atholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 52, 26 December 1901, Page 24

atholic World

- - -* — N - AUSTRIA.—Seven Centuries Old. The Cictercian Chapter- at 'Lilienfield, Austria-Hungary) recently observed the 700 th anniversary of its foundation. The chapter-house is situated between Vienna a,nd Lilienfield and is one of many memories. CHINA. — Repairing the Damage. . A letter written by the herpic Bishop Favier gives the welcome inV formation that the Christians of his diocese are -^ being .fully compensated for the losses .they suffered during the , never-to-be-forgotten Reign of Terror, last .year. They" are rebuilding their - houses and peace seems "to be really, restored. ' ' ,We are also receiving, ample compensation for the" beautiful churches that were burned down,' says * the Bishop, ' but time will be needed to rebuild them. Our residence in Pe-ta'ng has been rebuilt, finer than i . ever. Our cathedral is al,so approaching- completion, and in a few months there will be no trace of "last' year.' s" siege. lam also building two large hospitals at Peking and Tiea-tsin j they will be ready before wfnter.' CUBA.— Church Affairs. Bishop Sbarretti, who will shortly leave Havana for Rome, prior to going to the Philippine* Islands as representative of the Pope .to settle the Church question there, has issued a pastoral letter of farewell." He, says the idea has* arisen in Cuba that -owing to the separation of Church : and State, the f qrmer has lost her judicial personality.- Those' who think this do not know the nature of the Cath6lic Church, which is a sovereign society. He adds that amid all struggles and contradictions the ' support of,- Catholics was always given to him. He. found* that the validity of religious marriages was not recognised. This was a -matter of "deep concern to him, and some opposed him in his endeavors to \ obtain recognition for such' marriages. ■■ Help came from a quarter whence it was -least expected, and tho . Government recognised the legality, of religious marriages. The Bishop further says that he is convinced that religious education is essential for children. He has -founded religious schools and diffused 1 religious education in order to correct a fundamental policy' of the present, regime. Regarding Church property, he says that the return of this property to the Church, its lawful owner, did honor to the Government wtiich returned it. ENGLAND.— A Good Work. I understand (writes a London correspondent) that the ecclesiastical authorities of Southwark intend opening at an early date a house in the neighborhood of Walworth for the education of ecclesiastical students. It is intended that Catholics engaged in business in the city should have an opportunity of discovering whether they have a vocation for the priesthood, without interfering with their secular pursuits. His Lordship tho Bishop of Southwark has* given instructions for the opening of an insti-" tution whereby eligible Catholics may undergo a course of probation for the sacred ministry. The Bishop will open the institution, and I understand' that a large' number of Catholics engaged in business pursuits in the cityhave expressed their ..willingness to join the novitiate. Death of a Canon. The news of. the death * of Canon Bwgshawe, whose work' on be-

half aof the Catholic Church in England has made his name famousj was received with deep regret, not only by Catholics themselves, butjby all who had the plea-. ' sure of knowing him. He was a Cath olic first, but he was in thorough touch with those belonging to other denominations, by whom . he was ~ deeply respected. The late Canon served as army chaplain in the Crimean War, and was appointed Missionary Rector of Richmond in 1856. Archbishop Bagshawe, the brother of the deceased, officiated at the Requiem Mass, which wag said at Richmond in presence of a^ large concourse ,of. clergy and laity. Canon Johnston, who gave, the address on the occasion, paid an eloquent tribute to the priestly character of the deceased Canon. ' A Sudden Death. On -the -assembling of the County - Court at Peterborough, on November 6, the Registrar said he regretted to , inform the' Court that he had just received a telegram stating that his Honor Judge Bagshawe had died suddenly during the night. The Registrar expressed deep sympathy with Mrs. -Bagshawe and (the family at the sudden termination of so long and a career. Judge Bagehawe on the previous day attended the funeral of hjte brother, Canon Bagshawe. Mr J.; A. Percival, as senior solicitor present, voiced the sorrow that would ■be felt by the legal profession at, the loss of- a most ■ painstaking and methodical judge,. The deceased was one of the oldest County Court judges on circuit. The Court .immediately adjourned. Judge Bagshawe was the brother of Archbishop' Bagshawe, .till lately the Bishop of Nottingham, and of Canon Bagshawe, whose funeral he attended on the, day preceding his own death. He was one of the most , respected of English Catholic lay-, 1 men. ' ' . FRANCE.— Study of Irish. A class for the study of Irish has been formed in the' Irish Paris. • Out of a total ' of ' 70' Sj^uSeSits 60 have joined it." • ' '"•','' , Airican Missions. The following missionaries, 'with several Sisters of the Society of African Missions/ have left Lyons for their -missions in Africa : Fathers J. Gagnaire, J • Mounier, J. Khern., Gegin, and Antoine, for- Dahomey ; Fathers Banwarth, Vescier, and Peter for -the .Gold. Coast?; Fathers, Ton- ■ quernie, "Moly, and -four lay Brothers for the Ivory Coast. The ' Right Rev. Mgr. D'Arto.is,- Vicar-Apostolic of , Dahdmey,* and the Right Rev. Mgr. " Albert, Vicar-Apostolic of the Gold Coast, also left for their respective • Sees. The Benedictines. ■ We (' Catholic Times ') hear of religious communities asking for their, authorisation of the Frerich. Government and being refused it. This is not the case with the English ..Benedictines of Douai, who, having applied for their authorisation, are in a fair way of obtaining it. The Mayor of Douai is on their -side putting forward together with their plea the statutes of their community, which say -that the • aim pursued by these monks, is the salvation and sanctification of souls, and that their means of action lie in Christian teaching and the apostolic ministry exercised in England. Cures at'Louirdes. ' • The. ' Annals " of - Our Lady of Lourdes ' quotes Dr. Brunnelle, of Laval University, as follows : ' I am not afraid,' to say tnajb I have seen facts that cannot be exp'Hined except by granting siup?r natural' intervention. I have verified miracles scientifically, and I dare to challenge any physicjan in the world to give me a natural explanation of those cures,' . and then justly remarks : ' And yet in the face of statements like this, a few materialists, delving for knowledge where knowledge is

