The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIV, Issue 1, 4 January 1917, Page 53

The Catholic World

r;':i.-. --■■■.,' ; '. : '', " ROME ~ / ..;■■ HONORING THE MEMORY OF CARDINAL : .; '■■-■■'■ FERRATA. ]."-£&' ] Honor has been paid to the memory of the late Cardinal Domeilico Ferrata, Secretary of State to his Holiness : Benedict XV., by the erection of a monumental tomb of unusual magnificence over his remains in. the cemetery of Gradoli, his native^..town (says the Rome correspondent of the Catholic Times, under date October 20). None but the best-known sculptors, workers in bronze and in stained-glass, and, other artists were employed by the Cardinal's brother, Signor Nazzarino Ferrata,"a lawyer, at whose expense the monument has been built. To manifest his veneration for his deceased friend and former Secretary of State though the Cardinal held the office only for a few weeksthe Holy Father sent as his representative to Gradoli for the ceremony of unveiling 'the monument the Right Rev. Mgr. Tedeschini, Under Secretary of State. Among others present were the Most Rev. Archbishop Ranuzzi dei Bianchi, Majordomo of the Vatican, and the Right Rev. Mgr De Samper, Maestro di Camera. It will be recollected that Cardinal Ferrata died at the age of sixty-seven. His apartments in the Vatican Palace were prepared for him on his appointment as Secretary of State, but he did not live even to enter them. PAPAL NUNCIO IN MUNICH. The Most Rev. Giuseppe A versa, Titular Archbishop of Sardi, who lias been Papal Nuncio in Brazil since 1911, and who has been called to fill the important post of Nuncio at Munich, where he will direct the relations between the Holy See and the Central Powers, is well known in America, where he has many friends. He has been visiting in New York the past few weeks (says an American exchange of recent date), and he sailed last week on his way to Rome and thence to his new post at Munich. Archbishop Aversa was born in Naples in 1862. He made his early studies there and finished his higher studies with marked distinction in Rome. He served as under-secretary in the Consistorial Congregation with Cardinal Gasparri, now Secretary of State, and also at the Nunciature of Vienna. He was appointed Delegate to Cuba and Porto Rico in 1905. Through him the pending negotiations between Snain, this country, and the Holy See dealing with the property of the Church, were successfully settled. As Delegate to Venezuela lie arranged a modus vivendi between that government and the Church authorities. He created two new ecclesiastical provinces and two dioceses, whose Bishops he consecrated before his departure from the country. In 1911 he was sent to Brazil as Papal Nuncio, where he rendered distinguished service. He formed twelve new dioceses, three archdioceses, and consecrated fourteen Bishops. SPAIN OUR LADY OF QUERALT. Spain has been rejoicing of- late over the Papal recognition given to the famous statue of the Virgin of Queralt, which has been crowned as miraculous by special rescript of Benedict XV. The great event brought crowds of pilgrims from all parts of Spain to the shrine, which is in the diocese of Salsona and Seo de Urgel. In the midst of the Spanish elite, with the Infanta Isabella representing the King, the Papal Nuncio placed a magnificent crown of gold and brilliants, for which many Spanish ladies had given valued jewels, on the head of the statue. The miraculous statue, which is surrounded by proofs of the devotion of the people and of Mary's intercession; was then carried in procession followed by a rejoicing crowd, while the children strewed flowers in the path of Our Lady of Queralt. i ■ .

CONDITION OF SPANISH PRIESTS At the opening of the Spanish Cortes an important speech was made and, proposals put : forward on behalf of the parish priests of Spain by the archbishops and bishops of. Saragossa in an address which was presented on the financial estimates. The Spanish priests receive from the Government V stipend which was fixed at the time of the Concordat with the Holy See yi 1856, and even at that date a speedy revision and increase were promised. Since then the value of money has changed enormously, living is much dearer, and in addition to this the government has levied imposts amounting to 20 per cent, of the miserable stipends allotted to the clergy, and despite the fact that taxes were expressly excluded in the Concordat. That the priests are’not asking very much is shown by their modest demands, which are that the financial estimates for the year should be increased to permit a yearly stipend of a thousand pesetas£4obeing paid as a minimum to each priest. The bishops give details of hardships endured, which show that the priests, especially in the rural districts, are living on the very edge of existence, and have not the common necessaries of life.