The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5, 1 February 1906, Page 27

The Catholic World

CHINA — A Heroic Missionary

The Chinese Government has conferred the dignity 'of Mandarin upon the Right Rev. Efren Giesen, Franciscan, who is Vicar-Apostolic of Northern Shan-Tung, China. The worthy prelate was born in Amsterdam in 1868. He joined the Order of St. Francis when eighteen years of age, and soon after his ordination to the priesthood was* sent to the Chinese missions, receiving episcopal consecration in 1902. He showed an admirable courage during the 'Boxer rebellion, defending the faithful entrusted to his care. On that occasion the heroic missionary was wounded twice, and 'still bears on his face the marks of his valor.

ENGLAND — The Late Monsignor Nugent

Particulars of the late Monsignor Nugent's will have, been published. The gross value of the estate has been returned at £7630 18s sd, and the net value at £7410 5s (jd. With the exception ot small bequests to immediate relatives and a lew friends, the whole is left for charitable purposes.

FRANCE — The Law of Separation

The adoption of the Law of Separation in France (says the ' Catholic Times ') has caused the Holy Father both pain and anxiety— feelings which weie reflected in his Allocution at the Consistory. But we have leason to know that his Holiness is by no means despondent. After 'all, iwhat is wanted in France is help not from the State but from the people. l<or many, many years the trend of the State's action has been towards deadening the influence of religion. Many Frenchmen have as a consequence become indifferent in spiritual aSairs. They have, so to say, been absorbed by what was worldly and material. Great missions to rouse them from their lethargy, popular action by clergymen reaching to the hearts of multitudes and awakening religious emotions have not been possible becawse olhcials have constantly used their power to obstruct and paralyse. Henceforth that power of obstruct/ion will be, at least, greatly diminished, and despite the hostility of the Government, we expect to see soon in France a great Catholic revival, instead of the extinction of the Church in the country, which her enemies so eagerly hope to bring about.

ITALY — Death of an English Convert

The ' Italian Gazette 'of Florence, December 5, says : ' The funeral of Monsignor Harrington ,Moore took place in St. Joseph's on December 2. Father Carmody, P.S.M., his successor, by whom he was nobly attended throughout his last illness, sang the Mass and preached the sermon, and Perosi's Mass was sung by a select choir. The large congregation included the British ConsuKJeneral.' Monsignor Harrington Moore was an Oxford man and a convert. When he was rector of the Pro-Cathedral, Kensington, in the days ol Cardinal Manning, the husband of a lady who became a convert raised protests because she had been received into the Church without his consent. The gentleman himself afterwards became a Catholic.

ROME— The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk

The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk (writes the Rome correspondent of a London newspaper) were received in audience by the Holy Father on December 2. They went to the Vatican accompanied by the Most Rev. E. Stonor, Archbishop of Trebizond. The Pope had previously been informed of the arrival in Rome of the Duke and Duchess, who, after being greeted by Monsignor Bisleti and other Papal dignitaries, were immediately conducted to the library and introduced into the presence of the Pope. The Duke and Duchess, who were met by his Holiness at the door of the library, kissed the hand of the Pontiff, who invited them to sit by his side. Monsignor Stonor acted as interpreter. The Popo said he was very pleased to see the Duke and Duchess, knowing what staunch Catholics they were and how much good they did. A long conversation ensued, at the end of which the Pope signed and handed to his visitors two copies of a photograph of himself. He next presented the Duchess with a beautiful gold medallion for her daughter, having the Madonna on one side and a portrait of himself on the other. When his Holiness learned that the Duke and Duchess had come to Rome for the express purpose of seeing him, he thanked them most heartily. Subsequently the Duke and Duchess called on Cardinal Merry del Val, the Pontifical Secretary of State, and later paid a visit to St. Peter's.