The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 38, 22 September 1904, Page 29

The Catholic World

BELGIUM. — A Convent with Irish Associations The reception of Mrs. John Redmond's niece, Miss Doia Howard, at t.ho IriMh Benedictine AWoey of Yjart's, in Belgium Oa}vs the ' Freeman's Journal '), conjures up memories of that tune-honored convent, founded in 1612, which, eighty years later, proved a peaceful home ior many of Ireland's fair daughters, whether nuns 01 boaiders Indeed, lrom lGi)2 to 1810 the Abbey was almost wholly irKsh, and it was ruled by a long line ot Irish Abbesses from 1700 to 1810. In the ' Calendar o f the SUiait Papers,' recently issued by the Historical MSS. Conitnvsfeitm, uherc are numerous allusions to the Abbey of Ypres. Queen Maiy writes on Julj 31st, 1697, thanking the Bishop of Ypres for his kindness to the Lady Abbess (Madame Caryll) of the nuns of Dunkirk, and the Irish Benedictine Nuns of Ypres. Again, on June 10th, 1100, she went to the Bishop, undertook to make suitable endowment {ot four Irish nuns at Ypxes, ' as a favor to those poor ladies, banished and persecuted on account of their religion, and to whom is now left the only the establishment tJiat they have ' In September, 1701, she recommended Fatjher O'Donnell as obaplai|n to the Irish nuns of Ypres, and on September 28th, 170:1, recommended Miss Mary Brigid Oreagh, a niece of Ihe Aruhfoisihop of Dublin, as a novice. Dame Creagh, a,a is recorded in the neciology of Ypres, spent 62 years asi a nun, and died at the age of 83 on May 29th, 17&8. It is remarkable that after the death of Dame Mary Benedict Byine, in 1810, no Irish Abbess was appointed, and in 1860 not a single Irish nun was amongst a sisterhood once exclusively Irish. Since 1865 Irish nuns have again entered Ypres, but the Irish flags which adorned the conunt chapel have long since 'disappeared. ENOLAND.— A Summer School Father Moloney (says the ' Catholic Times ') is to be Only a few weeks ago he put forth in the press the Suggestion that a Summer School for the promotion of Gregorian Music should be held in the Isle of Wight, and now he writes to us stating that the projoctj has taken dc/mite shape. A num.ber of ldvers of Plain Chant ha\o intimated their readiness to attend. The mc*ks of Solesmes have generously agreed tlo give a foitmight's course of instruction free, and upon two or three occasions conferences will be held on the aesthetics of Gregorian Music and its place in the liturgy. This is as it .should be If Gregorian Music is to be introduced wito our churches in the degree of perfection which is desnable, its cultivation must be taken u\p with enthusiasm, and there could be no better proof of the existence of an enthusiastic spirit than the formation of this Slimmer School. The students will bet ome apostles of Plain Song, and their influence, it may be predicted, will be felt not only in the establishment of a flouri"- lung Summer School, bnt also in the diffusion of a taste for Gregorian Music. Valuable Pictures A curious story attaches to two ' old masters,' which are included in Messrs. Christie's catalogue for Iheir next, sale They were found some time ago im St. Aline s Catholic Cathedral, Leads, and being in a somewhat dilapidated condition, were sold for a few shillings. The buyer, Uiough having no idea of their real \ialue, sent them to be cleaned, when, much to his suirpri.se, on the back of one of them the signature of Vandyke was discovered The picture represents the scone at Calvary after the Crucifixion, while its companion, which is behe'ved to be a Rubens, is a representation of the head of the Redeemer. Connoisseurs from different parts of the country have been to see them, and for the Vaoidyke £300 has been oflered, but the fortunate broker prices it at £3(K)0. He offers that whateve-n he receives for the two pictures the cathedral authorities shall have 25 per cent towards the fund for the- bnijkLng of the new cathedral. St. Joseph's Foreign Missionary Society At the General Chapter of St. Joseph's Foreign Mi'flsfonary Society, held at St. Joseph's College, Mill Hill, London, and at which were present his Lordship Bis-hOD FPanlon, of Uganda, his Lordship BisQiop Aelen (the Coa'djutor-Biwhop of Madras), the Prefects-Apostolic and Deputies of the- Missions, besides the Rectors of the Uolleg-es of Mill Hill, Freshh'eld, Rwendaal, pnd Brixen, Uhe Rector of St. Joseph's, Mill Hill,- Very Rev. Father 'Henry, was chosen as the new Supc'rior-Gencral of iiho Society. The result of the elect icvn has been forwarded to Rome for the approbation of tthe Cardinal Prefect of Propaganda Father Henry has been long and f&viorablv known as, a most zealous and practical guiding -spirit of the Society.

