https://www.amazon.co.uk/Godmother-Madre-Pascalina-Feminine-Force/dp/1546392823 'Few women in the 20th century wielded more power and influence than did Josefine Lehnert (1894-1983). No woman, in twenty centuries, ever wielded more power and influence in the Vatican.When Josefine Lehnert entered Holy Cross Convent [Menzinger, Switzerland] she was given the name “Pascalina.” In 1917, the beautiful young nun from Bavaria and two other Sisters were sent to Munich to organize and maintain the nunciature. The Holy See’s newly appointed Nuncio to Bavaria was 41-year-old Eugenio Pacelli. For the rest his diplomatic career, Schwester Pascalina would remain his personal secretary, housekeeper and ne plus ultra confidante. When Pacelli was recalled to Rome in 1929 and subsequently made a cardinal and appointed Secretary of State, he requested that Sister Pascalina be permitted to continue working with him. She was the first woman ever to reside in the Apostolic Palace. In 1939, on the first ballot and by a unanimous [minus one] vote, Eugenio Pacelli became the world’s 260th Pope; the twelfth to take the name “Pius.”Romanità —an unofficial yet rigorous ecclesiastical/Italianate protocol that permeates diplomacy to this day— saw fit to “promote” the new pontiff’s secretary. Henceforth, “Sister” Pascalina was “Mother” Pascalina. Strong woman that she was, “La Madre” was keenly and constantly aware of the tightrope she was walking —and more so of the snake pit just below it. As the pope’s closest confidante, she strove for anonymity; kept any opinion she might have had on any matter, private or public, strictly to herself; avoided photographers and journalists like the plague and —perhaps most challengingly of all— ignored every cruel rumor and innuendo, never dignifying one of them with a response.Undoubtedly, Pope Pius XII was a giant among men; an outstanding intellectual; a savior to countless victims of World War II; a courageous advocate for the voiceless; a born leader who understood a complicated world and its leaders, good and evil; a Pope worthy to be called “Great”.It is said that “Behind ever great man is a great woman.” The history of Pope Pius XII and Mother Pascalina requires one very important word change to that maxim: “Beside every great man stands a great woman.”'
I am reading 'The Godmother', by Father Murr at the moment and really enjoying it. You may know Father Murr from utube as he seems to be everywhere. He is an American priest retired and living in Spain. A kind of modern day Malachi Martin. He worked in the Vatican for many years and is a great story teller with a great sense of humour. This is the story of his friendship with Mother Pasquelina the great friend and assistant to Pope Pius xii. A fine book and enjoyable to read. One wonderful story is of Padre Pio. Pope Pius xii admired and loved Padre Pio and they were good friends. However Pope Pius xi had a big downer on Padre Pio because advisors close to him had slandered the poor man very,very badly. Pope Pius x11, then a Cardinal got the old saint out from under and all the terrible restrictions lifted. After the death of Pope Pius xi Padre Pio wrote Pope Pius xii a letter saying he had seen Pope Pius xi enter heaven in triumph . Padre Pio said when Pope Pius xi died he was met by Pope Pius ix. Both Popes had declared a Marian Dogma, Pius ix the Immaculate Conception and Pius xi the Assumption. Padre Pio saw a carpet of roses onroll downwards. At the top was Our Lady of the Assumption, surrounded by angels .The two Popes were lifted to Jesus and Mary on the carpet of roses. Pope Pius xi died at 3:52 but Padre Pio did see the vision until his 5am mass. Mother Pasquelina wrote back to Padre Pio to ask about the hour and a quarter time gap. Padre Pio wrote back, 'When the soul leaves the body the man is dead not a moment before'. This is why a priest can give conditional absolution up to three hours after apparent death. The person can seem to be dead but the soul still be present. Pope Pius xii had Pope Pius xi's body dug up and it was still incorrupt.
Pope Pius xii told a strange, rather scary story that happened during the Spanish Civil War. A party of Communists entered a monastery and finding the monks sheltering in their Church shot them all dead . Leaving them lying there they proceeded into the sacristy were on fining altar wine they drank it and got very,very drunk. They decided as a joke to put on robes of the poor dead monks and began to dance about the Church singing and making a mockery of everything. However another party of Communists arrived and finding the drunks dressed as monks at once shot all their Comrades dead. .
