CATHOLIC NEWS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 3, 16 May 1890, Page 7

CATHOLIC NEWS.

The Association of the Catholic Youth of Italy is arranging for a solemn celebration of the third centenary of the death of St" Aloysius Gonzaga on June 21, 1890. '

The Republic of Chili haa Bent a special envoy to the Vatican to settle various questions pending between the Republic and the Holy See. Amongst other matters to be arranged is the foundation of two new bishoprics.

A group of German professers now studying in the Vatican archives— most of them being Protestants — have signed a declaration to refute the late Dr. Dollinger's charge that obstacles were placed by the authorities there in the way of non-Catholic research.

Three retiring Catholic deputies ia Alsace-Lorraine have recommended as their successors three clergymen (Fathers Knechly, Mange, and Neumann), who were born in the same year and entered the priesthood at the same time.

The Giorno, of Florence, Italy, publishes the retractation of Dom Edoardo Terzi, formerly a Capuchin Father, who, after being for a time a pervert to Protestantism, has renounced his errors, publicly asked pardon for the scandal he has given, and been reconciled to the Church .

Among the latest to join the Catholic faith is Miss Nesmith of Franklin Falls, N.H. Her father, who is now over ninety, but in full possession of all his faculties, studied law with Daniel Webster. Some time ago, Miss Nesmith applied to the Sisters of Mercy to instruct her in their religion; and her conversion soon followed. Another of the late converts is a Miss Quincy Adams of Boston whoß6 ancestry it may be seen at a glance of the names, carries the mind back to the days of revolutionary patriotism and history. When the Public Worship estimates came up for discussion in the Lower House of the Prussian Diet the other day Dr. Windthorst said it had been his intention to review the position of Catholics in Prussia, but that he would desist, owing to the uncertainty of the political situation. Dr. Gossler, Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs and Public Instruction, said he shared the view expressed by Dr. Windthorst, that the Church, school, and State ought to work together. Radical changes, he declared, were impending in the field of education. The new organisation would mainly be effected on the lines of the Emperor's recent decree dealing with cadets in colleges. The will of James Mervyn Donahoe, of Sao Francisco, bequeaths 20,00d015. to St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum, in Marin Co., Cal. ; to the Catholic Orphan Asylum in San Francisco, Ca1.,20,000d015. ; and to the Archbishop of San Francisco, 100,000d015., for division among the Catholic institutions of that city. The will also makes proviaion for tbe foundation of a home tor aged men and woman.

President Harrison has decided in favour of the Jesuit priests the question of tbs ownership of the land of the Coeur D'Alena MisBion in Idaho. The mission is situated on the D'Alene River, at the head of navigation, and haa been in dispute for over ten years, the Jesuit priests being the contestants in the matter. The President has directed that the title be vested in Rev. Joseph M. Cataldo. S.J., the superior of the Jesuit mi&sion. Tbe land office has issued the necessary papers in the case.

Bradlaugh doesn't like the way in which Pope Leo and Cardinal Manning manifest their interest in the welfare of the masses, and in a public speech declares that he believes that?" the real conflict of the future in England will be the struggle between ' Freethjught ' and the Roman Catholic Church, which has undertaken to meddle in the social and political matters of Europe" — an evidence of the jealousy which the stand of the Church for labour rights has evoked.

Tbe coloured schojl of St. Peter's parish, Memphis, Term., has now over 250 pupils and new applicants are constantly seeking admission. It has proved a grand success and is accomplishing untold good among the coloured classes. Tne institution is under the management of the Dominican Sisters of La Saletto Academy who are exciting every effort towarda the mental and moral elevation of the coloured pupils.

The little town of Mortague, in the Orne, France, has been the scene of a terrible accident. The church tower, which was to a great extent rebuilt after having been destroyed by fire, fell and destroyed a part of the church roof, as well as several houses near the sacied edifice, At the time of the accident the priest was celebrating early Mass. Notwithstanding that the stones came crashing through the roof into the nave, he proceeded with the service to the cud, enveloped in a cloud of dust. None of the people in the church were injured. Four of the inmates of the houses wrecked were killed, while several others were injured.

The Museum of Scriptural Archaeology in the Catholic University at Washington, was formally opened on the teast of St. Thomas Aquinas in honour of the day, and will be opened to the public in the future. It includes examples of Egyptian and Assyrian relics and several volumes giving fac-similes of inscriptions on Eygptian monuments. The museum is temporarily installed in a class-room, but will be removed to special quarters in the new wing when the latter is complete. Doctor Hyvenat will visit the East each year to secure additions to the museum.

Recently the relics of the Passion, in which Notre Dame, in Paris, is so rich, were solemnly exposed in the Cathedral, Paris. These sacred insignia include the Crown of Thorns, brought by St. Louis from the Holy Land, and which is yearly at this season an object of veneration with many thousands of French Catholics. The Thorns are no longer there, one after another having been in the course ot time successively given to different churches. The church tot St. Scverin, at Toulouse, possesses one, presented to it by a former fcount of Poitiers. Sister Leo, who escaped from the Ville Maria Convent, at West Chester, Pa., on March 25, died on March 26 of paralysis of the heart. Sister Leo, the Slaters said, came to the Convent six months ago, from the Church of tbe Gesu, Philadelphia, and took the white veil. She was stricken with the " grippe,' 1 and a day or so later her brain, it is said, became affected. It was while labouring under a hallucination that she leaped from the window and attempted to

escape. Dr. John R. McClurg, the attending physician, corroborates the story told by the Sistera at the convent. Sister Leo'B death was caused by the exposure. Archbishop Gross, of Oregon City, in a pastoral to his flock, speaks thus of the happy deliverance of his people from the "grippe" epidemic: "At the outbreak of that wide-spread epidemic, the 'grippe,' we issued a circular ordering a triduum of prayers and other devotions. Now that tbe ' grippe ' has happily disappeared from our beloved diocese, we call on you to return thanks to God. For not only in Portland, but as far as we could ascertain from the other parts of our diocese, not one of tbe dear flock committed to our charge has died of the ' grippe.' Let us recognise the mercy of our good God towards us poor sinners." There is no better and more hopeful indication of Catholic life and movement than the Catholic periodicals that go weekly into thousands of Catholic homes. The Catholic may go to charch and drop hie mite in the contribution box by force of hibit and prpcept. But to subscribe to the Catholic paper is wholly a matter of free choice ; and where it is done it indicates that there is a Catholic family that is Catholic because it likes to be Catholic ; it likes Catholic thought, and it is willing to go part of the way to meet it. Voluntary loyalty of this kind is significant. It is always intelligent loyalty, too, for it expresses in itself a taste for reading matter ; and intelligent Catholicity is the need of the hour.

The Christian Brothers, of New York city, have won another victory over the public schools. This is the fifth victory within a year. In Congressman Cumming's district an examination for a West Point Cadetship was held recently, and tbe first three places were taken by Catholic boys educated in the Christian Brothers' schools. The contest was pretty severe, for the contestants were well matched. The public schools take fourth place, whereas they had previously fallen as low as the ninth. Five Catholic students have, therefore, been added to the numbers at West Point and Annapolis, and the possibilities of the parochial school have been thoroughly vindicated in New York city. Even with moderate encouragement and small funds they can compete victoriously with the public schools when they have the mind.