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not, stop making their dusty records long enough to say " the Age of Miracles is past," and for them it will be past till they come to realise twit He who made matters is just a little bit superior to His creation. When they can explain scientifically how a leg can instantly increase its length two inches ; how an osseous tumor of three years' standing can be instantly healed and covered with a new skin, or acute pulmonary tuberculosis and natal blindness can be cured by a simple bath, then we will feel that they have some right to talk as they do.' Winding up Estates.

The winding up of the estates of the Congregations which have refused to apply for authorisation (writes a Paris correspondent)) is proceeding briskly. The Government agents are, however, experiencing more difficulty than they expected, owing to the fact which I have already pointed out often before, that the property of most of the important Congregations does not belong to those Congregations, but to companies which had been formed after the experience of 1880 to take up the property of the religious Orders in order to save it from eventual confiscation in case the war against liberty of association should be renewed. The advisers of the Government were confident that the title of these companies was rather flimsy, and that means could be found by which they would be prevented from intervening in the winding up of the estates. In this, however, they were disappointed, and the incidents which happened at Solesmes must have convinced them that the Jesuits were not the only ones who had kjnown how to protect themselves By order of the Minister of Justice, the Prefect, accompanied by a Justice of the Peace, and a number of policemen, went to the Abbey of Solesmes for the purpose of taking an inventory of the property and placing seals upon all the doors. As no notice had been given of this visit, the magistrates had no trouble in carrying out their intention, but people in the neighborhood of the the Abbey having advised the President of the Society which owns the Abbey of Solesmes, M. le Comte de Bastard, the latter immediately gave notice to the Justice of the Peace to remove the seals from the place. After referring the matter to the Prefect and to Paris, the seals were ultimately removed and the President of the Company placed in possession of the property. All the furniture and books had been taiqen away by the monks, who have gone to Tournai, in Belgium, where they have already a large printing and publishing establishment. From the Solesmes printing press issues that monumental publication, the ' Paleographic Musicale,' which is the most complete record in existence of all the melodies and musical pieces which have been left by former ages. A Venerable Priest.

A. priest's 75th anniversary of his ordination is a rare occurrence, yet such an occasion lately was celebrated by Rev. Father and Archpriest

Carl Mueller, at St. Vincent's Alsace Lorraine. The venerable clergyman is much esteemed throughout the province. An old Organ. The great organ of the Cathedral at Amiens, France, was the gift of the chamberlain of Charles VI. It is almost the only one of its kind in France. INDlA.— Candid Testimony. Tn the annual report of the Society of Protestant Missions in Batavia the following gratifying remarks are made regarding, the progress of Catholicism in India : — ' It cannot be denied that Rome makes in India disquieting progress. United into a powerful phalanx the Catholics advance further and further, and add victory to victory.' PORTUGAL.— Religious Orders. The Portuguese Government, following the example of France, required all the religious Orders in the kingdom to hand in a copy of their statutes and apply for official recognition. The Government has now announced that all the Congregations have been recognised and approved. ROME.— Requiem Mass. Lord Currie, the British Ambassador at Rome, and staff attended a Requiem Mass celebrated last week in the English Catholic Church, Rome, for the soldiers who had fallen in the war. The professors of the English, Scottish, Canadian, and Irish Colleges were present. An Audience. On Thursday, October 31, the Holy Father granted a special audience to the Rev. Father Gerald Fleming, 0.F.M., who was accompanied by his sister, Miss Mary Fleming. The Holy Father received his visitors most cordially, graciously reminding them that he held their brother, the Very Rev. Father David Fleming, Vicar-General of the Order of Friars Minor, in the greatest, friendship and esteem. The Pope's Health. It is stated that when his Holiness the Pope was informed of Ihe rumors about his health that wore current in the early part of November, be saiu : ' L suppose there is again a siaicity of sensational news. Dut 1 have yet much work to do.' SCOTLAND.— A new Church. St. Lawrence's new ci'urch, Given* ock, was solemnly opened e.irly last month by the Right li-.-v. J)r. Ohisholm, the Bishop of Aberdeen. The church is built of red saml.stT.io and provides accommodation for about 1000 worshippers. It has cost £10,000 in its erection, and a substantial presbytery adjoining the church will invol\e an additional expenditure of about £2000. Those dreadful Jesuits. To show the world has nothing to fear from the Jesuits, we (Ceylon * Catholic Messenger') will tell something that came under our personal observation. One of the Jesuit Fathers, who stopped over at the Archbishop's house for a couple of

hours during the stay of the Messageries steamer in our port, was a professor of mathematics at the big College of Rue des Postes, Paris. This institution is the best preparatory school for the Engineer Corps of the French army. There are some 500 young men there preparng for not only military, but also civil engineering. The Government have driven the Jesuits from the College, and the former professor, with his companions, is on the way to China to toil and slave as a humble missionary. Surely the Jesuits well follow their device : All for the glory of God.