OPENING OF THE CONGRESS. INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY CARDINAL MORAN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 39, 27 September 1900, Page 4

OPENING OF THE CONGRESS. INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY CARDINAL MORAN.

The Catholic Congress was opened in St. Mary's Hall, on Monday morning, September 10, without any formal ceremony. There wtre about 1000 members of the Congress present. Among those present were his Eminence Cardinal Moran, Archbishops Carr, Redwood, O'Reily, Bishops Murray, Moore, Grimes, Dunne, Hiprgins, Gallagher, Reville, Dwyer, Byrne, Mgr. O'Reilly (Auckland), the Very Rev. Deans Slattery (Newtown), Hegarty (Kyneton), Phelan (Melbourne), Healy (Balmain), O'Connor (Armidale), and Dr. Carroll, V.G. The representatives from Victoria numbered S2l, inoluding 29 ecclesiastics, 103 ladies, and 18!) laymen. His Eminence Cardinal Moran was received with much applause ■when he rose to open the Congress by delivering his inaugural address on ' The Church in the Nineteenth Century.' His Eminence said : — At the very outset of our proceedings permit me, on the part of the Mother-Church of Australasia, to offer a hearty welcome to those who have come to us from other dioceses and from afar, and further permit me in the name of all the Bishops and clergy and faithful people of Australasia to wish ' God-speed ' to the great work of the Catholic Congress on which we are about to enter. The great purpose for which our Congress meets, sanctioned as it is by the Vicar of Christ, Pope Leo XIII., and accompanied with his blessing, cannot but be crowned with complete success. We are assembled at this close of the nineteenth century to offer our devoted homage to the Divine Redeemer in thanksgiving for the manifold blessings vouchsafed to this fair land in the first century of ita birth, and we desire, at the same time, in union with the other Churches of Christendom, to offer in an humble way some reparation for the scenes of impiety and irreligious freuzy which in many countries of the old world brought the last century to a close. I do not know that the pages of history present sadder scenes than those witnessed throughout Europe at' th^ close of the eighteenth century. Infidelity and irreligion in the delirium of triumph trampled to the dust everything that virtue and honor and piety could commend, thus bringing desolation and ruin to the fairest territories of Holy Church. Throughout France the very name of God was proscribed. The Churches were desecrated, the piic^-ts were exiled or led to the scaffold. Under th'i name of the godded of reason vice itself was enthroned upon the altars of the Most High. And from France as from a centre the flood of impiety spread over Europe. The Abbe de La'nenn.iis tells of the scenes of which he was witness in those days ' On the ruins of the altar and the throne, over the bom's of priest and sovereign, began the reign of force, the reign of hatred and of terror ; a frightful fulfilment of the prophecy '• A wnole people will hurl itself, man against man, neighbor against neighbor, and, with a great tumult, the child will n-,e against the old man, the populace against those in power ; lor they have opposed their language and their inventions to God." lo describe that terrible Bcene of disorder, of crime, of dissolution, and of slaughter, that orgy of doctrines, that confused clashing of interest-* and of passions, that mingling of proscription with impure fe isN. those cries of blasphemy, those sinister songs, that low, persistent knocking of the hammer of destruction, of the axe striking its victims, those horrible detonations and those roars of joy, dismal echo from a vast massacre, those widowed cities, those rivers foulud with dead bodies, those temples, those towns in ashes, murder and lust, teirs and blood — one would have to borrow its tongue from hell, as .s >mv monsters have borrowed its furies.' But ere

THE AGENCIES OF EVIL

had spent their fury, Divine Providence had begun by a triple interposition to make known to the world that Heaven is ever watchful in its guardianship of Holy Church. First of all th>power of God was singularly manifested in the election of n successor in the See of St. l'eter to Tope Pius the Sixth. This Pontiff, venerable for his virtues as for his yearH, ended his days in August, 17D9, an exile from Rome, a prisoner in the hands of the enemies of religion. Impiety floated ov^r its victory, and proclaimed that ita triumph was at length co-nplete. The official journal in Pans announced to the world not only that the Pope was dead but that the Popedom was no more, for the Republic would not allow a successor to be appointed to the deceased Pontiff. The condition of Italy was such as seemed to justify such an announcement. The French tricolor floated over the Vatican ; the tree of liberty was planted on the capitol ; a revolutionary government, subordinate to that of Paris, ruled in Rome. All Italy was hushed before the armies of France, aod not a tranquil spot could be found where th» ot.ncla\e for the election of a Pope could be held. But how wonderful are the ways of God ' In those very days a Russian army under Suwarrow vanquished the French in North Italy, whiKt the English fleet was crowned with victory in the Adriatic. Venice was thus freed from the revolutionary tyranny. There the Cardinals peaceably assemble. Russia and Fngland keep guard for the conclave, and, in the month of March, lsuo, Pope Pius the Seventh is elected to the See of St. Peter. A few months later he eutered Rome amid the joyous acclaim of the citizens, and was solemnly enthroned in the capital of the Christian world Nor was this all. Scarcely had the Pope been elected when the tide of French victory

