The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 13 April 1911, Page 687

The Catholic World

CEYLON PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH. Mission statistics from Ceylon are most encouraging. It seems that there are now working in the island 133 secular and 43 native priests, 300 regular clergy, and 450 Sisters belonging to religious Orders. The Catholic element predominates over any other religious body, and the Ceylon Messenger gives the population of the Jaffna diocese alone at 48,588.

ENGLAND A CONVERT PASSES AWAY. We ( Catholic Weekly) regret to record the death of Mrs. Mary Joanna Farr Gwyn, a member of one of Yarmouth’s most ancient families, who died at Bath on February 11 after a short and severe illness. Mrs. Gwyn, who was received into the Church by Father Cooney, S.J., at Bournemouth in 1896, was the wife of Lieut.-Colonel Reginald Thorsby Gwyn, late Chief Constable of Bath. She was married to Colonel Gwyn in 1876, and leaves one daughter, Miss Mary Paulina Gwyn, who is also a convert to the Church.

GERMANY THE OATH AGAINST MODERNISM. The following is a translation of a letter despatched by Cardinal Merry del Val to his Eminence Cardinal Kopp, relative to a declaration by the professors of Breslau University who are in Holy Orders. A telegram from Breslau to Rome says the letter has produced an excellent impression in Germany. ‘ The Holy Father has given much consideration to the letter addressed to him by your Eminence on the 6th inst., in which you referred the following declaration unanimously made by the theological faculty of Breslau: —“The oath against Modernism contains nothing that can change or go beyond the old rule of faith which they have always observed. It does not impose any new obligation, and is not opposed to fidelity to civil authority, nor does it impede the progress of studies.” Your Eminence added that the said Faculty has asked you to offer to the Sovereign Pontiff this attestation of devotion. His Holiness has received this attestation with paternal benevolence, and although he could but rejoice to find the oath taken by all the ecclesiastics of the world, nevertheless he does not deem worthy of reproof those priests of the University of Breslau who, being merely professors of that institution, avail of the exemption. In fact they utilise the benign interpretation of the law promulgated by the Sovereign Pontiff himself, and therefore, so to speak, by pure right. They do not show that they are glad to avail of this license, nor do they make it appear as if they were victims of a miserable human respect, while in a most ample declaration they have even expressed their real view on the point and, if the Sovereign Pastor of the Church had not in his goodness declared them exempt from the oath, not one of them, as your Eminence attests, would have hesitated to obey the Papal directions courageously. This splendid profession of faith and of union with the Apostolic See gives pleasure to the Holy Father, who feels sure that such noble sentiments of fidelity will never diminish.—R. Card. Merry del Val.’

ROME THE HIERARCHY. The publication of the Gerarchia Cattolica for the year 1911, which is issued by the Vatican press, supplies us with some very interesting information on the condition of the Catholic world. Passing over the minutiae concerning the dioceses of the five continents, the various Roman Congregations, the names of the Domestic Prelates of the Pope in every country and of his vast household, we come to facts that must be the source of deep consolation to Catholics to-day when every second-rate princeling thinks it almost fashionable to raise his hand against- the Church of his fathers. These facts and figures relate to the onward march of the Catholic religion within the past few years. Since Pius X. ascended the Throne of Peter no less than eighty new hierarchical titles have been constituted in the Catholic world, consisting of eight archdioceses, thirty-seven dioceses, three abbacies and prelatures, eighteen vicariates apostolic, and fourteen prefectures apostolic. To these must be added the Apostolic Vicariate of Eritrea, North Africa, and the diocese of Montecario in Brazil, which have been erected since the compilation of the Gerarchia Cattolica. The Gerarchia also notes that the Cardinals only number fifty-one (rather fifty, as Cardinal Segna died since the publication went to press), though seventy is the normal figure, viz., one of the creation of Pius IX., thirty-five of the days of Leo XIII., and fifteen of Pius X. During the present pontificate no fewer than thirty-one Princes of the Church have died.

