The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 6, 5 February 1903, Page 27

The Catholic World

ENGLAND — Death of a Priest. Prnvnif t?,S^ received the last Sacraments from Mgr. S™w R " SBel i' G-'G -' °? th e Pro-Cathedral, Clifton, the venerable priest, Rev. Richard Meagher died at Clifton ?? t n udl°d Vemb dd r wl3w 13 - B^ £ 18 - 35 in thfisle of WiSit ne cese I? tffi Fndi,°h rd fM? d Priest for the Plymouth dioa at ft ™ English College, Lisbon. He served the missions of Lyme Regis, Poole, Liskeard, and the convent xv»^ h % n % &^ spe ? t ? ixteen years in the parish of SShS Ik F T^^ai^ 11 * led to his retirement from t^^k a^%SiTL^JS mo^ and there he Death of a Monsignor. riiPri T^r?S hfc ReV> Mffr - Crosk ©»' of Levenshulme, who died recently, was a man of great piety and singular one of the institutions of the county. He was ordained priest and appointed to St. Augustine's Granby Row, Manchester so far back as 1835. When the Diocesan Chapter of Solford was erected in 1852 he was chosen to be one of the canons, and in the following year he was made Vicar-General and Provost of the Chapter In the course of his long life he was unsparing of himself Slf^fT K COU 3, d re ? d , er service to the People on whose KtSM? !S£ n°ame many yßa " tO C ° me they WiU French Exiles. The house of the Redemptorist Fathers at Bishop Mon Liverpool, has been placed at the disposal of their French brethren, exiled from France. Some thirty fathers from that country are now in residence. The SansTerred &t BiSh ° P EEnt ° n haVe been FRANCE.— The Concordat. In the Chamber of Deputies M. Combea (the Premier) refused to entertain M. Allard's proposal to abolish the Concordat, contending that the State needed religion. Ho said that the masses were not satisfied with simply moral ideas M. Berthelot's motion for the submission of the question of the separation of Church and State to a referendum was referred to a committee, despite M Combes s declaration that such separation would create serious difficulties in the Republic. The French Premier's c aim that the exclusive right of the selection of bishops should be recognised as remaining vested in the Government is strenuously resisted by the Vatican. The Holy rather declares that he would prefer that every see remained vacant and that the Concordat be abolished rathier than yield. ITALY.— Education of the Clergy. In the Encyclical Letter on the education of the clergy which he has addressed to the Bishops of Italy his Holiness dwells forcibly on the supreme importance oi conduct. Action is the touchstone of doctrine, and his Holiness in this document insists again and again upon tho necessity of the clergy walking worthy of their vocation as ' Ministers of Christ and dispensers of the mvstenes of God.' The Pontiff reminds them that the Catholic priesthood is Divine in its origin, supernatural in its essence, and immutable in its character, and points out that the tendency to have the clerpv educated and Jen ding lives in common with the laity is condemned not only by the traditions of Christian centuries but by Apostolic teaching and the ordinances of Christ At the same time account must be taken of the conditions of the present, and it seemed well to aim at more solid and more perfect education. It were to be desired that clerical students should complete their studies in ecclesiastical institutions, but since it was deemed advisable that some should frequent the universities, great care should be exercised by the bishops in such cases. The Holy Father strongly urges upon the clergy the necessity of going to the people and defending and promoting their interests under the guidance of the bishops. In order that their zeal may be the more effective, he expresses the desire that towards the end of their education in the seminaries clerical students should make themselves familiar with the Pontifical writings on social questions and Christian Democracy. ROME — The Holy Father. An English Protestant lady, writing from Rome to a mend in Belfast, gives an interesting account of a reception of pilgrims by his Holiness on Sunday November 7. The aged Pontiff was attired in a little white skull cap, simple white robes, and red stole. As he passed up the splendid hall of audience he suddenly stopped his bearers, and stood up to bless a number of child pilgrims who were lined along the passage. He then turned, and blessed, too, a great crowd of visitors of all nations who were standing by. The correspondent, who saw his Holiness five years years ago, says he