again set in. The memmable day of Marenco laid all Ita'y once more at the feet of Nap >leon, and yet from that very battlefield, Napoleon, recognising the interposition of Providence, wrote a letter to the newly-elected Pope. ;md to the great joy of the Christian world announced the restoration of religion and of peace to the Church in France.

THE DOWNFALL OK XAPOLEON.

A few years pass on, and a no lew manifest interposition of PrnvirVm-n i« <jp,.ti in V i pnlenn '* dnwufill fnfoxieated with pride aud victory, he would emulate the universal sway of Charleininjrip, nn«l Tt- thp <-«mp time wnnM y<,k-e the Pnp-u'v irsplf to the chariot of his triumph. Pi.is the Seventh was at length constrained to fulminate the sentence of eKcoinniunicUion against him. Napoleon in the excess of his rage scornfully exclaimed . ' What does the old man mean ' Does he think that the muskets will drop from my soldiers' hands" Flushed with victory, at the head of the Grand Army, the greatest muster of forces that Europe had as yet seen, he entered Moscow. In a few weeks how changed was the Hcenc. Through the bitterness of the Russian snows, the highways of his retreat were literally bestrewn with the imuskets that dropped from the frozen hands of his perishing soldiers. We see a third Divine interposition in the course of the Revolution itself. The very revolutionary agencies, evoked by the spirits of evil to accomplish the ruin of religion, became in the ways of Divine Providence a rod of chastisement to avenge the outrages which the various European Powers had committed against the Church. Austria and Holland. Spain and the Bourbon principalities of Italy — in a word, all the States that had sought to enslave the Church and to fetter her in the exercise of her sacred mission, were crushed to the dust, and so complete was their humiliation that they were themselves constrained to cry out : ' the hand of God is here.' Thus, by a triple interposition of Providence, our nineteenth century was ushered in, and the blessings of Divine mercy continued to mark the progress of the century so auspiciously begun.

THE SOVEREIGN PONTIFFS.

Six Sovereign Pontiffs have steered the barque of Peter throughout this nineteenth century, and well may the children of Holy Church rejoicing lift up their hearts in thanksgiving to God in that He has vouchsafed such Chief Pastors to guard His fold in those troublous times. In the first half of the century four of those Sovereign Pontiffs were summoned to their reward, men of zeal and firmness, of learning and piety, whose names shall long be held in benediction throughout the Church. The pontificate of Pius the Ninth, the next Pope, exceeded in length of years that of any of his predecessors, Moreover, there were few of those predecessors who, whilst championing the cause of rLligion, had to contend against so many enemies and against such varied phases of assault as he. Like many of the greatest among them he was privileged to suffer a great deal at the hands of the enemies of God, and yer, despite these sufferings, to achieve most glorious triumphs. A writer in the excellent magazine, the Aye Jin rin, remarks that tho°e tiiumphs and trials of Pius the Ninth • combined in a marvellous way to make the Tope known and loved by every true Catholic througuout the world. Never was devotion to the Holy See ho brought home tv every Catholic heart. And the ve.r;> instruments of whose invention the nineteenth century may be justly proud — steamers, railways, telegraphs, steam - printing machines, and the camera— helped to make the Sovereign Pontiff a living reality to dwellers in the uttermost partd of the world.' So bright was the lustre ot his pontificate that when he passed to his reward men saul none could be found to wear the tiara with equal renown. Yet such a one was found. Already, for '22 years, Pope Leo XIII. has ruled the Church with an enlightenment that has never been surpassed, whilst he has won the affection of all the faithful by his unwearying paternal care. Fearlessly he has averted the freedom of the Church within her own sphere. Unce i-n he has sought to reduce to harmony the conflicting relations oi classes and peoples, and to enlibt the co-operation and generous sympathies of all. to pursue the paths of genuine progress, and to promote the saor»d cause of Christian civilisation. The wi it er. to whom I have ] ust referred, remarks of him : ' He has pacified and drawn towards him the nations of the world, just as the pole attracts the compasses of hhips of all kinds. Look at Germany with its Kulturkampf ended. Look at Russia with its young Czar eager to enlist the aged Pope in his crusade for peace. Look at Africa with the nations of Europe pouring light into a continent of darkness and slavery. In these things whose name holds a foremost place / That of Leo XIII. Well may we exclaim Yicit Leo' Yes, Pope Leo has triumphed.

