler. Additionally, there are numerous other Papal Zouave graves throughout the cemetery.
Papal States Military formation to receive a blessing from Bl. Pope Pius IX during Easter, 1870🇻🇦
This was the final formation of the entire Papal States military to receive a Papal Blessing before the fall of Rome on September 20, 1870.
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The day after the siege of Sep. 20, Bl. Pius IX held one last formation to give his troops a final blessing before the military was disbanded and everyone was sent home.
An Irish Papal Zouave gave this account of the emotional scene.
"When all the soldiers were lined up,
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facing the Vatican and ready to leave, Colonel Allet stepped forward and, his voice broken with emotion, shouted: 'Mes enfants! Vive Pie Neuf!' A mighty cheers broke out from the troops.
On this day 160 years ago, April 15 1865, President Abraham Lincoln died after being shot in the head the night prior. One of the accused conspirators fled and joined the Papal Zouaves🇻🇦🧵
The initial plan was to capture Lincoln, however it fell through. A month later the
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assassination was carried out instead. 12 days later, Booth, the assassin, was tracked to a barn and was killed. 8 other conspirators were arrested and convicted. One alleged conspirator remained, John Surratt, he would eventually be found hiding among the Papal Zouaves.
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John Surratt was a Confederate spy during the Civil war in the D.C. area. He couriered letters on Union troop movements across the Potomac. Surratt admitted that he was part of the conspiracy to capture Lincoln but, denied any responsibility in the
Happy St. Patrick's day! To celebrate, let's take a look at some of the Irish who fought in the 9th Crusade, which took place from 1860-1870 in the Papal States against anti-clerical and revolutionary Italians🇻🇦🇮🇪🧵
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Irish Papal Zouave (Franco-Belgian Battalion) Sub Lieutenant Nicolas Furey:
He joined the unit at only 16, and he received an injury during the Battle of Castelfidardo on Sep. 18, 1860, which required his leg to be amputated.
When told that he would lose his leg, he said,
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"I have sacrificed my whole body for the cause of the Pope, I can very well give him my leg."
At his request, the chaplain read to him during the operation the Passion of Our Lord. He lived the rest of his life among the poor in Rome.