Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 42, 25 October 1923, Page 47

Catholic World

' THE JAPANESE DISASTER. As we go to press (says the Brooklyn Tablet for September 15) Monsignor Freri, general director of the Propagation of tile Faith Society, gives the following figures on the losses "suffered by the Catholic Church in Japan: ' Two priests and eleven nuns dead. All churches and schools in Yokohama destroyed. Four churches in Tokio destroyed. Cathedral and Episcopal residence in Tokio Beverly damaged. Up to date no word has been received from the Catholic University of Japan which was founded in 1908 and which has a staff often Jesuit instructors. It is hoped that this well equipped institution withstood the shocks and flames. Only three months ago the work of repairing the college, which suffered from a slight tremor two years ago, was completed. SPANISH CARDINAL LEAVES FOR AMERICA. : ~ J Cardinal Benlloch, Archbishop of Burgos, has (says Catholic News Service, London) left his episcopal city for South America, where on the invitation of the Chilean Government, he is to consecrate the magnificent basilica at Santiago de Chile. His Eminence carries out a high I-;,'-:''' mission, as he journeys not only as the special Envoy of the Holy See, but also as Ambassador Extraordinary of the Most Catholic King of Spain, who has invested the Cardinal with this high office as a sign of affection for the people and Government of Chile. ? The whole city of Burgos turned out to give a rousing farewell to the- Cardinal Archbishop. The Mayor and Corporation arrived at the Archbishop’s Palace to escort his Eminence to the railway station. The journey was made through crowds of cheering citizens, who pressed on to the L, carriage containing his Eminence the Cardinal Primate, and the Auxiliary of Burgos with the Mayor of the city. At the station the Cardinal was met by alp the civil, military, and ecclesiastical dignitaries, and by them presented with a flag to be given to the city of Santiago de Chile. , V . ACADEMIC YEAR AT OXFORD. * The opening of the academic year at Oxford, which takes place very soon, will see the university city in many . respects like its pre-Reformation self. There will be no Grossetestes nor Roger Bacons in the lecture rooms of the colleges, at least not in the secular colleges. ’ J; • ; But the, religious will be in Oxford in greater numbers than before. The Dominicans, who opened their hostel of studies a year ago, will have more ; men up, while the Jesuits, the Benedictines, the. Franciscans and the Salesians have their houses pretty full. There will also be a houseful at the college for the secular clergy, and an augumented class at the Catholic Workers’ College, which is conducted jointly by the Campion Hall Jesuits and the Catholic Social Guild. It is quite possible that a start may be made with a college for women conducted along the same lines and under the same auspices,.But the Catholic women are not left out of it. There is a university hostel in the charge of the Sisters of the Holy Child, from whose halls came that phenomenon of - our day, the first woman in England to be called to the English Bar as a barrister. ' f THE CENTENARY OF CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION. There is a feeling in certain Catholic circles that one of the most practical ways of celebrating the centenary of Catholic Emancipation, which was passed by Parliament in 1829, would be the foundation of the Catholic Faculty of Theology, attached to one of the ancient national universities, for which Cardinal Bourne made so strong an appeal at the National Catholic Congress in Birmingham. The Cardinal estimated that £IOO,OOO would be required , to set up this centre of Catholic scholarship, and already ; the first I £IOOO has been given by V Birmingham ' Catholic. ' That the Faculty not only could be, but ought to be, provided in six years time is not beyond the efforts of J * ' the Catholic body of the kingdom. The Liverpool Catholics

are raising exactly this sum to bisild their new cathedral, in memory of the, late Archbishop Whiteside. And what the Catholics of Lancashire can do in twelve months, ought to be possible on the part of the Catholics of the entire nation in six years. : A better way-of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the passing of Catholic Emancipation could not be devised. The Catholic body of 1829 was a mere handful, and a despised one at that. During the century it has progressed beyond all bounds, and 1929 will in all probability see the Catholics more numerous than the practising Anglicans. In numbers the Catholics of to-day are far from being a mere handful. They outnumber any other single denomina-" tion except the Church of England people; and they are far too influential to be despised. CATHOLIC YOUNG MEN MEET IN AUSTRIA. The picturesque town of Innsbruck, capital of the Austrian Tyrol, has been the meeting place of delegates from all parts of the world to the International Congress of Catholic Young Men. It was the third of the series held since 1921, in which year the congress met in Rome. The second congress, which met in August of last year, chose The Hague as its meeting place. A very serious note characterised the whole of the deliberations of the congress. While all the Catholic men were not young in the strict sense, they brought to their deliberations an earnest spirit of endeavor to restore and save Christian civilisation by a return to the principles of Christ, giving voice in their speeches to the motto propounded by Pius XI. in his great Encyclical—the Peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ. The Spanish-speaking Catholics, who have strong natural affinities with Austria, were much in evidence. Delegates from Mexico down to Patagonia representing the Spanish in South America, though the Catholic young men of the Republic of Colombia had requested the delegation from Spain to act in their name. The Austrian Catholic societies showed themselves excellent hosts, and although the country is still struggling to emerge from the burdens of the war, they showed the greatest hospitality to their guests. There were many delegates from the new States of Central' Europe, while representatives from France, Belgium, Holland, Portugal, Italy, and Germany were present and supported the resolutions. CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF ST. DOMINIC IN IRELAND. The celebration of the Feast of St. Dominic in Ireland brought home to Irish Catholics the great work that was done by members of his splendid religious Order in saving Ireland for the Catholic Faith. - An impressive observance of the feast day was that held at St. Saviour’s Church on Dominick Street. On this occasion the illuminating story of St. Dominic and the radiant history of the Dominican Order were recalled vividly. The great St. Dominic, the founder of the Order of Preachers, was extolled eloquently, and the special significance of some of the fruits of his work as it affected Ireland were pointed out with grateful enthusiasm. St. Dominic’s Order has given to the Church Popes and bishops and martyrs and saints. Armed with the spirit of prayer and the splendid zeal of their founder, and armed also with the Rosary of the Mother of God, L its members spread the truths of Christ in many a land, and brought glory and honor to His name. The historic work accomplished by the spirit of St. Dominic and his Order for the Irish people formed a resplendent chapter in the story .of the Catholic Faith. The Rosary of Mary has had a glorious place in the love and piety of Irish Catholics, and has done wonders for them in many ways, and the Rosary was brought to Ireland by the, Dominican Friars. . ' • The people of Ireland do not forget the noble Order that has stood by their fathers in their hour of need and enlightened their minds, renewed their flagging energies and poured the balm of Christ’s consolation into their wounds. , v • On the occasion of the observance of the feast day this year, after the recitation of the Rosary, in; the evening r a ; great procession was held, and. Benediction of the ■ Blessed ' • Sacrament was given. " J : "