THE SPIRITUAL VITALITY OF THE CHDBCH.

What shall I pay of the spiritual vitality of which throughout the century the Church never ceased to give abundant proof 1 That vitality is seen in the diocesan seminaries which were everywhere multiplied, in the Hierarchies that were restored in England and Holland and Scotland — in the new Dioceses that were erected — in the Synods that were held. Suffice it to say that the number of Dioceses throughout Christendom at the close of the century ia almost double the number that was reckoned at its commencement, aud that in France alone since the middle of the century more Synods have been held than were celebrated throughout all Europe in the three centuries that intervened between the Council of Trent and that date. That same vitality ia seen in the religious Orders instituted or revived or quickened with renewed energy. In the last century the Jesuits, who had held a foremost place on the battlefields of the Faith, were pursued with deadly enmity by the infidel statesmen that controlled the governments of Europe, and through dread of greater evils their society was suppressed. One of the first triumphs

of religion witnessed in the present century was the revival of this religious order, and in this closing year of the century it already numbers m its ranks ],"■>,(><)() soldiers of the Crows. The ot hi r religious orders have given proof of no le^s vitality. and have born<» abundant fruit. The Benedictines in France ami Germany, in England and Italy, have emulated the brightest days of their regions observance and literary fame. The Carthusians and lrappistH. the Dominicans and Franciscans with renewed ardor have pursued the paths marked out by their Holy founder*. The ■Rpdpniptorists have nhrnvn themselves animated by the spirit of St AlphonMis, Do 'tor ot Holy (Jburch. Bui. bt-oult n <tll lln,. c vc"r"" communities quickened in their fervor through the vigilant, car i of the Holy Sec. no fewer than ne»v iriigiuui oiuer-. ha\o 4 r :".„' into life and with characteristic devotedncs apply themselves to promote the interests of religion, to meet the requirements of the age, and to spread the blessings of Christian truth in the remotest missionary lands. Ac no other period have «o many golden Encyclicals Yen addressed by the Holy See to instruct the faithful, or so many Canonisations been solemnised ; and we rau-it not forget that such Encyclicals convey the lessonn of Divine truth to illumine the mind, whilst the Canonisations present, a3 in a mirror, the heroism of virtue to guide us in the every-day path 1 * of Christian life. Even in this very hurried review of the great things achieved by Holy Church, I would wish to dwell for a little while on the definition of the Immaculate Conception, which shall ever remain one of the chief triumphs of religion in modern times. And I would wish to dwell on it at some detail, in that the manner of proceeding in this instance serves to illustrate the scrupulous care with which the Church proceeds when proposing to the faithful the doctrines of Divine Faith, a matter too often misunderstood or misrepresented by non-Catholic writers in our day.