FRANCE.— An Order Suppressed M. Combes, the French Premier, on July 30 submitted to President Loubet for signature a decree buppressibg Ine Congregation of the Sulpicians. An English Convent Closed line English Nuns of the Order of the Holy Name, who have a large convent school at Nouilly, near Paris, have beon notified 'that their establishment will "be closed in the autumn. The Bishop of Dijon Tha Bishop of Dijon, Monsignor Le Nordcz, has gotip to Rome in answer to the Papal summons. M. Cotn'bes (say.s the ' Cathoiic Times ') has written to Monsignor Le Norde/ asserting that by leaving the diocese \s'thout permission of Government' lie has committed a gra,ve 'bireach of the Concordat. The Premier adds that MoinisigMo-r Le Nordez's stipend in consequence has been stopped firom the day he quitted the diocese. The Hbly Father received Mgr. Le Nordez very afßably. The Bishoip, who showed great emotion, presented his defence to 'his H/oliness. The Holy Father then exhorted him to rely on the justice of the Holy Office, and expressed his regret at the publicity given to the disciplinary measures adopted by the Holy See. His Holiness added : ' Reason is on our side, and we are confident that God will assist His Church in the m;ad struggle whioh sectaries have begun against her.' ROME.— The Rector of the English College The Pope has created Monsignor G. Giles, Rector of the English College in Rome, titular Arehbisthop of Philadelphia,, Italy, in celebration of the sflth anniversary of his ordination as priest, which Monsig^or Giles celcbr'atctd on August 21. The previous hoMer of the archbishopric was- Monsignor CaVallari, who succeeded Pius X as Patriarch of Venice, and who is a I'lose friend of the Pontiff. In the Far East M. Deloasse (says I/he Paris correspondent of the ' Daily Chronicle ') is determined at all hazards to pre\ent the protectorate o.ver the different Catholic missions in the East passing out of the hands of France. On the other hand, it is stated that the Propaganda is sending instructions to the missionaries in those regions to seek redress and assistance no longer from French Consuls, but from those of their respective nationalities. The Conversion of Africa His Holiness Pope Pius X. has just isslued an Apostolic Let/ler in whuch he most earnestly encourages missionary erlorts for the conversion of Africa, especially Mose of the sodality of St. Peter 01 aver. This sodality, w|hjuch is under the direction of Madame Maria Tepesla Ledorhowski, ardis the African missionaries by moans of prayer, contributions of money, ami offerings of biooks, periodicals, and newspapers. The iloly Father having been asketi to give it a token of his favor, has most willrngly done so. He has assigned to it. as /pateons Our Lady of Good Counsel and- St. Peter Claiver, and has raised their festivals to ■ the- 'dignity, of a •' Dloiuble Major ' for the churches in the houses of )the sodality throughout the world, directing at the same time I<hat account should be taken of the rubrics. St. Peter Claver, his Holiness observes, " devoted himself during life with unwearying Christian chajrity,- to redeeming African sJaves from misery, s<o that he-w as deservedly called ' the Apostle of the Blacks.' The Holy Father i/s confident that in continuing his aposfjolaite the sodality will be blessed by heaven, amd thai, with the assistance of the prayers of Our Lady of Good Counsel and St Peter Clave- it will receive increased practical sympathy in all parts of Christendom. SCOTLAND.— Death of a Catholic Visitor Uifder exceptionally sad circumstances the , death oqaurred at the Central Station Hotel, Glasgow, on Sunday, July 24, of Mr. v Bdward J. Byrne, Buenos Ayres. phe deceased gentleman, accompanied .by his wife, went to Europe on holiday. He visiited Paris, where he has a sister who is a nun ; at Wigfcon, . ,Cum. berlanid, he visitod. a second sisiter, whoMs also 'a rafemrber of a religious community, a«d tihere'he anjtj. rt ,.his ! wife wore joined by his brother, Father -Martitegyfi^" C.P., of S/fc. Mary's, »Har borne; Birmingham, f Tke 'pia^ty intended visitling Scotland, Ireland, ''a^# }X3p#'any^ and arrived in Glasgow on July 13.; BjTr., pyr^K^J traced a chill, which brought On .an att'acic of ' f(nej«|ipl^jHi|rw as attonldfld, in, his illness- by J)js^M'La*i^lta.]M^Middleton, but hisT condition $t&w &&\- \spz&mk''ffisw''' ! tt}eii last Sacramdntisi were administered t# v %i;^M. F^, ;^iS^ i:'^Bonavontiiurc. C.P., and on flu4y 24 'iKj'diefl'iW 'Ww* titim of his hroiiher, Father Mftr-t4n,^Who 4iA^been^Biis^Ua4ily by his side during his illness.