The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 22 July 1909, Page 1151

The Catholic World

ENGLAND— Catholic Young Men's Societies A hundred and fifty delegates, drawn from an area almost as wide as Great Britain, assembled at Wlntehaven on May 29, to take part in the annual Conference of *ho Catholic Young Men's Society. This, year's proceedings afforded striking evidence of the power of the society, and the majority of the reports showed that its influence is increasing in many directions, and that during the past twelve months the efforts of those engaged under its banner in bringing about the regeneration of society on a basis f Catholic principle and practice have been attended by considerable success. At no C.V.M.S. Conference held during the past ten years has a more earnest and enthusiastic body of men been drawn together. It was a real working assembly in which the sense of Catholic fellowship was strong, and every delegates must have been strengthened and inspired by the feeling of corporate unity which the meetings aroused. An Old London Church The new Catholic Church in Kingsway, Central London's finest thoroughfare, which is to replace the ancient Sardinian Chapel a little lower down, is now almost complete. The Sardinian is the oldest Catholic chapel in London, and was originally attached to the residence of the Sardinian Ambassador, Lincoln's Inn Fields. It dates from the year 1648. During the Gordon Riots in 1780 the house and chapel were attacked and partially destroyed, as being the chief resort of the Catholic nobility and gentry. Its days are now numbered, and when its congregation has moved into the new building the housebreakers will speedily get to work and clear away what is virtually the last of the interesting old buildings, sacred and secular, which have been demolished in the making of Kingsway. Of eminent ecclesiastics who have celebrated Mass at its altar (which, by the way, will find a place in the new church) the greatest was the late Pope Leo XIII., the occasion being when, as Monsignor Pecci, Papal Nuncio to Brussels, he paid a visit to London. FRANCE— Blessed Joan of Arc Ten thousand persons participated on the Hast Sunday in May at Rouen in the festivities celebrating the beatification of Joan of Arc, including the British delegation led by Mr. Edward Clarke, of Hastings, a Protestant, who makes a similar pilgrimage every year. A Paris paper states that the Archbishop of Westminster will take a prominent part in the celebration in honor of Joan of Arc, which is to be held in the Cathedral at Rhcims at the end of this. month. A Great Catholic Organisation The pilgrimage of French railwaymen, received recently in audience by the Holy Father, represented a Catholic organisation -which has an interesting and, indeed, encouraging history (says the Catholic Weekly). The Abbe Reyman and a few railway workers were ( watching ' before the Blessed Sacrament in the Church of Montmartre one night, some eleven years ago. That night the idea of forming a Catholic organisation of railwaymen suggested itself to the Abbe. He determined to work out the idea, and the result to-day is that he has a splendid organisation of the kind, numbering over 40,000 members. He lias,, further, a reasonable hope of being able to increase the membership much more. There are altogether some 400,000 railway workers in France. . It cannot be but that the example of the 40,000 will influence thousands of these, and herein lies much hope for the future of the Church in France. ITALY— Want of Organisation Indifferent as most of the Deputies of Italy undoubtedly are in religious matters (writes a Rome correspondent) the overwhelming majority with which that body recently threw out the motion to enforce the laws expelling the religious Congregations from the country shows that, despite the ceaseless efforts of the Radical parties to brin^ about a persecution of the Church in Italy on as large a scale as that upon which it has taken place in France, the stronghold of Catholicity is not to be taken by the Italian enemies of the Church. Needless to say, while the Freemasons are able to keep up the battle, it will go on. Indeed, a prominent Catholic layman has told me he is convinced that within two years a determined campaign against the Church will be made in this country. Seeing that in spite of the efforts of the anti-clericals the Chamber of Deputies has decided upon the maintenance of the existing order of things, the one great thought that fills the minds of the more energetic portion of the population of, Italy is, Why do not the Catholics of the peninsula organise

themselves in such a manner as to make this same order permanent? In an odd diocese here and there the voters are well organised, but in other parts of the country the majority of the Catholics possessing the right to vote are uot even inscribed on the registers, and no city in. Italy is in so deplorable a position in this respect as Rome itself. Of course most Italian Catholics account for tliis situation by saying that they have no leader. The fact that they have no strong guiding hand in the political world is a very plausible excuse ; but the Catholics might well take example by the little bodies of Freemasons, Socialists, and Anarchists who keep them in continual hot water. ROME — The American College