THE DOCTRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Whilst as yet Pius IX. was an exile in Gaeta, in 184'J, letters were addressed to all the Bishops throughout the Catholic world, inviting them to report officially to the Holy See on the tradition and belief of their respective churches regarding the cherished doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin. Five hundred and forty-three letters were received in reply. These letters have been published and may be regarded as unanimous in affirming the doctrine, only six or seven Bishops setting forth their personal opinion as opposed to it, whilst even they affirmed the traditional and general belief of the doctrine in their respectn c dioceses. Various congregations of theologians were appointed to examine into all matters connected with the ever-living tradition of the Church bearing on this doctrine, and, as the festive day approached, about 2uo Bishops assembled in Rome to whom the draft of the decree and definition was submitted for consideration and discussion. Those who were privileged to be present in Sf Peter's Basilica on the memorable feast of the *th of December, 1854, will never forget the pious enthusiasm displayed by the thousands of priests and lay-pilgrims assembled there from every country under the sun, particularly when, at the moment of the solemn definition, the grand Basilica seemed to be transformed into a true vestibule of Paradise, and the myriad voices in glorious melody took up the chant of the Te Deuin, in joyoub thanksgiving for the tribute of honor thus decreed to their heavenly Immaculate Queen. Never was a doctrinal definition received throughout the whole Catholic world with such unanimity of approval. Prophets of evil had predicted that manifold dangers would arise, that murmurs of dissension would be heard, that bchisms would ensue. Nothing of all this has happened. The definition of the Immaculate Conception was joyously acclaimed by Bishops, priest", and faithful people throughout the churches of Christendom. The triumph of the Blessed Virgin in the privilege thus decreed to her was complete, and the doctrinal definition by the Sovereign Pontiff was crowned with univerbal rejoicing.

THE VATICAN' KCUMEXICAL COCNCHj

What shall I pay of the Vatican Ecumenical Council, which has been the most remarkable triumph of the Church in this nineteenth century, perfecting for our days the sacred edifice of Christian piety, and building up bulwarks of the Faith, against which the enemies of divine truth bhall ever ra^e in vain. Such a Council was needed to meet the requirements of the age. As a publicist of the time remarked ' The nineteenth century was a new era. Old political forms were passing away : the laws and institutions which had been, from the remotest historical time, regarded aH the foundations of the social and moral world, were 80 shaken and imperilled by the intellectual upheaval, that the ancient landmarks of truth and error were being daily obliterated more and more. The Church of Christ to which had been made the divine promise that she could never cease to be, and never be otherwise than unerring in her teaching, must remain unmoved amid the general wreck and change, and her supreme pastor, amid this new confusion of tongues, muat raise his voice above the din and the storm, and proclaim anew the words of eternal life.' The See of St. Peter had been made the centre of attack by all the bitterest assailants of the Christian name. The forces of error, impiety, and misbelief would marshal their combined strength to lay siege to this citadel of the Faith, and in their pride would summon it to surrender at discretion. The Vatican Council was the Church's reply. Seven hundred Bishops, many of them from the remotest dioceses of Christendom, gathered around the Vicar of Christ. And what was the result 1 The prevalent errors of rationalism and indifferentism were condemned, the perfect harmony of Bcience and religion was proclaimed, the spirit of piety and zeal throughout Christendom was revived, the indissolubility of the marriage bond was sanctioned anew and confirmed, all that was best and purest and most ennobling in the social order was invigorated with fresh impulse and commended to the faithful,

and tho Session* of the Council were brought to a close by setting the seal of Holy Church on the infallible authority of the successors of St. Peicr. It has at times beeu taid that the whole convening of the Council was a mvre cunniug device for proclaiming the doctrine of the I'ap.vl Infallibility. Such a statement is quite the reverse of truth. The ablc-t champions of the Holy See, long before the ses?i'~nq of the Council were commenced, considered it quite unnecessary that this doctrine should be defined. But the concerted attacks of the anti-Catholic Press throughout every country of Enrorip. the threatening attitude of hostile Governments, the misrepresentation of this dectrme itseir, and the exaggerated or di«tortpfl that were circulated by misguided men to excite odium against the Church, compelled the Fathers of the Council to clearly and distinctly declare in unmistakable accents what the belief of the Church waa in regard to this doctrine. Thus in the ways of Providence the very efforts of the Church's enemies to assail her teaching, led to the achievement of the very triumph that they sought to avert. And you will easily understand that when misrepresentation had thus gathered around this doctrine of the infallibility of the Holy See, and when many even well-intentioned persona had been betrayed by such misrepresentation to misconceive the true meaning of the doctrine as taught by Holy Church, it became a matter of manifest duty to so formulize the definition of doctrine that all doubt as to its true import and meaning would be for ever and peremptorily removed. The discussion on this head was prolonged for weeks, and extended to its remotest bearings. All this was happily permitted by Providence that thus all occasion of doubt or uncertainty would be removed, and that the doctrine itself would be presented to the faithful in the purest undimmed light of Catholic truth. It is pleasant for us to bear in mind that when this great doctrine was at length submitted to the vote of the assembled Fathers, the decree in which it was formulized, and which waa definitely sanctioned by the Ecumenical Council, and which thus for all time became incorporated in the public and authentic teaching of Holy Church, was formally proposed in the august assembly by a Prelate of our own race, perhaps I should say of our own kith and kin.