A NEGLECTED MUNICIPALITY. What is described by a Times correspondent as *an unprecedented action ’ has been taken oy some thirty-five Italian Deputies, among them being several of the most influential members of the Parliament. They have presented a motion calling upon the Government to take action with regard to the municipal condition of the Eternal City. The streets of Rome have got into such a shocking state of disorder and neglect, at the hands of Signor Nathan and his anti-Christian council, that these Deputies think it high time for interference from the Chamber. Civic misgovernment (remarks the Catholic Weekly ) is only one of the many bad qualities which characterise the present municipal authority in Rome. As the Times well puts it: ‘Signor Nathan deserves to bo congratulated on his consistency. He has professed complete indifference as to whether foreigners care to reside in Rome or not; he is equally indifferent to the comfort of unfortunate Homans who cannot escape.’

A DOCUMENT OF THE PAST. To-day, when efforts are made to celebrate the fall of the Temporal Power, and when the middle and lower classes of Romo are crying out against the enormous prices demanded for food and lodgings, it is interesting to read a document of the past and realise the care taken of the people by the Popes (says a Rome correspondent). An edict of Leo X. runs as follows: By reason of grave complaints made by tenants and sub-tenants against owners of houses and shops who on the eve of the Holy Year, through a desire of greater profit either evicted those tenants or raised the rents, provision was made from the time of Paul 111. by a decree of 29th April, 1549. That decree was confirmed and amplified bv Gregory XIII. on the 20th February, 1573. His Holiness Leo XII., desirous of imitating the example of these his predecessors and of Clement VIII., Gregory XV., Innocent X., Clement X. Innocent XIII., Benedict XIV., and Clement XIV.., and wishing that the calm and comfort of the citizens may not lie disturbed, and that the joy and sanctity of the religious year may not be marred by law-suits or complaints caused by filthy lucre, has ordered us to restore and confirm the above-mentioned privilege in favor of householders. According to the mandate of his Holiness, we therefore ordain as follows: (a) the privilege accorded by Paul 111. to householders for Jubilee Year and for one year beforehand is confirmed, and amplified for two years "prior to the opening of the jubilee, (b) To raise the rent ,of houses or shops, or to modify the method of payment is prohibited. <c) During the time indicated it is forbidden to evict householders or tenants of —unless the owner goes to occupy such for his own special —under penalty, in case of contravention, of the loss of two years’ rent. Dated 20th September, 1824.—8. Cardinal "Placca, Camerleugo

RULES FOR CATHOLIC VISITORS. From official information obtained by the Rome correspondent of the Catholic Times as to some doubt remaining in the public mind whether the Holy Father would receive any foreign sovereign who might seek an audience with him, there can no longer be any question that neither Emperor nor King may cross the Papal threshold this year, heir coming to Rome in 1911 would mean participation in festivals organised to celebrate the spoliation of the Patrimony of Peter, and .thus it is out of the power of the Sovereign Pontiff to receive them. Then there is to be an international meeting of Parliamentarians this year in Rome. Catholics attending this reunion are expected to confine themselves solely to the business in hand This rule will serve for all Catholics who come to Rome during the year. If Catholics wish to visit Romo, nobody desires to hinder them, but the Holy Father expects them not to join in official celebrations or receptions which second-rate politicians and members of the secret society of Freemasons have planned on such a large scale.

SCOTLAND DEATH OF A PROVOST. The death took place recently of the Very Rev. Provost Charles McDonald at the Cathedral House, Aberdeen who passed away at the age of 82 years. Provost McDonald was a native of Aberdeen, where he was born in 1829 the year of Catholic Emancipation. His father was * Mr. James McDonald, a native of Braemar, and his mother was a Miss Margaret Gordon, niece of the famous Father Charles Gordon, known as Priest Gordon. He was reared under the guidance of Father Gordon, and at an early age was sent to Blairs College to study for the priesthood. From Blairs he went to the Scots College, Rome where he was during the troublous times of 1848. He always retained a very great love for Rome and Italy, and especially for the Church music of Rome. He did not complete his studies there, but returned to Blairs ColWe where he was ordained by Bishop Kyle in 1852. He was subsequently stationed at Peterhead, Beaulv, Gleno-airn Tombae, Glenlivet, Inverurie (for two separate periods)’ and Elgin. In all of these places Father McDonald was very much respected and greatly loved.