DUBLIN CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 267, 6 August 1932, Page 10

DUBLIN CONGRESS

Archbishop Returns ‘A MARVELLOUS SIGHT’ Significance of Display Looking fit and well yesterday as he sat In his cabin on the Rangitata before coming ashore, his Grace Archbishop Redwood spoke to “The Dominion” of the great International Eucharistic Congress In Ireland, which at the age of 93 he had crossed the world to attend. “I have never seen anything like It in my life,” he said. “Ireland has never seen anything like It; neither, I think, has Europe. It was a marvellous sight, and had wonderful significance as a dlsplav of universal Catholic faith.” His Grace paused. He was recalling some memories of the Congress. “It was the sight? of my life,” he said at last. “It was altogether too big a thing to describe in a few words. It’s like a man trying to describe the sun. Too vast for just a few words. “Imagine, if you can, a million people assisting at Mass, and, by means of devices, following It perfectly well. The order and arrangemSnt was something wonSerful. All Ireland in festivity at the time of the Congress. All the cities, and the towns, however remote, were illuminated. No words are adequate to describe the grandeur of the Congress and Its magnificence as an event in the history of Ireland. Arrival of Legate. “I will pick one incident out of many, namely, the arrival and reception of the Papal Legate,” said his Grace. “Through seven miles of cheering people Cardinal Laurenzo Lauri had a welcome from Ireland unequalled, 1 think, in history. Even before the Legate came on shore, the national welcome began, for army aeroplanes, flying In the shape of a cross, greeted him at sea and accompanied the Cambria to Dud Laoghalre harbour, where guns boomed out their royal salute. On his way from the ship the Cardinal passed through two rows of troops who stood at the 'present arms,’, blessing them as he passed; and the people cheered and cheered. “He then entered the car, followed by his Grace Archbishop Byrne, of Dublin, who sat beside him, and President de Valera sat with his back to the driver. The mounted military escort, in their brilliant uniforms, took their places in front and behind the Legate's car. As the procession moved off, one further cheer of welcome rang out. The roads were lined with tens of thousand® of people, with school boys and girls numbering thousands, In front, most of them carrying flags in the Papal colours. ~ . To Be Ever Remembered.* , “Ireland was making this great demonstration of homage and affection, to use the Legate’s own words, to the representative sent them by Christ’s Vicar on earth. A quarter of a million people took part in the procession. It was a sight hard to equal, and to be ever remembered.” ’ r On his trip his Grace was accompanied by Father P. J. Smyth, parish priest of the Basilica, Hill Street, who unfortunately became 111 just before the Congress began, and remained in hospital throughout the celebrations. He pajd a visit to Rome, where his Grace had an audience with his Holiness the Pope. Before he was met yesterday by Archbishop O'Shea, his Grace summed up his whole trip as “a great success.” And as he walked down the gangway to the deck of the wharf, few wou’d haye thought either that he was 93 or that he had been across the world and back.