THE SUPPRESSION OF SLAVERY

And now were you to ask what grest things in this century of oura have been achieved by Holy Church in her dealings with the statesmen and civil powers of this world, I would without hesitation reply that in most countries the Catholic Church has been freed from the trammels and fetters by which for centuries she was held capiive under State control in a sort of honorable bondage, and which could not fail to impede in a thousand ways the free and beneficent exercise of her divine mission. This of Itself would suffice as a record of success, and should be regarded as a happy achievement , but, furthermore, communism under its myriad forms has been unmasked and condemned; divorce, which theatened to subvert the whole fabric of Christian family life, has been set before the world in its naked deformity and anathematised ; secularism in education, that would seek to banish God from the school, has been successfully combated and overuome ; and slavery bas at length been banished for ever from Christian nations. Many of these subjects will, I have no doubt, be fully illustrated at future sessions of thia Congress. It is only regarding slavery that I will at present make a few remarks. Every thoughtful mind will regard it as a remarkable feature of this l'Jth century that at length, after a struggle prolonged for lhoO years, Christian principles in all civilised peoples has triumphed over slavery. What has been during this century the part of the Church in thia momentous struggle ? As far back aa the European Congress, held at Vienna in 1815, Pope Pius the Seventh, through his representative, Cardinal Consalvi, presented a memorandum praying the assembled Powers to interdict the inhuman slave traffic. A few years later Pope Gregory XVi , at the very outset of his pontificate, in an encyclical addressed to the bishops and priests and faithful throughout the whole world, raised his voice against the same terrible evil. What is singular and deserving of remark, the enemies of the Church, to cast odium on her social action, had recourse to forgery, publishing two pretended Bulls, one of them imputed to this very Pontiff, in favor of slavery. One of these forgeries was traced to a Professor of Trinity College, Dublin ; the other was a little late/ unblushirgly acknowledged by the Italian revolutionary leader, Massimo d'Azeglio. in his published memoirs. However, alike through good and evil report, the Roman Pontiffs continued to raise their voices against it. It was a memorable event that at the prayer of the reigning Pontiff, the last public act of the Emperor of Brazil, before surrendering the reins of Government to republican hands, was to proclaim the enfranchisement of the slaves throughout hia vast dominion. Africa was the last stronghold of this inhuman traffic One illustrious name in connection with this war against slavery will at once recur to mind, that of the Archbishop of Carthage, Cardinal Lavigerie. It was with the blessing and at the urgent request of the present Pontiff, Pope Leo XIII., that the great African prelate entered upon the anti-elavery crusade which was to b 9 crowned I with glorious results. The difficulties that presented themselves might well have deterred the bravest hearts. The Arab hordes, fired by Moslem frenzy, had for years swept over the immense territories of central Africa, hurrying away whole races to death or slavery. It was calculated that for a considerable period 400,000 African natives annually fell victims to this terrible scourge. No difficulties, however, could deter the brave Cardinal in his heroio crusade. lie addressed repeated memorials to the European sovereigns imploring their aid in this great work. It was at his argent request that the King of Belgium invited the other crowned heads to meet in Brussels to devise the best means for putting an end to the terrible evil. The blockading of the African coasts against the.

export of slaves was one of the happy results of the Congress. This, however, did not suffice for the zealous Cardinal. He led a devoted band, trained no 1- ss in the diseiplint of warfare than in that of pie f y. to form a cordon across the African <'p«erts to intercept tbe Moslem marauders He proceded fiom capital to < apital, and fiom city to city throughout Europe, to make known the dreadful evil and to awaken the popular sentiment in favor of hi* crus\de. It is pleasant to reca'l that nowhere *a* he w> 1< omed with greater enthusiasm than in t,h > grett citio* of England. Pope Lfli> XIII continued by rpp °ate 1 letter* to encourage him in the noble task which h had a^um >d, and from his scanty resources onntribi tfx] -P'?onfV) t > ,tid him to realise his trrand purpose. Th<» Cardinal dtd not lhetoseethe triumph of the cause he so nobly advocated, bu' the wreath of victory may justly be placed upon his tomb. Two years ago, to the gre-it joy of the whole civilised world, the glad announcement was made that at length the last traces of the African slave trade had disappeared from its final btronghold, the Britibh-protected territory of Zanzibar.

