ROME LETTER

New Zealand Tablet, 11 May 1916, Page 39

ROME LETTER

(From our own correspondent

March 3.

POLAND AND THE SOVEREIGN PONTIFF.

The General Committee of Aid for the Victims of the War in Poland have, through M. H. Sienkiewicz and M. A. Osuchowski, sent the following letter to the Holy Father:

Holy Father, penetrated by sentiments of the most profound gratitude for your Holiness’s generous gift a fresh proof of your feeling towards our country—we cast ourselves at your feet to express to your Holiness our warmest thanks, with those of our unfortunate compatriots, strengthened again by your fatherly help and your compassion.

Acting as we are doing, all Poland prostrates itself before your Holiness Catholic Poland, now ensanguined and trampled down by military hordes, exhausted by hunger, buried beneath her ruins—and feels that, nevertheless, all -is not lost for her because she desires to live and because your hands are laid on her martyred head to bless her.

Sustained by the paternal affection which you show vjs, by the hope and the faith with which you inspire us, we shall be able to await with confidence the new day that will dawn for us; and at the same time will arise again in the world that peace which is the object of your prayers and the reign of love and of justice for the oppressed. In this unshakable, certainty we lay at your feet, be-

loved Father and Vicar of Jesus Christ, the expression of our veneration, our attachment, our profound gratitude, and we are always faithful sons of our holy Mother the Church. i

Henry Sienkiewicz.

» . Anthony Osuchowski.

February 24, 1916.

THE SACRED CONGREGATION OF RELIGIOUS.

The Religious Orders and Congregations, and in a special manner the Orders of English-speaking countries, ought to feel well pleased at having Cardinal Falconio, sometime Apostolic Delegate to the United States, as Pre-

feet of the Sacred Congregation of Religious, inasmuch as he is one of themselves,, and understands their organisations as. perhaps no other Cardinal in Rome does. V'

CARDINAL MERCIER.

Why did Cardinal Mercier remain a whole month in Rome? Not a few have asked this question. On one sid.e it was thought not improbable the Holy Father would retain his services altogether in Rome. And months ago (before the nomination of Cardinal Bisleti) it was thought the Primate of Belgium might be appointed Prefect of the new Sacred Congregation of Seminaries. The fact is Cardinal Mercier was engaged in drafting, a scheme of regulations on studios, etc., for the guidance of the new Congregation, and only the very day before he left Rome was the result of his labors examined by the Cardinals of the institution. Needless to say, the Holy Father is too keen a statesman to think of removing from his post the Primate of Belgium at such a crisis in the history of his country.

NOTES.

The Roman press highly lauds the Social History of the Church, in two volumes, from the pen of- the Right Rev. -Mgr. Benigni, who has returned to the Chair of History in the Propaganda. In the Church of Ara Coeli the first centenary of the martyrdom of Blessed John of Triora, a Friar Minor of the Roman Province, who died for the Faith in China in 1816. is being observed this week. ' Rev. Father Battle, diocese of Lisrnore, Australia, after passing some weeks as patient in the hospital of the Little Company of Mary, has left Rome for Ireland, where he hopes to recuperate before returning to Australia.