He was convinced that he was still
a priest. When the Rev. Mr. Tierney, who had received him into
the Roman Catholic communion, assured him that this was not the
case, he was filled with dismay and mortification. After a five
hour discussion, he started to his feet in a rage. 'Then, Mr.
Tierney,' he exclaimed, 'you think me insincere.'
The bitter draught was swallowed at last, and, after that, all
went smoothly. Manning hastened to Rome, and was immediately
placed by the Pope in the highly select Accademia Ecclesiastica,
commonly known as the 'Nursery of Cardinals', for the purpose of
completing his theological studies. When the course was finished,
he continued, by the Pope's special request, to spend six months
of every year in Rome, where he preached to the English visitors,
became acquainted with the great personages of the Papal court,
and enjoyed the privilege of constant interviews with the Holy
Father. At the same time, he was able to make himself useful in
London, where Cardinal Wiseman, the newly created Archbishop of
Westminster, was seeking to reanimate the Roman Catholic
community. Manning was not only extremely popular in the pulpit
and in the confessional; he was not only highly efficient as a
gleaner of souls--and of souls who moved in the best society; he
also possessed a familiarity with official persons and official
ways, which was invaluable.
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