THE HOLY FATHER AND THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS

New Zealand Tablet, 2 May 1912, Page 47

THE HOLY FATHER AND THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS

THE SUPERIOR-GENERAL'RECEIVED IN , x .’t;;^vr AUDIENCE S v:, r .'A:-'

Early in February Rev. Brother Wfiitty, SuperiorGeneral of the Irish Christian Brothers, visited Rome, and with Brother Costen, the ' Superior in Rome, ; was received in audience by the Holy Father. His Holiness (says the Rome correspondent of the ■ Catholic Press, ting, under date -February;, 29) , has now done 'him the i further honor of sending . him . a,; long autograph let ter , treating of : the work of the institution ' Education is one ,of .the x means of assisting - religion on which Phis X. sets the greatest store; it is wonderful how from the Vatican he manages to keep au courant with the different phases of the problem as it affects Catholics all over the world; and in the long audience which he. accorded to the General of the Christian Brothers he not only showed the keenest interest in and appreciation of their work, but entered fully into the different racteristics of the different countries. - The extraordinary development of the Christian Brothers’ schools in Australia was touched on, and the Holy Father, if not exactly an expert in the details of the work in the far continent, fully grasped and’ appreciated the value of :he success accomplished. f.. ft The Irish Brothers’ School in Rome.

His- letter to the General picks out, with the accuracy - to which we are accustomed, the points in which the Christian Brothers excel, and the points to which most i attention must be paid. I We fully understand,’he writes, ‘that it induces vastly to the wellbeing of the Church and State , that both should be enriched and adorned with an abundance of well-conducted citizens.’ That is a point on which the Brothers’-school in Home has hopelessly confounded the enemies of religion, who try. to make out that every Italian boy brought pp in a Church school is taught to be an - enemy of his country. . They find that ; the Brothers teach their boys to be good Catholics, and good citizens, too; and they find also that the product of the Marcantohio Colonna Institute, as the school is called, is a better behaved, better disciplined, better taught, and in every way a more desirable article than that turned out by the socialism-tinged, godless Roman: public school. There is an old story that will bear retelling with regard to the foundation of the Brothers’ school in Rome. It was opposed tooth and nail by a Freemason who lived in the neighborhood where the Brothers had secured a site. ;. He claimed, and threatened to prove in tils law courts, that under the law of Italy they were not at liberty to found an institute, buy land, or, indeed, exist at all. The Brothers had taken counsel’s opinion, and went calmly on their way. A short time ago their good Freemason neighbor came round to ask Brother Costem to take his boy, as it was common knowledge that the inmates of the Marcantonio Institute got not only the best teaching, but the best moral training to b e had in Rome. And the boy was taken.

The Pope’s Advice. Let it be you first care,’; the. Holy Father’s letter says farther on, ‘ that your; training colleges and preparatory novitiates be in a flourishing condition. . .’ The same institutions we earnestly recommend to all worthy persons . . . ’ and concludes with the Apostolic Blessing. Australia knows what the Christian Brothers have done, and are doing out there. Here in Rome their school has grown till it is as full as -it can hold; and the Brothers occupy their spare time (though no one knows how they make: it) in a night school, where they teach, and in many cases probably rescue, 500 young Romans. ', , o - .. -

, ' following is a copy of the Autograph Letter of hi 5 Holiness the ope to the Superior-General:—-^ To Our Beloved Son, James Calasanctius Whitty, »superior-General of the Irish Religious Institute of Christian Brothers. *•

PIUS X. POPE.

- Beloved Son, Health and Apostolic Benediction;! '\ The diligence with which it has so long devoted itself to the fitting education of: the young is in truth, the most exalted merit of the religious' community which you rule. .k For Our u part, We extol, .ieloved son, this charity of yours, which in Christian fashion centres itself in the children, whom We have ever before • Our eyes. .;- For We.fully understand that it conduces vastly to the well-being of'the Church and State, both should be enriched and adorned with an abundance > -of well-conducted citizens In this age especially/ when in-public schools we see children beipg so educated that, £^ en the instruction imparted is not designedly ted with error, no teaching of Christian morals is ffl& parted, be assured that you are doing much s for the eternal salvation of all those whom you are training not only in' letters, but in Christian morals. The precepts of religion properly and seasonably inculcated, are as so many v good seeds, which, sown ; even in those who are afterwards led astray by untoward passions, rarely'« tail sooner or. later to. bear fruit. ; v : ;■ -'-, ■";■■ v.infe Therefore, beloved son, We exhort you and the members of your institute to persevere zealously in a : work excellently begun. ; Indeed, ; a plentiful harvest presents itself to your gaze, since so many stumbling- : blocks are almost everywhere thrown in the way of " children. Let it be your first care, however; that your training colleges and preparatory novitiates be in V flourishing condition, having a multitude of young conspicuous for virtue and learning] from whom the ranks of the Brothers may in the future be recruited. •"■'' *'" ; But since the cause which you champion' is of such immense importance that it should appeal to all who are imbued with love of religion and fatherland', these same institutions we earnestly recommend to all worthy persons an especially to the Bishops, .to parish priests, and to heads of families, whom it singularly behoves to lead the way m assisting you. '"■■_. - . . - , ' That these desires may be realised, We implore for you the Divine assistance; and, as a testimony of Our benevolence, to you, beloved son, to the religious entrusted to your care, and, in finer to all the youths who avail themselves of your instruction], We most lovingly v s in the Lord impart the Apostolic }■ Benediction. lQlo ™, at Rome at St. Peter's on the 20th February, / -IJI2, in the ninth year of Our Pontificate. fr'w. \ '•' "":: .'"",' Pips x. pope. ' ..