PRIESTS AND THE SCIENCE OF RELIGION

New Zealand Tablet, 17 April 1919, Page 17

PRIESTS AND THE SCIENCE OF RELIGION

The mobilised French priests are being gradually released, and a series of spiritual retreats is being organised for them. These days of quiet prayer will servo as a transition period between their strenuous life at the front and the taking up of their parochial duties. In the diocese of Paris, the chief centre of these retreats is the Villa Manrese at Clamart., where, between the 3rd of February and the 30th of June, ten retreats for priests who have been serving in the army will be preached, each one lasting nine days. It was noticed lately that the Bishop of Chalons, speaking to his priests, bade them adopt new methods of apostleship. It is with the same idea that the promoters of the retreats of Clamart propose giving the priests several lectures on “Religious Science,” in addition to their spiritual conferences. It is certain that no man in France remains the m-me. as he was five years ago ; the demobilised priests have the experience of life at the front, but the ideas and problems that are now discussed by civilians are new to them and they must be kept informed of the thousand questions which have to be faced and in which the Church, represented by her ministers, has a voice.