The Bright Side of French Catholic Life

New Zealand Tablet, 5 September 1912, Page 43

The Bright Side of French Catholic Life

Some weeks ago when I arrived in the city of light (says a correspondent of the Dublin Leader writing from Paris), I looked to find a heathen land, with closed churches and banished monks. Behold my preconceived ideas completely overthrown. It seems to me now that there are more churches and more worshippers here than in Ireland, while I never walk abroad'without encountering a pious Abbe going on his round of duties, or a Sister going on hers, all wearing the insignia of their office in the form of the gowns, crucifixes, beads, and veils with which we are so familiar.

That France is very Catholic still, no' one could doubt who stood on the steps of the Madeleine on the Sunday following Corpus Christi and witnessed how the ‘ Fete Dieu ’ was solemnised. To realise the perfect manner in which the services were carried out- one should have been present among the immense multitude gathered together there. The band, the singing, the two Suisses in gorgeous red and white livery and gold braid, the four beadles in black and silver, the perfectly trained boys, the high Massall produced an effect which no words could convey. Afterwards came the procession of the Blessed Sacrament, consisting of priests, men, and girls, while little boys, who came in twos alternately scattered rose leaves high in the air and swung incense. The benediction was given in the open from the steps of the Madeleine, while even those in the street outside knelt down. All this shows that the faith is still strong in France. ...

*• It is very interesting to note in this connection how well the working-man here safeguards his own interests. When the Little Sisters of the Assumption got the notice to quit, the working-men said, ‘ Who then will nurse us and our families when we are ill ?’ The thought was not to be borne, so an immense number mustered strong round the convent, while others acted «as escorts for the Sisters when they went forth on their errands of mercy. Their attitude was so menacing that the edict was allowed to drop. In the same way les Scaurs de la Charite (Sisters of Charity), when their hour came, marshalled their hundreds of little ones outside the City Hall, saying, ‘ You must take all these in here now, for we can no longer keep them!’ They also have retained their convent. - , .