THE ORIGIN OF THE ANGELUS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 48, 30 March 1894, Page 7

THE ORIGIN OF THE ANGELUS.

Thk Revhta Cattolica, in rsplying to the New York Tribune, gives the following account of tbe origin of the Angelus. In the middle of the fifteenth century, it sayß. thera app ared in the heavens the famous comet of Halley. The Pope Calix us 111 , believing that the comet was a demon which had come to destroy the Papil power, commanded that bells should be rang threj times a day as an infallible means of fighting away the evil spirit. On this the lievlsta makes the following correction : The New York Tribune is greatly misUkeo. The origin of the Angelus dates back to tbe year 1090 when Urban 11. established and promulgated the beautiful practice, in a Council at Clermont, in order to lead the faithful to honour the Blessed Virgin, and to implore her help for the Christian flaet which was then fighting the Tarks The same devotion was confirmed by John XXII., in 1318, in a Bull published on the 13 of October, and in 1327 m another Bull published on tbe 7ih of May. Tne Popes Calixtus 111., Paul 111 , Alexanler VII., and Clement X., strongly recommended the pious custom, and enriched it with many indulgences. This ie, acordiDg to ecclesiastical history, the origin of the devotion called the Angelus. This is very different from the origin given by the Tribune. But in this comet, in this demon, in this euppoaition, in this danger to the Papal throne, there is an unmistakable proof of an ioventive genius which is only equalled by the lies that established the Reformation. In this summary given by the Revwta, the comet form! the basis of the fa'sehoods ; the supposed demon is a falsehood ; the saporstition alleged to depend upon it, is equally false, and the supposed danger to the Papal throne is given as a false reason for an infamout falsehood, worthy of a Freemason.