RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 306, 19 September 1908, Page 12

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

PAPAL JUBILEE. PIUS X's LIFE AND WORK. Yesterday was a day notable to Roman Catholics as the jubilee of the ordination to the priesthood of Pope Pius X. Born of humble parents on June 2, 1835, in the dioceso of Treviso, near Venice, Guisoppe Sarto was ordained a priest on ( September IS, 1858. In ISB4 he was appointed to the See of Mantua, which ho made a model bishopric. Ho became a Car--1 dinal in 1893, and was appointed Patriarch of Venico. In that city ho was revered for his benevolence of character and energy in social reform, but his name was hardly known i outside of Italy, when, in August 1903, he was elected, very unexpectedly, and against , his own desire, to succoed the 'ate Leo XIII ; ill the Papacy. Though naturally disposed to subordinate politics to the religious aspects of his position, the Popo has shown himself a zealous guardian of the temporal claims of the Papacy as well as of tho doctrines laid down in the past. His simple, kindly character has endeared him to thousands not of tho Pope's Church, who do not approve all his official acts. A Roman Catholic writer has stated that the historian of tho present Pontificate will certainly dwell with emphasis on the following features of tho groat programme—"To restore all things in Christ/' which Pius X gave as tjie motto of his reign in the first encyclical he addressed to the world: — • 1. Tho reformation of sacred music, by restoring tho Gregorian chant to the purity of its golden ago and by baaishing theatrical music from the bouse of God. 2. Tho apostolic visitation of Romo and all the dioceses of Italy, by which numerous abuses wero removed and a new spirit of zeal and, fervour infused into both clergy and laity. 3. Tho reformation of ecclesiastical education—(a) by ordaining that candidates for tho priesthood must study theology four years and philosophy for three years, and (b) by abolishing in Italy the small and anaemic seminaries and gathering the, studonts into flourishing district seminaries, whero they have tho advantage of good professors and are at tho same time able to follow the general courses leading to the governmental universities. 4. The reformation of catechetical instruction in the parishes—a measuro very necessary in many countries, and not least of all throughout a largo part of Italy. _ 5. The formation of the Biblical Commission. 6. The condemnation of the heresy of modernism, and tho vigorous means adopted for putting an end to it. 7. The promulgation of a new and universal code of laws, the first attempt ever made to givo complete unity in ecclesiastical legislation. (The first fruit of this codification of the Church's laws was, the decree of August 2, 1907, on espousals and marriage.) 8. To this record the "New Zoaland.Tablet" adds the great 1903 reform of the Vatican Congregations (or Departments through which the business of the Universal Church is conducted). In June, 1908, the Pope, by an Apostolic Constitution, decreed tho reorganisation of these congregations. Some of minor congregations were abolished, and their work divided among the others; ■ other congregations wero reorganised j a new con-,' gregation was established dealing with the disciplinary side. of the sacraments (matrimony in its various aspects included), their dogmatio side remaining as heretofore, undor tho direction of tho Holy Office, of which the Pope will contiuue to be, ex officio, tho Prefect ; and (among other useful reforms) a body of experts in canon law was retained for the gratuitous service of the poor. Acting on an invitation from the PresidentGeneral of tho Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris, the President of the Superior Council of the Society in Sydney, in a circular letter, solicits tho co-operation, of all the conferences of AustraJii;]cah(J New. Zealand in tho possible organisation "oi 'a* pilgrimage to Rome and tho Holy Places during tho Jubilee year of Pope Pius X. Intended primarily for members or tho society (states the " Tablet") the pilgrimage, being the first such to leave these lands,' would afford an excellent opportunity to others of joining by associating thomselves with the society. Tho Papal jubileo will bo celebrated in Rome at a later date, when the season is moro favourable. There was no local observance of: the anniversary yesterday. ' 1 i I ' 1 ] ' I