The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 31 March 1910, Page 511

The Catholic World

ENGLANDWestminster Cathedral The announcement that Westminster Cathedral is to be consecrated on June 28 next has been followed by a shower of rich gifts for the further beautification of the interior of the building. Included among the gifts offered are altars for three of the chapels, costly articles for the use of the sacred functions, and money for mural decorations, the total value amounting to no less a- sum than £12,000. Already £252,523 has been spent on the building, and the ;; exterior is now complete, except ■ for the tympanum over; the main entrance, which is to be filled in with a graceful mosaic design. FRANCE —A National Danger Commenting on the discussion on the Education Estimates in the French Chamber of Deputies, the Scotsman says:—Allowing for the exaggerations incident to a bitter controversy, it seems to be proved that the secular system has been well established in the. public schools of France; while the counterpoise of religious instruction in the home is being neglected. The situation recalls the warning of Cardinal Logue in connection with the British education controversy a few years ago.. ‘‘lf you put Cod out of the schools you soon put Him out., of the hearts of the whole nation.’ An undoubted effect of the failure iff French • education to encourage reverence and religion is shown in the extraordinary development of the ‘ Apafiie ’ class in Paris. The British 1 hooligan ’ generally stops at assault and robbery; the Parisian counterpart does not shrink from incendiarism and murder. The growth of this peculiarly dangerous class of ■ ‘ educated ’ ruffian has been causing the Paris police department, and even the French Cabinet, considerable anxiety of late, and while the districts that in the French capital enjoy the unenviable notoriety of the old Seven Dials of London are being vigorously watched, the attention of the Government is also being directed to the contaminating influences of the ‘ Apaches on the Army. A Bill is being prepared for their rigorous suppression. .. .. ROMEAn American Priest Honored A most widely known man in the United States is the Very Rev. Dr. Brann, one of the first' thirteen students of the American College, Rome, and the first graduate from that institution. After an absence of<over 47 years from Rome, Dr. Brann returned there some weeks ago for the purpose of finishing his History of the American College—a work on which he had been engaged for a considerable time. After having finished it, Dr. Brann left Rome for Lourdes on his way to 1 Ireland, but was recalled to the Eternal City to receive the brief creating him a Domestic Prelate of his Holiness in recognition of a long, strenuous life passed in missionary work and literary labors. Mgr. Brann was born in County Meath, Ireland, 72 years ago. Though a mere boy when he left Ireland for America, he lacks none of the intensely Irish sympathies that are so characteristic of his exiled countrymen, and the other day when shown the monument in the Basilica of St. Agatha dei Goti, attached to the Irish College where O’Connell’s heart is kept embalmed, the hard-headed, American-trained priest betrayed the tenderness of his Celtic nature by kneeling down and kissing the stone repeatedly, his eyes bedimmed with tears. he Vatican The contract for the sale of a palace by the State to the Vatican for 170,000 lire has : been signed (says the Catholic Weekly). Two other large palaces in the - precincts of the Vatican have been completed, the three buildings containing about 3000 • rooms. The Vatican, which until now Was celebrated for its 11,000 rooms, will henceforth comprise 14,000 chambers. _ Celebrities at the Vatican The reception of Suska Colberston, the young Hungarian violinist whose talents have been so much appreciated throughout Europe, at the Vatican formed (says a Rome correspondent) a pleasing event in ecclesiastical circles, for most of the clergy and colleges of Rome had been present at a recital given gratuitously by the young musician to the clergy of Rome. Pius X. spoke to the boy and to his father,: by whom he is always accompanied in his tours, in terms of encouragement for his future and blessed his studies and his family. Then the Pope presented him with a gold medal and bade him a paternal farewell. As in the Middle Ages, the Vatican Palace was a beacon-light to the cultivators of music and art, so it is to-day to people in every department of these and other branches of science. Thus it was that in private audience on February 3 with the Pontiff, Sven Hedin, the Swedish explorer of Central Asia, felt nowhere so much at home since he came to Rome as by the Papal armchair when explaining to his Holiness particulars of his travelsin Thibet. For the past week the daring Swede has been lionised in Roman circles as- lecturer, under the auspices of the Italian Geographical Society, but from .no quarter did he obtain so much encouragement for his future enter-

