THE CHURCH IN PARIS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 37, 13 September 1900, Page 6

THE CHURCH IN PARIS.

Writing from Paris to the Western Watchman, Rev. Father Phelan says :

' The churches are supported by the State, but only as to the material structures. At the beginning of every fiscal year the " Council de Fabrique," which would mean with us a board of trustees, makes out its requisitions for the year to the Minister of Public Worship, and he incorporates the requests, or aa much of them as he thinks fit, in his budget These requisitions cover repairs and improvements to the building, and equipment, such as altars, panelings, vestments and the like. This Council de Fabrique ia theoretically elected by the parishioners, but practically named by the cures. One result of this arrangement is that the churches have all grand vestments, splendid choirs and are kept scrupulously clean. The singers and organist, the sacristans and priests are paid by the State ; all but the priests are pretty well paid ; these get only a beggarly pittance, which they generally lose on the ground of outspoken hostility to the government. The first cures of Paris are allowed only 1 „">J O francs, or 3Codol. But the priests of Paris have no reason to complain of insufficiency of support, aa the people are generous. The church services are conducted with the greatest punctuality and exactitude. The priests are all day in and about the churches and the confessionals are never entirely empty. Masses are said from sto 11.30 without intermission, and when a grand High Mass is going on at the main altar Low Masses are being said at the side altars to accommodate those who have not the time to stay for the longer function. There are a great many priests attached to each church, and there seems to be work for all. Most of them have schools taught by the Christian Brothers, but they are small compared with tho number of children in those immense parishes. The Brothers are clad in their usual habit, but they wear very heavy, coarse shoes. During the Triduum in honor of St. John Baptist de la Salle, all the preachers emphasized the law of the founder of the Christian Brothers' schools, that they should be dressed like the common people, should not pretend to scholarship, but rather show in their bearing humility, poverty, simplicity and ignorance. This last word opened my eyes. Thought Ito myself, that would never do for America.'