has aged noticeably since, but still evinces marvellous vicour and vitality. What struck her most was the snow white transparency of his skin, his brilliant dark eves, prominent nose, and expressive mouth. After being seated on the throne at the upper end of the hall ' of audience ho again stood up, and intoned the Benediction in perfect tune, and in a voice that reached to every part of the immense sala. Then for twenty minutes he received and blessed the heads of the different - -'Timagcs and, finally, while being carried out, again imparted his benediction to the numerous visitors that crowded the passage. Not long ago some friends of the corresr pondent had the privilege of a private audience. At parting, his Holiness was about to give his blessing. ' But we are Protestants,' remarked a lady of the party. \ Never mind, my children,' said the Pontiff, ' aji old man's blessing can do no one any. harm.' The letter concludes with an expression of surprise at the amount of fatigue his Holiness still cheerfully undergoes. SCOTLAND.— A Successful Bazaar. - A bazaar was held recently in Glasgow on behalf of the Nuns of the Good Shepherd, Dalbeth, when a sum of over, £4000 was netted. The bazaar was opened on the first day by Very Rev. Lord Archibald Canon Douglas ; on the second by Bailie Bisland, and on the third by Mr. W. M'Killop, M.P. for North Sligo. The chairman said that in introducing Mr. M'Killop to a Glasgow audience was like introducing Mr. Joseph Chamberlain to a Birmingham audience. The bazaar committee were deeply indebted to Mr. M'Killop, who was one of their most munificent donors. In declaring the bazaar open, Mr. M'Killop thanked the committee" for the honor, and said that he was very pleased to give all the assistance in his power to that very deserving institution, the Magdalen Refuge. He was also pleased to know that on the preceding day the bazaar had been opened by one of the city magistrates, who spoke in very eloquent terms of the Home, and the great amount of good it was doing for the city. Bailie Bisland 's presence at the bazaar indicated the tolerance of the Scottish merchants. SPAlN.— Religious Orders. Before the advent of the new Government was foreseen (says the ' Catholic Times ') it had become clear that the present status of the Spanish monks and nuns would undergo a change. Now that a Liberal Ministry under the premiership of Senor Silvela, has come into power, the religious Orders must be convinced that they cannot hope to escape some measure of repression. The Conservatives, not less than the Liberals, have declared their intention to bring the bulk of the Congregations under the operation of the Common Law. The Government, in its declaration io the Cortes, proclaimed its intention to observe strictly the existing Concordat, and to strive to come to an arrangement with the Holy See as to what Orders were to be authorised. It is williner to authorise a few privileeed communities ; all others must subject themselves to the laws which govern ordinary ci\ il life. Apparently, there is no change of policy in those who now hold the reins of power, as contrasted with the Conservative Ministry of Senor Sagasta ; they are neither better nor worse. Both political parties seem determined to oppose the growth of monastic foundations, and to leave to the parochial clergy the whole burden of meeting the spiritual needs of the people. SWITZERLAND.-Catholic University. The Swiss Catholic University of Frihourg grows steadily. The present winter session opened with 447 students (including 78 'hearers' or non-matriculated attendants on lectuies), as against 420 last winter. The interesting fact is that 31 of the number are women students. According to faculties they are thus divided : Theology, 177 ; Law, 76 ; Philosophy (Arts), 105 ; Science, 89. According to nationality there are more foreigners than natives. The bulk of the former arc Germans or Austrians. There nre 13 Americans, but no English students. Fribourg, it may be noted, is an absolutely free university : the student's only expenses are his board and lodging ; the whole education us gratis. UNITED STATES.— A Bequest. It is stated that in compliance with tho wish of the late Countess Maria Palma di Cesnola, her husband, General di Cesnola, and his two daughters, have given all the household effects of their home in New York to the orphan asylum for Italian children, conducted by the MiSsionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. This institution was founded largely through the instrumentality of the late Countess twelve years ago, and she maintained her interest in it till her death. The Philippines. Ecclesiastical changes have been rendered necessary in the Philippines by the American conquest of the islands, and the Holy Father has issued fresh instructions as t(s* organisation and discipline there in an Apostolic Constitution commencing with the words ' Quae Mnri Sinico,' and dated the 17th September last. Having given a brief historical review of the relations of the Holy See with the Philippines and their rulers, the Kings of Spain, his Holiness says that by the termination of the Royal Spanish patronacre at the close of the war the Church) acquired a condition of greater freedom. Archbishop Chapelle, of New Orleans, was then nominated as Pontifical Delegate to investigate the leligious state of the islands, and he discharged the duty in a manner deserving of confidence and praise. Afterwards negotiations were opened with the Holy See by the American Government and led to arrangements now being carried out on the spot. The Holy Father goes on

to explain what are the ecclesiastical alterations he desires to make. Reducing the size of the existing dioceses, he creates four additional Sees, the new bishops, with the old ones, to be suffragans of the Archbishop of Manila. Natives are to be encouraged to become priests, receiving a thorough training for the sacred ministry. The bishops are to establish diocesan seminaries, and lay students are not to be educated with clerics. His Holiness wishes that students for the priesthood who show special ability should be sent to Rome for higher studies. He directs that in the case of the regular clergy enclosure be strictly observed. The bishops are to decide in consultation with the heads of the religious Orders what parishes are to be entrusted to members of those bodies. The Pontiff recommends that in each of the provinces a house be provided for priests who shall devote themselves altogether to the giving of missions, and that stations be established amongst those of the natives who are yet pagans. Archbishop Guidi, whom his Holiness has appointed Extraordinary Apostolic Delegate, is to see to the carrying out of the Apostolic Constitution and to summon a Provincial Synod as soon as convenient. GENERAL. Catholicism in Siam. Siam has a Catholic population of 32,000. It has G8 churches or chapels, and 73 schools containing 4777 pupils. There are two bishops, 38 priests, six nuns, and several Brothers of St. Gabriel. The West Indies. Amongst the passengers by the Trent, which sailed from Southampton recently, was the Very Rev. V. M. Sutherland, O.P , who is returning to Trinidad after a well-earned holiday in Ireland. Father Sutherland has already spent over five years in the West Jndies and is in charge of the mission at Port of Spain. The archdiocese is under the charge of the Irish Province of the Dominican Order, and Father Sutherland was accompanied on his return voyage by two other priests of the Order and two Dominican Sisters. West Indian exchanges report that extensive preparations were being made to give Father Sutherland a hearty reception on his arrival. Four Dominican Fathers of the English Province were also passengers by the same steamer en route for Grenada.