A MARVELLOUS EXPANSION OF PIETY

If we look back along the course of the century and consider what has been the action of the Church on the faithful within her fold, and how far her divine quickening t-pirit has been reflected in their daily life, we cannot fail to recognise that this age has witnessed (a) a marvellous expansion of genuine piety, (b~) a singular spread of enlightenment and knowledge, O) a cheering revival of the Christian ideal in architecture and art, and above all (rf) a most remarkable and widespread manifestation of true heroism in the exercise of Catholic charity. You will bear with me whilst I make tome brief remarks on these heads. (a) In proof of the marvellous spread of genuine piety among the faithful, it would suffice to appeal to the parochial missions, which, in most countries, were almost unknown in the last century, but have become general throughout the Church in hater times, everywhere imparting in profuse abundance the richest blessings of divine mercy. But furthermore, true piety to our Blessed Lord ha* taken deep root in every Catholic home wherever the Holy Family Association has been established, to say nothing of the special tributes to the Sacred Heart and the devotion to the Mn«t Holy Sacrament, which ha\e become familiar as household words in every parish throughout Christendom. This threefold devotion to the Holy Family, to the Sacred Heart, and to the most Holy Sacrament, has had a most singular development in this century. The same holds good as regards s ilid devotion to the Blessed Virgin. The daily prayer* and cel> br ition* in her huv r thr >nghout the months of Ma^and October, are chanc'en-tic of our I.i h century ; and at no other period have the devotion* of the Ro i -a r y and the pious sodalities which are enrolled under her invocation bu j u soguiirul throughout the Church.

SPREAD OK ENLIOHTLNVIENT AND KNOWLEDGE

(h) |Therehas b^en a mirvePous diffusion of religiou* enlightenment in all ranks and elates of the faithful Whilst education h«s been everywhere brought wiihm the rea< h of the humblest children of the fold, the Church, even in tin* In^he^r branehp* of scientific knowledge, has ever} \v here t.iken the lead. When, in 18.V), the eloquence of Mon tale in her t won liberty of education fur France, within a Jew months a hundred college* sprung into life, teaching the highest br,mchp* of science under the aegis of rt hgion. What hhall I say of the Universities in Louvain and Lille, in Friburg and Canada, at the capital of the United State*, and elsewhere? Even in Ireland, debpite her poverty, a Catholic University, sustained by the voluntary offerings of Inr faithful people, was organised. For half a century that University has been, ignored by successive Governments and has been beset by difficulties on every side ; yet like that South African town of which we reai so mu'-h a few months ago, even at starvation point it has upheld the honor of the flag. The century may truly be said to have witnessed a brilliant religious renaissance in every branch of learning, in theological studies, in historical research, in antiq mriau investigation, in scientific pursuit*, and comparing the condition of studies to-day with that which prevailed at the beginning of the century, we cannot fa ; l to recognise a singular progress in all branches of solid learning under tbe guidance and the blessing of religion. And here another thought occurs to mind. During this century th« Church in every land has produced illustrious leaders of thought, men of wisdom and genius who, by their eloquence and devotedness, have exeicised a dominant influence in shaping the destiny and in moulding the ideas of the age. And with these children of the Faith I would associate the brilliant array of distinguished converts who, by their learning and zjal and writings, and their indefatigable labor in defence of truth, have shed a bright halo of glory around the outward life of the Church. In the English-speaking world. the names of O'Connell and Brownson, of Kennck and Lingard, of Digby aad Pngin, of Wiseman and Newman, of M inning and Allies, will at once recur to mind. Italy has had her Mai and Mezzofanti, Vioo and De Rossi, Cantu, Manzoni, and a host of others. In France wa meet with De Maistre and Bonald, Montalembert and Ozanam, Laoordaire and Dupanloup, to name only a few of her grand army of religious leaders. The University of Louvain presents a whole host in its professors' roll ; but Belgium may further point with pride to the gifted and devoted men who have so worthily revived and continued the monumental ' Acta Sanctorum ' of the Bollandists. Germany is second to no other country in the galaxy of bright and honored names whioh it presents. So long as the German language and literature shall laßt. the names of Gorres and fStolberg, of Hiirter and Moeller, of Hefele and Hergenrother, of Jannsens and Pastor, shall be pronounced with reverence and affection. With a. record of such names, who can doubt that this 19th ceutury has been marked by a singular religious renaissance in every department of enlightenment and literature.

