WORLD OUTLOOK

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 26, 31 July 1933, Page 8

WORLD OUTLOOK

DISTURBED CONDITION

CHANGE OF HEART THE REMEDY

SERMON BY ARCHBISHOP

O'SHEA

Two hundred years ago the Congregation of the Most* Holy Bedecmcr was founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori, who before consecrating himself to the servico of the Church, had been a noted Neapolitan barrister. In honour of the bi-ccntenary of their foundation the Kedemptorists are holding celebrations and special services wero held at St. Gerard's Church, Hawker Street, yesterday. His Grace Archbishop O'Shea preached at tho 10 o'clock Mass, and after referring to the circumstances connected with tho foundation of the Order, drew attention to tho present disturbed state of the world.

"In our present world, it is no exaggeration to say that the existing evils are in reality greater and moro dangerous than those which prevailed in the early years of the Bedemptorist Order, said his .Grace. "We are facing a threatened collapse of civilisation. In a world of unprecedented plenty in regard to all the necessaries of life, and even tho comforts, millions are unemployed through no fault of their own; and millions are underfed, if not on the verge of starvation.

"And whoso fault is this? It is certainly not the fault of Nature or Providence. During the last hundred years, because of tho wonderful mechanical inventions, the discoveries of experimental science, and the consequent improvement in the raising of the volume of the products of the earth and the distribution of the same, trade and commerce havo increased enormously. But tho moral tone of mankind did not make equal progress in the right direction, with the result that an economic system wa3 evolved which enabled a fow to capture the means of exchange and control it in their own interests; in other words, monopolise the money and credit of the world. It further enabled them to make all Governments and peoples their' debtors, and reduce the masses of the people to the condition of wage slaves, bereft of all property, and liable to starvation if they were only a few months out of work. Greed and injustice have triumphed, and the tickets of exchange —for after all, money is only a ticket to enable goods to be exchanged or distributed — the tickets were gradually monopolised by a few powerful institutions; and it has come to pass that there are not at present enough of; these tickets in circulation amongst the people to enable commodities to be bought and • sold. Only a moral miracle can save the situation and replace a discredited economic system b;r one that will enable tho masses of the people to have a fairer share of the plenty that surrounds them. CONFERENCES OF NO AVAIL. "The remedy for the present appalling state of things all over the civilised world is not to bo found in holding conference after conference where the Name of God is never invoked nor His help asked, and where nothing at all is done but to give an exhibition to the world of contending and selfish interests. The remedy lies in a complete change of heart amongst governments and peoples, and a return to Christian principles and practice as laid down in tho teachings of tho Catholic Church. Until this change comes, there is little hope of a better world, or of a return to true prosperity. This is the only thing that is certain in tho present sea of doubt and uncertainty. The Church has had to" save society before, and she will do it again, if • necessary. But only at much cost and travail, unless men change their present attitude and return to God. "To fulfil her part, tho Church needs not only a zealous clergy, but a fervent, enlightened, and intelligent laity. The present Holy Father has sounded a trumpet call to the laymen to take part in tho work of Catholic Action. The Pope defines Catholic Action as 'tho particinatiou and collaboration of tho laity with tho Apostolic Hierarchy.' It is not political, activity, but rather a taking part—not mere presence at—a taking part in the various Catholic activities sponsored by the Church. But first of all, both clergy and laity must sanctify themselves, and then they will be able to act as a leaven for the whole of society, and so 'restore,' as the Apostle says, 'all things in Christ.' "In this all-important and necessary work, tho Church will havo no more zealous or able soldiers amongst the clergy than the Eedemptorists. They had to face difficult conditions ■'before in their history, and they always triumphed over them. And in the army of the Church during the coming struggle no regiment will, I am sure, acquit itself with greater honour and glory. Their work in New Zealand during the years they have been with us has been an open book before you, and I take tliis opportunity and occasion not only to congratulate them on 200 years of fruitful existence, but also to 'thank them for the good work they have done in New Zealand. May God. bless them and increase their power for good in tho coming years, which are likely to bo difficult years. I pray Our Lady, whose honour they have always striven to promote since the day of their foundation, to protect them and help them to continue to be worthy sons of St. Alphonsus, and thus be ever true and faithful missionaries to the poor and afflicted of Christ. Amen."