Here and There

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 32, 16 August 1923, Page 37

Here and There

Honors.for a Nun.— London Tablet recounts that in his recent visit to Vittorio Veneto Signor Mussolini conferred the Golden Medal, which is the highest honor available, upon Sister Pasqua, of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona, in recognition of her wonderful services in the civil and military hospital,, in the provincial lunatic asylum, and in the hospice. The imposing ceremony took place in the open Piazza of the town before a large assembly, of the people. The Sister had merited the distinguished honor, for she had proved herself a heroine of charity and a marvel of industrious service, especially after the catastrophe of Caporetto. In the midst of the disastrous flight of the population the Sisters alone remained at their post, and the whole community are deserving of praise for their heroic activities. Sister Pasqua is a young, frail, and pallid nun, but of truly masculine courage. There was an absolute dearth of medical men, but she accomplished prodigies of surgical work. An Italian prisoner from Mantua who was terribly wounded in the fare had been a fortnight without medical attention. Sister Pasqua not only cleansed the horrible wounds and disinfected the lower jaw, which had been displaced, but with the greatest care and exactitude reset it and bound it up with perfect success, and thus saved the soldier's life. She frequently amputated fingers, hands, and feet, and on one occasion almost miraculously restored to their sockets both the eyes of a little boy of eight which had been displaced, so that the little fellow now sees perfectly. More remarkable still, this intrepid religious (the Tablet goes on to tell) actually •amputated both the legs of an unfortunate man who was in danger of dying from gangrene and who is now alive and full of gratitude to the Sister who gave him back his life. So occupied was she in these heroic works that she sometimes had to hasten to the chapel to receive Holv Communion between two operations, and on one occasion at least she had not even time to lay aside her apron, and had to appear before the altar all covered with blood. Yet she was not the only heroine in the Community, for three of the Sisters died of exhaustion or disease, and the Superioress herself has practically lost her sight owing to nervous prostration. It is impossible to describe the strategies they had recourse to in order to provide food and medicines for the sick, the aged, and the babies. At the same time they were not without a sense of humor. One of them was able to save from confiscation all the linen of their neighbors by having it brought to the convent and writing on the door, in large letters. "Clausura" (Enclosure), which effectively prevented the entrance of the enemies' soldiers. On another occasion three Austrian generals asked Sister Praxedes to procure them three palms in order to walk in the procession on Palm Sunday. She did so, but she adorned the palms with ribbons—one white, one red, and one green. The officers, without noticing this! carried in the procession, to the astonishment of the people' the Italian colors. '

Tribute to Catholicity.— new book dealin" with the subject of a better understanding between Catholics and Protestants recently published by Dr Heinrich Hermelink, Protestant Professor of Church History at Marburg University, has caused a strong sensation among intellectual leaders of Germany. Professor Hermelmk's book is not a plea for unity. It rather calls for a mutual sympathetic understanding and pays a high tribute of praise to the Catholic Church, which it characterises the most virile force in Germany to-day. According to the Professor, the strength of the Catholic Church is" due to three principal causes: (1) The Catholic Church gives its members a feeling of confraternity in religion and of a chanty which is much stronger and more fervent than among Protestants. (2) The objective form of truth pre sented in its highest supernatural development, wihcli is the greatest power of the Catholic Church, has no parallel as an attraction in a world that has been overwhelmed bv subjective experience. (3) The character of Catholic priests and monks, the authority of the teachings no less than the sanctity of their lives, has a very wholesome effect even on those outside the Faith. Protestant leaders in Europe during the past few years have made statements parallel to those of Dr. Hermelink. In one passage of the new book occurs the following: 'To-day we must admit

that far more vigorous qualities are being ascribed to Catholicity than to Protestantism by leading men of culture, philosophers, statesmen, important industrial social leaders. The Protestant scholar is deeply impressed with e . great spiritual development characteristic of Catholicity to-day, including the vigor of the religious Orders and the extremely strong Catholic juvenile movement now being felt in Germany, Austria, Holland, Switzerland, Italy and France. J ’ A Hero of ’OS.—President Cosgrave’s great-grandfather, nho lived at Ballmaharney, Kilrush, Ferns, was hanged for Ins part in the ’9B insurrection (says a Home paper). This interesting fact is brought to light in an interview and in a letter from Dr. Grattan. Flood. After the rising the executed patriot’s family removed to Castledermot. 7t Iya f’ Redmonds ’ k vles Cosgraves, and Fitzpatricks of Kilrush parish, are cousins of President Cosgrave. Mrs. - ames Fitzpatrick now lives on the farm occupied by the resident s great-grandfather. Irish Poet and Dramatist Dead.—Mr. Herbert Trench poet and dramatist, died at Boulogne, aged 57. He was a SOU of VV Trench, Midleton, and was born at Avoncore, Co. Cork He had a distinguished career at Oxford, and was a bellow of All Souls. He served 17 years with the English Board of Education, becoming senior examiner and assistant director of special inquiries. For a period e successfully managed the Haymarket Theatre He tray Piled a good deal, and of late years had lived in Florence. He will be remembered for his poetry, and for his successful play, Napoleon,” produced in 1919. Priest Honored by Borough Council.— Southwark Borough Council, by a unanimous vote, has put on record its appreciation of the social labors of Alderman Father 0 Meara, who has been appointed to a new clerical post by the Bishop of the diocese. For many years Father O’Meara has sat on the Council as the Labor nominee, and during ins term of office has been instrumental in bringing about many important social reforms. No Catholic priest in London has ever before been honored by a unanimous Council vote.