The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 7 December 1916, Page 53

The Catholic World

FRANCE NOVENA TO ST. GENEVIEVE. The grand traditional novena of Saint Genevieve takes place in the month of January. The novena which ended on Friday, September 8 (says the Paris correspondent of the Catholic Time was instituted on account of the evident protection of God, which was extended to France in September, 1914, and which the French are surely' justified in believing was, at least to some extent, due to the intercession of her who, in former days, had already saved Paris from Attila’s barbarous hordes. The closing religious ceremony of the novena was presided over by Cardinal Amette, and the final sermon was delivered by the Very Rev. Dom Cabrol, Abbot of Farnborough. It was, however, Abbe Courbe, the parish priest of St. Jacques du Haur, Pas, who was the preacher at the triduum of St. Genevieve at St. Etienne du Mont. The theme of his three sermons was the intervention of God in the affairs of this world, and principally in the affairs of France. All his discourses were highly appreciated, and especially the third and last, in the course of which he showed how God had intervened in the great French national crisis, and more particularly in the present war, by giving the French the victory of the Marne. He grouped together various circumstances of that immense battle, extending on a front of over ninety miles, and drew the conclusion that the protection of St. Genevieve, the Patroness of Paris and of France, was visibly extended to the French. In this connection it is interesting to note the publication of a pamphlet entitled Saint e Genevieve et V Invasion AUemande en 1011/, of which Abbe Sauvetre, the parish priest of St. Etienne du Mont, is the author. The conclusion he comes to in it is that Paris would honor herself by erecting a monument to that saint on the bank of the Seine. It may seem strange that the only statue of St. Genevieve existing in the French capital is the one placed among the Queens of France in the Luxembourg Gardens. Abbe Sauvetre also demands the restitution of the Pantheon to Catholic public worship, and the reconsecration of the building under the patronage of St. Genevieve.

ROME BASILICA OF ST. HELENA CONSECRATED. During the celebration of the 16th centenary of the Peace of Constantine in 1912 a commemorative basilica was built on the Flaminian Way, leading from Rome to the Milvian bridge, the scene of Constantine’s victory over Maxentius. In memory of the famous apparition of the cross, this basilica was dedicated to the Holy Cross. Happy peace, the gift of the Cross, then reigned in the world. Another Constantinian basilica, however, was destined some years later to be dedicated while strife and battle were raging among Christian nations. This is the Basilica of St. Helena, the solemn consecration of which took place on Sunday, September 17 (writes a Rome correspondent). It is a new parish church situated about three-quarters of a miles outside the Porta Maggiore. ' The quarter for which it is to serve as a parish church hitherto belonged to Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, a foundation of the Empress St. Helena, and famous as possessing the great relics of the Passion—a large portion of the true Cross, the title of the same, a nail of the Crucifixion, a thorn from the Crown. ( Thus two Constantinian memorials will stand close to each other church dedicated to St. Helena and a church founded by her, the two beipg more or less in the relation) to each other of mother and daughter. The consecrating Bishop was Mgr. Cepetelli, Patriarch of Constantinople and Viceregent of Rome. The ceremonies began at 8, and after the procession with the relics of the High Altar and the rest of the solemn ceremonial of consecration,

High Mass was celebrated by an Oblate Father. : In the evening a sermon was preached, followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and the Te De.um.

THE POPE AND THE POPULAR UNION. The Diocesan Committee of Rome, ever active to further Catholic action in the city, has just issued a circular to the various Catholic Associations of Rome urging them to have the names -of the directing body at least of each association, inscribed in the so-called Popular Union (writes the Rome correspondent of the Irish Catholic). The circular reminds them that it is the express desire of the Holy Father that all Catholics should give their names to the Popular Union as being the most comprehensive in its aims of all existing Catholic associations. In fact there is no branch of Catholic activity which it does not aim at helping on. The Diocesan Committee itself undertakes to take' the names sent in to its secretary, and to take measures to get missing names also inscribed. Attention is also drawn to the duty imposed on all Catholics, and those of Rome in particular, to give all possible aid to the work of religions and moral assistance for the poor war orphans. The future of these children is a matter of national concern, and it is only to be expected that any initiative on their behalf will meet the wholehearted sympathy and support of Catholic bodies' all over the country. A good deal is being done to bring the matter prominently before the public, and 'the Diocesan Committee is only adding another to a long list of eloquent appeals that have been made already in favor of this charitable work. It is highly satisfactory, indeed, to note the lively way the Catholic associations have been directing their efforts for good since the war began. Possibly the example of the Vatican has infused new energies into them. At any rate, it is a fact true of the great majority of them at least, that they have not been sitting idle allowing opportunities of doing good to pass by unavailed of.

SPAIN HISTORIC CHURCH BURNED. Remarkable scenes were witnessed in Granada, Spain, lately, when, by an unlucky chance, the beautiful Church of Santa Maria Dolores was nearly burnt to the ground. This fine and ancient sanctuary contains a miraculous and venerable statue of the Mother of Sorrows, and, when the news of the fire spread, a gallant rescue of the precious treasure as undertaken by a band of young men, led by a priest. They rushed into the burning building just before the roof fell in, and, snatching the statue from its niche above a beautiful votive altar, bore it out on their shoulders in triumph, just as the roof collapsed. The people then formed a guard of honor for the famous statue, and escorted it to the Cathedral, where the principal clergy came out to meet it. All the candles on the high altar were lighted, and our Lady was enshrined on a temporary altar within the sanctuary, until such time as she can be restored to her own church. As the statue was borne up the Cathedral, the great organ pealed forth the Royal March in salutation. Already subscriptions are flowing in for the restoration 1 of the Church of Santa Maria Dolores.