ROME LETTER

New Zealand Tablet, 18 May 1916, Page 41

ROME LETTER

(From our own 'correspondent.)

March 9.

THE POPE'S COUNSEL TO THE LENTEN PREACHERS.

On the day before Lent commenced, the Holy Father observed the time-honored custom of receiving phe body of .priests, chosen to preach in the Roman churches during the holy season, for the purpose of giving them his benediction and some practical instructions. . The body numbered about 125, and, along with them were the parish priests of the Eternal City,* each of whom was presented to his Holiness by Cardinal Pompilij Vicar-General of Rome. The presentation over, the Pope, seated on the throne, delivered a commentary on the words, which the Bishop in his Cathedral speaks to the preacher when he comes to him for the blessing prior to ascending the pulpit. ' May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips, so that you may worthily, ably, and faithfully announce His Gospel.' It is not necessary to go into the Pope's exposition of this blessing. Let us come to .those things which his Holiness insists upon in the case of preachers in the pulpits of Rome —his own particular diocese. One thing his Holiness insists upon strongly is that profane subjects be not dragged into the pulpit. He will allow no priest discuss war matters during his sermon, and he laments that cases were not lacking during the past year of forgetfulness being shown in this matter. Christ Crucified is to run through the sermons, in clear, forcible language, that the simplest can easily follow. It is worthy of recall here, that when Benedict XV. was a young student, in the Gregorian University of Rome, one of his cherished prizes was the gold medal on the subject of sacred eloquence, so that this body of famous orators, whom he advised the other day on their preaching, felt that a master in every sense of the word spoke to them.

LENTEN PASTORALS.

As might, be expected, the Lenten Pastorals of Italy's 250 Bishops, or so, strike the note of peace. And like watchful shepherds, who discern the advantage that the religious fervor of the hour will bring their people, their motto is rarpe dlr-tn. One of the finest pastorals I have seen is that of Bishop Doebbing, of Sutri and Nepi, written from his Franciscan monastery in Rome. A wise and determined man, Bishop Doebbing rules his church at a distance of thirty miles, improving the two poor little dioceses as only a really energetic and devoted pastor can.

NOTE.

The publication of L'Homme Enchaine has been suspended by the French Government for eight days. Did it ever think of suspending M. Clemenceau, its publisher, for just a couple of minutes.