The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 31 December 1914, Page 49

The Catholic World

■ "J-- - : CANADA '> ;; '- >■[■ :..-;\ : :-/[ ; CATHOLIC CANADA AND^HE,WAR. -- Their Graces the Archbishops of Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec have issued a joint pastoral letter to their people urging loyalty to the. British and Allied arms and saying: 'Who does not see that the destiny of every part of the Empire is bound up in the fate of our armies? It will be to the honor and glory of Canada to have done her share, both by supplications for the restoration of peace and by generous contributions.' ..'- .'■'..-'' -' : ~- ENGLAND ''»"' JUBILEE OF A CONVENT. The celebration of the jubilee of the Norwich Convent of Notre Dame early in December was an historic event in the annals of Catholicity -in East Anglia. Fifty years -ago Catholicism in the East Anglian capital was in a very sorry state. Hedged in on all sides, the Faith had little chance of spreading or even getting a sympathetic hearing. But, since that time, matters have changed with astonishing rapidity. To-day in Norwich there are two with congregations of nearly 3000. There are Catholic schools in ; a flourishing state, which are constantly receiving additions, and two convents, one -of the Little Nursing Sisters of the Assumption, and the other of the Sisters of Notre Dame. His Lordship the Bishop of Northampton marked the occasion with his presence. A Missa Cantata was sung by Canon Fitzgerald. .;■'-'.'-'--; • CALDEY ABBEY. Dom Aelred Carlyle, 0.5.8., the founder of the community on Caldey island and already known as its abbot in Anglican days., received on Sunday,. October 18, the solemn benediction of the Church, and thus Caldey takes, its place among the Benedictine abbeys of Britain. It was in February last year that the first Mass was offered; on Caldey since the monks were driven from the island at the Reformation, and*it was offered by a iJenedictitieuwho had been requested by the community to prepare them for their reception . into the . Catholic Church. The work begun then has how, after many months, seen its completion, and what was in those days a small Anglican community, unknown to the Church, has become in the Providence of God a duly constituted and canonically erected abbey, firmly founded on the Rock of Peter and richly endowed with apostolic privileges. ; A VALUABLE CATHOLIC ASSET. '"-'■ Catholics cannot read of the general gratification caused in Manchester by Alderman McCabe's compliance with the City Council's unanimous and cordial invitation to accept the Lord Mayoralty for a second year and of the welcome with which his decision has been received by the local press without feeling what an advantage^it'is..to Catholics when co-religionists of that type come forward to undertake important public duties. 'Mr. McCabe,' says the Manchester Guardian, ' has won everybody's regard by his earnest and kindly discharge of the mayoral, duties. His • fairness and genial common sense have helped to smooth paths everywhere> -and the geniality has a c backing of good,, hard business capacity that contributes to get things done. We do not | remember any municipal year Vi in which the meetings of the Council have proceeded with more dignity and efficiency than the year which now " closes.'' Alderman McCabe has been able to do for Manchester a :• work ifrhich -the citizens, without exception, appre-; ciate because, as i all- e know, his" valuable service has been entirely unselfish and the highest motives have governed his actional We can wish.for j nothing better than that; the Catholic body may produce many Aldermen Mc-

Cabes, ? for whilst winning admiration by his devotion to public duty he .has killed not a few prejudices against the Catholic Church. v" -. ;" V; ; " ■'">' '; M ; ■::' ?", - ? PRANCE . ';;'s;' : *' ' ' * THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND RELIGION. Despite the religious revival in - France/ and the readiness with which the clergy are shedding their blood at the front, the French Government have not abandoned the old attitude towards religion. ..The Catholics are now circulating throughout the different dioceses the petition for national prayers and the recall of the religious • which M. Viviani rejected a few weeks ago! In a letter to the clergy and the faithful of his diocese the Bishop of Clermont remarks: ' The Government'have declared that it cannot take part in a. denominational service.. -This" is a mistaken idea. A democratic Government should follow the national will. In this country (says the Catholic Times) it should ask itself whether the national will is undenominational at present. How many soldiers go to the front without openly recommending themselves to God ? (How many French men and French women-are there who are not frequenting the churches? Those who represent the people will be obliged to act as they do.' The Bishop has used the right language. The Catholics of France should compel the Government to comply with their just demands. J They have of late gained a great deal of strength. Let them use it with skill and determination. If they do so the Government will soon recognise the danger of resistance and will bow to their wishes. '.:'..'•;-'■ -. : -.. MEXICO ■'■ J~->i : ALL SOULS' DAY. We learn from the Mexican Herald of Nove} :U 3, that All Souls' Day in that city was celebrated with the visual demonstrations of piety and devotion.. From an early hour in the morning until noon Requien, Masses were celebrated at all the Catholic churches, where the services were, attended by crowds of persons representing every social station of the population. At the Cathedral the services were of the most solemn and impressive character. Large congregations attended the early Masses and the Solemn Requiem Mass celebrated at 10 o'clock. Seven Masses were celebrated at the Church of San Lorenzo (the church for English-speaking Catholics) during the morning. The pilgrimages to the cemeteries of ' the Federal District began early oh All Saints' Day morning and continued till they closed at 6 o'clock on All Souls' Day. The same scenes that have been enacted for centuries were witnessed at the cemeteries. Flowers were placed upon nearly all _ the graves; ; even those of the very poorest receiving their tribute of affection from relatives and friends of the departed. On numbers ; of graves lighted candles also were placed. .'....•■ £. :~ /.: ■ SCOTLAND ;_' J '. SUCCESS OF CATHOLIC STUDENT, .t;- The blue ribbon of classical scholarship in Scotland falls this year to a former student of St. Aloysius' Catholic College, Glasgow. The distinction in question is the Ferguson Bursary of. £BO per annum for two yearsj which is open for competition among the graduates of the four Scottish. Universities and which has been secured this year by Mr. Patrick McGlynn, M.A., of Glasgow University.; The bursary is much prized by Scottish students, not because of its intrinsic value, but because, being open to the • graduates of all the Scottish Universities, rit naturally creates a keen - spirit of friendly rivalry between these, institutions, -with the result■:. that i the foremost " classical . scholars of all four-Universities-enter into competition.. ,-•---: ". .;f : |..

Bologna has a great university. At the beginning of the 13th century it had 10,000 students. St, Thomas Aquinas lectured at it and Mezzofanti studied there. :