CATHOLIC NEWS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 15, 9 January 1891, Page 11

CATHOLIC NEWS.

Readers of tbe Pilot will recall the visit of Bishop Wulfingb, of Surinam, or Dutch Quiana. to the United S ates last summer, in aid of the leper settlement under his jurisdiction, and our reference to a Bedemptorist missionary who had incurred the terrible disease in his ministrations, and who was dying of it amid great suffering. A private letter brings us tbe tidings of the happy consummation of the good priest's martyrdom. He went to his reward August 26 last. His same was John Bakker. He was a native of Holland, and had laboured in Surinam among tbe lepers since 1866. The leprosy first manifested itself in him about ten years ego. During the latter part of his life he was perfectly helpless. It had become necessary to amputate his fingers. "In the midst of his sufferings," writes our correspondent, "he was always cheerful and resigned." Once the Bishop asked him if he had any desire to express. He answered no. Pressed, however, he asked to be allowed me .ns for a tangible expreeaion of gratitude to the physician, a leper like himself, who attended him daily. Ihis is the third Redemptorist priest who has died in the service of the lepers of Surinam. Although the vast majority of the lepers are non-Catholic, only Catholic priests have thus far lived at the leper settlement, Batavia. Here, as at Mulokai, forever consecrated by Father Damien's martyrdom, the heroic Franciscan nuos minister to the leper women and children. The Chapter of Strasbourg desire as Bishop, PriDce Edmund de Badzivill, son of the late Prince Boguslav. He is a member of the Benedictine Community of the Abbey of Beurun. One of his brothers is also a Benedictine of (he Abbey of Marcdsous ; another brother is a member of the Society of Jesus ; whilst one of his sisters is a Franciscan Nun, at Mariaschein, Toplitz, and another ia a Sister of Charity at BoDn. Father Kadzivill would be Ino second m' mber of a princely house to wear the mitre of Strasbourg since the resignation in 1802, of the unfortunately celebrated Cardinal de Rohan ; the first was Prince Maximilao de Croy-Dulmen, 1819, Bishop of Strasbourg and Grand Almoner of France, in 1821, a true model of every episcopal virtue. Cardinal Von Hergenroether, was one of the most learned historians of our day. His great work on Photius and the Eastern ffCbiltu made bis reputation among scholars ; while his crushing

reply to D >llinger, published under tbe title of Anti Janus, brought his name more prominently before the general public. His summary of Church history is a monument of painstaking research and intelligent criticism. He was a scientific bistorian in tbe best, sense of the word, and it is much to be regretted tbat, wjile his Church history is hardly known even by name to English readers, Danes' feeble and uncritical performance in tne same tie Id has obtained a wide circulation among Catholics both in England and America. The Cardinal's later yeats were devoted to work at tbe Vatican library and he has edited several volumes of the Res gesta issued from the Pontifical archives. On Sunday, October 26, there was tn interesting ceremony at the Archbishop's house at Westminster. The Cardinal-Archbishop gave the white veil to three ladies, who are trie first postulants of a religious congregation, the special object of which will ba the care and reformation of women who are tue victims of the vice of iutemperanctj. The national Basilica of tbe Sacred Heart erected by tbe Republic of Ecuador on Mount Pichiocha, 15,000 feet above tbe sea, is rapidly approaching completion. The President of tbe neighbouring Republic of Venezuela has lately subscribed a very large sum for the erection of another church of the S cred Heart in his capital city. Sister Maria Caprini has arrived in Naples from the Soudan, where she has been detained a prisoner since the year 1862. The story of her imprisonment by the iS-ladbi is one of thrilling interest. Closely confined for years, witb four other Sisters, one of whom succumbed to her sufferings and privations, she was subjected to all sorts of torments. On one occasion the Madhi, enraged because she refused to renounce Christianity, ordered that she should be decapitated, but fortunately he changed his mind before his commands were executed. Two years after the Madbi's death Sister Caprini made her escape to Berber, and theDce to Cairo, travelling mostly at night in the disguise of a native woman. The Sister, who is only twenty-six years of age, has borne her trials with quiet fortitude and disclaims any title to ba classed as a heroine, buch is the modest bravery of those good nuns who are, week after week, singled out for the insults and calumnies of bigots.