prise as from the Vatican. After listening to the great t a Il T y interest, ; the Holy Father expressed a hope that he would, continue in his career for, the sake, of science and civilisation, two things which the ■Church has ever tried to spread. Persecuted Priests It was in a truly fatherly spirit (writes the Rome STSST i6nt A the Catholic Times) that Pius X. received wlfrt t l^ ee ,^? d . Concettnu Fathers from Cantu, North Italy, who spent their Christmas in prison awaiting trial on unmentionable charges that had been trumped up in their +b« I n?nJ°" n i* y i l 011 miea of the Church. The origin of entr? ?n+n a V ai + bare Vn thls column > when their triumphal entry into Cantu on the occasion of their acquittal was described. Pius X. inquired into all the ignominy the three «nwf+i,i ad to end H re 111 P rison and at the trial, and consoled the persecuted men by reminding them they ought to rejoice in treading in the footsteps of Christ, Who suffered from vile calumniators just as they had done; ° - The Basilica of St. John Lateran t-,? 16 Most ? e 7; Archbishop Stonor,. Dean of the Archoasilica n bt. John Lateran, Mgr. Colombo and Mgr. Pucciarelh, Camerlenghai of the Chapter, a notary and Master v- Ceremonies, repaired to the residence of the Cardinal Vicar of Rome on Sunday, February 6, arid waited on his Eminence to accompany him to the basilica, of which he took possession that day in his capacity of Archpriest in succession to the late Cardinal Satolli. Having recited the formida of the oath with his hand oh ; the Gospels proper to the occasion, Cardinal Respighi drove to St. John Latean s with the deputation, and was S received at the The I Po C ntifi y R n'* 5 e and the USd efier^ he 1 ontifical Bull of appointment was then read hv tb« notary Cay. Monti, and the Cardinal entered St John’s Head XM ettr iwi^ l^iSeSS ri ßfe; ver tho front “•«« v- £ The Bishop of Elphin V r. . • had to present the relatio ’ to the Consistorial C p?op»’ gation; on the last occasion he had to deal with Prona* and^the With °V t traditional knowledge ofthe Sh an , tli© ucfcails of administration in Trplanrl +Ka o 7SS to the accumulated tradition of 200 years would as thoroughly informed-at least in I genera wav-as Z Bishop himself. It is scarcely necessary tosav +W « 8 report which his Lordship had to a pleasure to revived it The Biflion’ 00 " 80 -^ 011 , t 0 Con^ e that wI- , r lhe Bishop 8 written report will be laid in due time before a session of the Cardinals who compose the Congregation, when an official acknowledgment and anv observations they may think well to make will be sent to his Lordship. Although a Bishop does not present a writ t«. report to the Pope,, the Holy Father K reiwit Dr. Clancy made close _ inquiries into the various depart ß ments of + work in his diocese. His Holiness was interested of tbo ri J+lff i lot f °wi y i re the reli gi°us faith and practices of the faithful of Elphin even better than when his Lordnnr^i ma e U f last , visit . a d Umina, but also that the temporal interests and social prospects of Ireland are more hopeful. Dr. _ Clancy made his official visits to the tombs Holy Fathe? a “ d Paul befre his Audience with the SCOTLAND—Fort Augustus Abbey The Very Rev. Dom Hilary Willson, 0.5.8., was recently installed-as Prior of Fort Augustus Abbey The ceremony was performed by the Right Rev. Abbot Smith, of Ampieforth, acting as delegate from the Holy See in place of _ Abbot Gasquet, who is at present in Rome. The "ork irLa 1 S shire en f ° r may e,,8a66d in miaaion Church Progress n ..An event which is a landmark in the, progress of Catholicity in Scotland was the formal opening 8 of St. Aloysius Church, Glasgow, which took place on Sunday February 6. . The new church, when completed, will be one of the most imposing- ecclesiastical edifices in Scotland 150 ft high man archltectur0 ’ and will have a tower some UNITED STATES—New Dioceses Archbishop Ireland announces that in compliance with the recommendation of the Bishops of. the Province of St. Paul, the Holy See will establish two new dioceses, Crookston and Bismarck. The first will be taken from the diocese of Duluth. Bismarck takes -in part of North Dakota ; west of the easterly line of Emmons, Burleigh. McLean, and Ward Counties. ; 4 . & ’