The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 3 April 1913, Page 55

The Catholic World

BELGIUM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUVAIN. The Catholic University of Louvain— theological, philosophical, legal, and medical faculties of which are about to take possession of a magnificent new buildinghas decided to open its doors to female students. They are to be admitted to all the faculties, including that of theology. FRANCE THE PLUNDER OF THE ORDERS. The Paris correspondent of the Kolnische Volkszeitung says that the new French Bill in respect to religious Orders, which at first sight might be considered a measure for making some tardy reparation, is in reality a scheme for the division of the spoil got through the plunder of the Orders. PORTUGAL INHUMANITY OF THE GOVERNMENT. A paragraph which has appeared in the daily papers announces that Affonso Costa, the Portuguese Premier, has visited the prisons of Portugal, and that in consequence there is to be a change for the better in the treatment of the Royalist prisoners. The announcement (remarks the Catholic Times), which seems to have been circulated as an advertisement for Costa, is one of those despatches from Lisbon that are sent out from time to time to the foreign press. They make ample promises of improvement, but are not followed by actual reforms. Of the room that exists for reform Mr. E. M. Tenison, of Yorkes Court, near Sittingbourne, Kent, tells in a letter which he has contributed to the last issue of the Spectator : 1 Such Royalist conspirators as have been brought to trialnot by civil courts, but by courts-martial —have been condemned in the majority of instances to six years’ solitary confinement in the Penitenciaria, on a system which, under the Monarchy, used to be reserved for murderers and desperate criminals. If they survive their six years’ solitary confinement, they have still to face ten years of deportation to a penal settlement in Africa; and if current information in Lisbon is to be credited, already 159 of these unfortunate Royalists have lost their reason under pressure of their physical and mental sufferings. Dressed in convict uniforms, with shaven heads, and faces covered by a hood containing only three small holes for eyes and mouth, shut into tiny cells where not a single ray of sun can penetrate, cut off from human intercourse, they are as though incarcerated in a living tomb.’ The cruelty is more barbarous than that which was inflicted on the natives of Putumayo. ROME THE HOLY SEE AND SPAIN. A few years ago (writes a Rome correspondent) ten lines would have sufficed to dispose of the ceremony of a Spanish ambassador’s presentation of his credentials to the Pope; now no space seems too much for most journals to devote to the event. And so every r- particular connected with the Papal reception of his Excellency Don Calbeton y Blanchon on February 5 is being commented upon in Rome. His Holiness, in reply to the address of the Ambassador, replied as follows:—‘Mr. Ambassador, —It is with genuine and particular satisfaction We have heard you express fervent and filial sentiments in the name of your august Sovereign, in delivering to Us the letters by which his Catholic Majesty King Alfonso XIII. accredits you as Ambassador Extraordinary. and Plenipotentiary to the Holy See. Such sentiments we wholeheartedly reciprocate, and it is with great pleasure We give utterance on this solemn occasion to the strong feeling of good will by which We, as was the case with Our

predecessors, are animated towards his Majesty and the Royal Family of Spain, and Our very sincere sympathy with it in the sorrows by which f it has been stricken. From the' - depths of Our paternal heart We address Our humble prayer to the : Almighty for the safety and prosperity of the Catholic King and his august family, and for the greatness and glory of the noble Spanish . nation. And since this greatness has, for centuries, been indissolubly united with fidelity to the Roman Church, We trust that for the common advantage of the ecclesiastical and civil ties, the bonds of cordial friendship, which have ever bound Catholic Spain to the Apostolic See, may be maintained intact and be strengthened still more and specially desire that in all questions of a mixed character, as you have opportunely remarked, the two Powers may proceed in perfect harmony and mutual concord on the basis of the true and solid principles that regulate 'their respective attitudes. To this end you will contribute efficaciously, Mr. Ambassador, by your intelligent and prudent help. Of this We have a sure earnest in your high qualities, your skill in the management of affairs, and the manner in which you have conveyed to Us your desire to fulfil the duty entrusted to you by the august Monarch, of Spain and by his Government, in the discharge of which you will always meet with good-will and kindness from Us.’ THE PONTIFICAL NOBLE GUARDS. Within a short time (writes a Rome correspondent) the particulars of the latest reform of Pius X., viz., that which is to be made in the. constitution of the corps of Pontifical Noble Guards, will be published. To the noble families of every country membership in this body will be thrown open. Hitherto the Noble Guards have been recruited from the most aristocratic families of Romagna, Umbria, Latium, and the Marches, the old Papal States. Candidates’ had to come from families inscribed for at least a century among the nobles of the Pontifical States, and, moreover, it was necessary for them to have liberal resources; in their own right, considering that, only after years of service has a remuneration of two hundred francs, or eight pounds, per month been paid each guard. The famous corps has remained, eminently aristocratic and exclusive, guarding its privileges and rights with jealous care. However, for several years application for admission to its ranks have poured into the Vatican from titled families of various countries for the honor of guarding the Pontiff’s person has appealed to all that is chivalrous in the hearts of the highest Catholic personages of every land. These have moved the Holy Father to admit to the charmed circle not only noblemen of all Italy, but of the whole world, who will come to Rome periodically and put in , their term of service, probably just as Private Chamberlains of his Holiness do at present. Their position will be entirely honorary, and brings with it no financial emolument. It is scarcely necessary to say that the old members of the noble corps, who do not number more than thirty or so, will remain undisturbed in their present position under the command of Prince Don Camillo Rospigliosi. UNITED STATES THE CHURCH IN HAWAII. - In the territory of Hawaii, in a general population of less than 200,000, there are 65,000 Catholics. There are 100,000 Asiatics, 38,000 Hawaiians, 30,000 Portuguese and Spaniards, 15,000 Caucasians (including 4000 soldiers and all others of Celtic and Anglo-Saxon descent), the rest belonging to many different nationalities. Of the 65,000 Catholics, two per cent., perhaps, are Americans, always counting the soldiers. The clergy to look after the spiritual welfare of these people consists of one Bishop, thirty-five priests, besides two army chaplains. GENERAL THE OLDEST DIOCESE IN AMERICA. In connection with the celebration of the fourhundredth anniversary of the founding of the Catholic

Church in Porto Rico, it is pointed out that the diocese of San Juan was the first diocese erected in the New World, following the discoveries by Columbus. Porto Rico was discovered in 1493, and on August 8, 1511, Pope Julius 11. issued the Bull creating the diocese of San Juan. At the same time two dioceses were created in Santo Domingo, which were later combined into an archdiocese, leaving San Juan the oldest diocese in the western world. The first Bishop of San Juan was Alonso Manso, who, went to this new post almost immediately after the erection of the diocese, but it was some time later before the bishops appointed to the dioceses in San Domingo reached their new fields. Church records show that when Bishop Manso arrived there were but 500 white people in the island. During the four hundred years of the Church in Porto Rico there have been 51 bishops.