THE ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9, 4 March 1909, Page 335

THE ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE

The following circular letter has been issued by the Most Rev. Dr. Redwood, Archbishop of Wellington and Metropolitan : — Archbishop's House, Wellington, February 26, 1909. Rev. Dear Father,— The awful earthquake in Messina, Heggio, and a number of towns in Calabria and Sicily has appalled the world, and stands unequalled for the record or death and destruction in the annals of European catastrophes. But if the disaster is unparalleled, equally unprecedented is the wide and spontaneous outleap of sympathy and help for Italy in the day of her affliction. Foremost among those who have given of their substance was Pope Pius X., whose charity flamed into a pity, 'which not only opened his purse to its widest, but flung open the Vatican itself to receive a number of the injured from the stricken district. Reflect for a moment on the wretched condition of the survivors. In Messina, for instance, not one family, out of a population of 150,000, has been left entire and unlessened by death. Homes gone,' property gone, relations gone, hundreds of widows and orphans unprovided for, desolation, ruin, harrowing misery beyond our power to imagine or describe. Remember also that almost all these victims are fellow-Catholics, and therefore appeal more intimately to our feelings and sympathies. I am sure that our people require only an opportunity to give substantial expression to their pity and charity within the power of their limited resources. Lent is a time of fasting, and penance and prayer, but also a time of almsgiving; and what better object could that pecuniary assistance have than the survivors of this awful visitation ? Now, I shall be very grateful ±o you if you bring this pressing claim under the notice of your people on a Sunday as early as possible after the receipt of this letter, and then have a collection taken up at the clmrch door at all the services. You will forward the amount collected to the Ordinary, who will transmit it to his Holiness for distribution among the sufferers. Doubtless this proof of the Christian charity of his children for each other, from this remote part of the globe, will help to console him in his deep sorrow. Nor have the living alone a claim upon our charity. We have also a duty of charity to the dead. Thousands and thousands of Christian souls have been ushered into eternity without a moment's "warning, and we should pray fervently for their everlasting repose. For this purpose I shall celebrate a Solemn Requiem Mass in Wellington, and I ask every member of my clergy to celebrate at least one Requiem Mass for the same intention, while, if possible, I should like a Solemn Requiem Mass to be celebrated in the principal churches of the archdiocese. I also recommend the people to communicate at least once for the same purpose. Such charity Avill cause Lent to be kept with additional fervor and merit, and will bring choice blessings on our clergy and flock. I remain, Rev. dear Father, Yours faithfully in Jesus Christ, * FRANCIS REDWOOD, S.M., Arclibishop of Wellington.