The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 16 November 1916, Page 49

The Catholic World

ENGLAND PROTESTANTS AND WAYSIDE CROSSES. The Ritualists have been much impressed by the practice of erecting wayside crosses, crucifixes, and calvaries, observed in Catholic countries on the Continent. These reminders of the sufferings and death of our Lord for the salvation of men have edified many soldiers who are members of the Church of England, and the Church Times has warmly encouraged the proposal that the practice should be imitated in England. Seeing that, like St. Paul, all the early Christians gloried in the Cross of Christ, that, as Tertullian attests, in his day, whether they went in or out, were at the bath or at the table, sat down or rose up, they made the sign of the Cross, and that in the cemeteries where they were buried scarcely one sepulchral monument has been found which does not bear the monogram of Christ , arranged in the form of a cross, it might bo supposed that no opposition would be offered to the proposal by Protestants. But on this, as on so many other matters, Anglicans are at variance. Like the anti-Christian forces on the Continent, certain British Protestants cannot endure the cross. In- reverence for it the f'rut est ant Alliance discovers idolatry, and it is endeavoring to promote an agitation against the adoption of the suggestion supported by the Church Timet. In view of the possibility of outrages by fanatics it does not seem as if it would be wise to erect wayside crosses and crucifixes in this country at present. A result would probably be gross acts of irreverence. FRANCE AT BOSSUET'S CATHEDRAL. The Bishop of Arras was present at the solemn celebration that took place on Sunday, September 10, in the Cathedral of Meaux, to commemorate the second anniversary of the Battle of the Marne. Within the walls of the noble building, which was connected in the past with the memory of Bossuet, the ' Eagle of Meaux,' were gathered three Bishops, all of whom played a distinguished part in the events of the last two years. The venerable Cardinal Lucon, Archbishop of Rheims, who never leaves his bomb-swept city except on occasions like this, presided at the ceremony, assisted by the Bishop of Arras and the Bishop of Meaux. The latter, readers may remember, was the leader, provider, providence, and guardian of his episcopal city during the days of panic that heralded the German invasion, in September, 1914. The Battle of the Marne was fought at his gates, and. in the midst of the general confusion, he became, as he smilingly expressed it, the civil governor of Meaux. Mass was said by another hero, a military chaplain, Father de Forceville, S.J., who was recently wounded before Verdun and who is now decorated with the distinction of the Legion of Honor. BACK TO THE CHURCH. • Miracle of miracles ! The great war is drawing the atheists and scoffers of France back to the Church (says the Standard and Times of Philadelphia). This is no fairy tale or effort of the imagination, but positive downright fact. The Prime Minister, M. Briand, had long been the leader of the scoffing brand. He boasted of the success which had attended his and his colaborers' efforts to drive God out of the schools and the text-books. This was only a few years ago. Now he rejoices over the fact that the people are turning once again to God! Can it be the same Briand who made that boast and who now rejoices in the defeat of his foolish boast ? He is reported as saying a few days ago that: ' When peace has been declared we shall have won a victory over ourselves as we shall have won it over the Germans. It is always possible to come to an understanding with Paris. As to the provinces, you

know I have sources of information. Well, I can tell you that the spectacle they offer is admirable— more divisions nor local tyrannies; no more hatred of church steeples. There is only one heart, there is only one France.' The self-same God Who smote the hosts of Pharaoh and of Sennacherib, without the staining of a, single sword-blade, is now ■ smiting the hosts of infidelity on the plains of France and many, other places, and the hearts of the scoffers are down in the soles of their boots to-day ! The miracle of the conversion of Saul the persecutor into Paul the preacher of Christ and Him Crucified was hardly greater than the conversion of Briand the boaster and the Deicide. ROME THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE POPE'S CORONATION. Telegrams from, rulers of States, Governments, members of the Sacred College, Bishops, and other distinguished men, Religious Orders and Institutes, and l Catholic associations and clubs kept coining all day on the anniversary of the Pope's coronation (writes the Rome correspondent of the Catholic Times, under date September 22). There was no official reception for the presentation of -congratulations, but. ecclesiastics and laymen expressed to his Holiness their homage and best wishes. ' In the Vatican corridors the Pontifical armed corps were in their uniforms of ine.zza !/tt/<t, and the gendarmes also in dress uniform : whilst in the magnificent Court of San Damasus, at the entrance to the barracks of the Palatine Guard, floated the white and yellow Papal flags, and at the big bronze door and the quarters of the Swiss Guard was the special banner of the corps. In the Cappella Poalina the Pontifical Gendarmes were present at a military Mass, celebrated by their chaplain. This was at 9 o'clock. When the Mass was at an end one had not long to wait to witness another interesting ceremony, for at 10 o'clock a squad of gendarmes with their banner drew up in line in the Court of San Damasus, and two gold medals 'Pro Pontifice et Ecclesia " were handed to the two brigadiers who had seventeen years' service to their credit. The squad was passed in review, a document was read, and after the Pontifical decoration had been given an eloquent speech was delivered. Then the march past took place, whilst the guard rendered military honors. Now attention was attracted to several men who were carrying pretty flowers artistically arranged so as to represent a globe, with the Keys and Pontifical Tiara on top. The flowers had come from the Vatican Gardens, and were being presented by the gardeners, who are much attached to his Holiness. All this time were to be seen motor cars and elegant carriages crossing the Piazza of St. Peter's. They contained many prominent personages, including those composing the diplomatic corps attached to the Holy See who were going to write their names in the register at the Pontifical Antechamber. From 6 o'clock till 7 the Pontifical Gendarmes' band played in the Cortile San Damaso. The ceremonies that are wont to be held in the Papal Chapel on the anniversary of the coronation, of the Supreme Pontiff, have been postponed by the order of the Holy Father to December 22, as has also been the solemn celebration of the anniversary of the death of Pius X. The reason is that the months of August and September are not adapted for ceremonies in which the whole Pontifical Court must take part, and also that in those mouths many ecclesiastical dignitaries are absent from Rome. It is especially interesting to note that his Holiness has selected December 22, because this -date as well as that of December 21 bring back memories that are very dear to him. It was on December 21, 1871, that he was ordained priest, and on December 22, 1907, being nominated to rule the Archdiocese of Bologna, he was consecrated in the Sistine Chapel by Pius X.