The pilgrimage of many distinguished prelates and priests to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the Americau College in Rome is another notable illustration (says the New York Catholic News) of the wonderful growth of the Catholic Church in this country. When the American College was opened in 1859 its students numbered thirteen. Now the college has more seminarians than any other national -college in the Eternal City. It has progressed in Rome as sturdily as the Church lias developed here. Its alumni are to be found in places of eminence all over this broad land — they are the generals in. the great American army of the faithful. A Biblical Institute

Plis Holiness Pope Pius X. (says the Catholic Times) cordially adopted his predecessor's idea of establishing «i Biblical Institute in the Eternal City, and now he has carried it into effect. The Osservatore llomcino of May 30 contains an Apostolic Letter erecting the Institute, or University, as it may be called, by Papal authority. The arrangements are such that Biblical studies and investigations must benefit immensely by the Holy Father's action. The object is to make Rome a centre at which Biblical research shall be conducted with the utmost ability and learning and according to the wisest rules, and where students from all nations, who have gone through the ordinary course of philosophy and theology, may perfect their Biblical knowledge. In this way they will be qualified to hold professorial chairs and to repel in writing the attacks of the assailants of the Bible. All the regular students of the Institute must, before admission, have gained the doctorate in theology and have completed a course of scholastic philosophy. Besides these, two other classes of learners will be allowed to frequent the lectures — ' inscribed' hearers ' and guests. The appointment of the ordinary professors is to be made by the General of the Jesuits, with the consent of the Holy See. The Institute will be provided with a Biblical Library, and in connection with il> there is to be a Biblical Museum, from which students will be able to derive valuable aid in their studies. The undertaking is one more illustration of the Holy Father's fidelity to his desire of restoring all things in Christ.

Recent Canonisations The following telegrams have been published in connection with the recent' Canonisations: — Tlie King of Spain to the Holy Father : ' I rejoice to express my most hearty thanks for the canonisation of St. Joseph Oriol which Catholic Spain has received with so much joy as a fresh proof of the affection of Your Holiness. The Queen and T beg the Apostolic Benediction, repeating, the expression of our constant and filial adhesion. — Alfonso.' To which the Holy Father replied : ' I beg your Majesty to accept my warmest thanks for your devout telegram on. the occasion of the canonisation of the Blessed Joseph Oriol, son of the noble Spanish nation. ' Rejoicing in this gracious attention of your Majesty, offering a new proof of your lofty sense of religious piety, I trust St. Joseph Oriol will always protect your Majesty, your au.gust Consort, the Royal Family, and the whole Spanisn nation. — Pius X., Pope. The Emperor of Austria : ' The canonisation of the Blessed Clement Maria Hofbauer is a source of special pleasure and satisfaction to me. I avail myself, therefore, of the occasion to assure your Holiness of my "cordial participation in the auspicious event and to express .to you my warm thanks for this extraordinary honor- pa-id to the most pious son of a country belonging to my States. — Francis Joseph.' The Holy Father's reply : ' The gracious and pious telegram of your Imperial and Royal Majesty, on the occasion of the canonisation of the Blessed Clement Maria Hofbauer, glorious son of a country belonging to Your Majesty's States, has been most grateful to me. I beg your Majesty to accept my warmest thanks for this attention, which confirms the nobility of your religious sentiments. I pray that the new saint may ever protect your Majesty, your family, and your whole nation. — Pius X., Pope.'