THE CHRISTIAN IDEAL IN ARCHITECTURE AND ART.

(r) There has been a cheering 1 revival, too, of the Christian ideal in architecture and art. It has been paid that the grand churohes and cathedrals which have been erected from time to time upe'ik with trumpet tongue as well of the piety of the people as of the perfection attained by the ape in architecture. I do not know that any of the great chnrohea of Christendom date from the lafit century, but in our own day we have seen St. Paul's Basilica in Rome arise in splendor from }+« «ph«»B i the grind Pj\fhprinl» nf Milan and Florence and Naples have been completed, the immortal monument of Cologne has been pprfcted. 1 in Piri« v i i* been crnwticfl with a memorial church of which any < entury might be justly proud ; Vienna, New York, Westminster, Armagh, to name only a tew, have erected sacred edifices worthy of their religious fame. And our own Australia baa nobly done her part. A few years ago many of us assisted at the dedication of the grand Cathedral under the invocation of Ireland's Apostle, worthy of the great southern capital ; and yesterday we were privileged to dedicate, in its partially completed form, our own St. Mary's, which, in its fair proportions and stately grandeur and perfection of detail, will hold its own with many of the finest cathedrals of tne otd*-r nations of Christendom. What I have said of architecture holds good ali-o of Christian art. Great things have been achieved in France, Belgium, and Germany ; and in Rome itself the honored names of Canova and Overbeck, of Cornelius and Seitz and Soldativitcz tell of the successful efforts that have been made to bring back men's ideas to the ennobling ideals of Christian art.

HEROIC DEEDS OF CHARITY.

(<1) On the heroic deeds of charity multiplied throughout the world in this nineteenth century it is unnecessary for me to dwell. A hundred lectures would not suffice to do justice to such a theme. Even writers who are opposed to the Catholic name have felt constrained to pronounce in no measured words the eulogy of the heroic charity of which our devoted sisterhoods and brotherhoods have given every day abundant proof. Never before on the battlefields of the world was such fearless heroism of devoted charity witnessed as in this nineteenth century ; never in ministering to the manifold wants of suffering humanity was Christian charity more perfect, more refined, more varied in its resources than in our own day. If the terrible distase of leprosy once again has made its name known amongst v*. are not the grandest triumphs of heroic charity in ministering to its victims recalled by the name of Father Damien I

THE CHUKCH IN BELGIUM

Hut fomp one tr.ny ask. have those victories of the Faith, those truniph* tit truth, been practical in their results? have the promised bitting* been realised in Christian homes and Christian ptoples .' in a word, has the spirit of Catholic piety exercised that beneficent influence which was to be hoped for from the divine mission of Holy Church .' Yes ! even under the most adverse conditions, and amid the most hostile surroundings, those happy results have been achieved. Let us look to Belgium, for instance. Anyone contemplating the happy circumstances of that Catholic people must perforce exclaim, lung may it be faithful to its religious traditions, and long may it continue to pursiu; the paths of true progress, and to projluue the pleasant fruit* of pro°perity and peace, which hitherto have been its heritage. I am assuredly justified in calling it a Catholic people , half a century ago its population was a little more than four millions, with 25.000 non-Catholics ; but in its latest official returns, it* population is leckoned at 6,500,000, whilst the non-Catholics have dwindled down to 10,000 Protestants and 4,000 Jew* , and it is to be remarked that many of these non-Catholics hive come from England or Germany or other countries, so that of Belgium, a* of Ireland, tbe old saying must hold good : 'its soil is not congvniil to the growth of heresy.' !t l- not that Protestantism was wanting in its endeavors to achieve since-* Two years ago the Jlrrlni Prcx<s published the report of Key. M. Durand, a IVlg'an Protestant pastor, deputed by his co-reli^ioin*ts to solicit German aid and sympathy. He Bet forth that their missionary staff consisted of 30 pastors, with two evangelists, and IS bible or tract distributors, that they were generously sustained by the Masonic societies, but, nevertheless, for some years they had to face an annual deficit of 15,000 francs.

C To be conrluded in our nr.rt i\sue.)