13th Centenary of St. Columbanus Celebrated at Bobbio

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 15 November 1923, Page 23

13th Centenary of St. Columbanus Celebrated at Bobbio

.... Pope’s Glowing Tribute Ireland is quickly taking her place as a distinct entity ‘amongst the nations. . The fact was signalised in dramatic fashion by the presence of the Free State President, and the Free State Minister of Education, Professor •• Eoin Mac Neill, at the thirteenth centenary cedebration in honor of St. Columbanus in the town of Bobbio in Italy. The Pope was represented by his legate, Cardinal Ehrle, and amongst the Hierarchy present were the Arch- _ - bishops of Dublin and Tuam, and the Bishops of Conk and . -Down. / An enthusiastic reception was given to President Cosgrave and his party, to which the Marquis MacSwiney, on behalf of the President, eloquently replied in the Italian ./tongue. n response to undeniable calls, President. .Cosgrave also spoke, addressing the crowd in Gaelic, an event pro- ; bably without precedent on Italian soil. - In a letter to the Cardinal Legate, his Holiness the Pope, after pronouncing a remarkable eulogy on St. Columbanus, referred to Ireland as “the Home of excellent culture.” ;• ' •■/’ : ■ The Freeman's Journal’s own correspondent, cabling from Bobbio, Italy, on September 3, says: ; Cardinal Ehrle, Papal Legate, arriving here on Saturday evening for the celebration yesterday of the thirteenth centenary of St. Golumbanus, was received at the city gate by Irish and Italian bishops, civil authorities, pilgrims, ; , Irish 'students from Rome and Genoa and the seminarists and clergy of Bobbio. - ~ • c • ru On his way to the basilica of 'St: Columbanus the Cardinal was attended by a great procession led by bands :> and accompanied by mountain Carabinieri, and Fascist!. • lined "the route. Arriving at the door of the basilica, Eminence was received by the Bishop of Bobbio, who proi '' pounced a discourse of welcome in which he referred to the fourteenth century associations of Bobbio and Ireland. . A . tiny child then presented an address and bouquet, I and the .Papal Legate, acknowledging, spoke o£ the pleas- ; ure with which he had received the charge from his Holiness of taking part in the anniversary , celebrations of St. , Columbanus. ■ • , ’ vy - ' ■ ~ ' Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament was then V celebrated and a visit made to the Saint’s tomb, where, in the presence of the distinguished gathering of prelates and people, hymns in Irish-were, sung to St. Columbanus. A procession was then formed to the palace of the

Bishop of Bobbio, ■ and the day’s proceedings were wound up with illuminations in the city. " Irish Bishops. Describing Sunday’s celebrations of the Irish Saint’s centenary, the Press Association’s foreign correspondent states that among the participants were Cardinal Ehrle, the Papal Legate, and twelve archbishops and bishops, including the Archbishops of Dublin and Tuam, and the Bishops of Cork and Down and Connor. - Altogether there were 300 Irish pilgrims present. , ; President Cosgrave, Prof. Mac Neill, and . Marquis MacSwiney arrived in motor cars from Genoa and were ' welcomed with the playing of the Italian national anthem and loud cheers, while they were greeted by the Sub-Pre-fect on behalf of the Italian Government. Afterwards an imposing procession was formed to the Basilica of St. Columbanus, /where Cardinal Ehrle celebrated a Solemn Pontifical Mass and delivered a homily, in which he dwelt on Ireland’s old renown as the Island of Saints and extolled the virtue and zeal of St. Columbanus and other Hibernian saints. The Cardinal and the other distinguished persons then went down to the crypt, where veneration as paid to the remains of St. Columbanus and other saints. A great banquet at the episcopal palace followed. Gratitude'to Pope. The Bishop of Bobbio made a speech in Latin expressing the gratitude of the diocese to the Pope, who had sent Cardinal Ehrle as Legate. He eulogised Cardinal Ehrle, and then greeted the Irish delegates in warm terms. Next a number of letters of sympathy, and announcements of donations were made amid applause, especially when the Lord Mayor of DubliiTwas mentioned. - The Archbishop of Dublin next spoke. He emphasised ; Ireland’s spirit of attachment to the Holy, See. . / Cardinal Ehrle made a short speech giving thanks for his reception. He was followed by the Sub-Prefect, who paid a fresh tribute to the Irish Government and authorities. He thanked the Archbishop of Dublin for his courteous references to Italy; ’ Finally, Marquis MacSwiney, on behalf of President Cosgrave, conveyed the thanks of the Irish party for the enthusiastic welcome accorded it. He declared that in the hearts of all Irishmen the cult of their national glories, particularly of their religious glories, was to-day ; more ar- * dent than ever., He specially thanked the Sub-Prefect for the salutations conveyed to the Irish Government in the name of a State which had the luck to have for its chiefs Victor Emanuel 111., and Signor Mussolini. He concluded by calling for cheers for Italy, to which vigorous response was made. - . President Speaks. Meanwhile the crowd outside was keeping up vociferous and persistent clamor. A Yielding to this, Mr. Cosgrave ultimately made his appearance on the balcony and addressed the crowd in Gaelic, declaring that he begged St. Columbanus to bestow his benedictions on the. people of Bobbio, Italy and Ireland. The speech was hailed with renewed and enthusiastic acclamation. ;V V- : President Cosgrave bowed to the crowd to acknowledge its applause. s?/i »■ The crowd saluted him in old Roman" fashien, now revived by Fascista National Militia. • ■, . ■ ■ ’ A concert was given in the evening, after, which President Cosgrave and the other members of the Irish 'party - went back to Genoa. • ; - . : ' 3 The Freeman’s correspondent at Bobbio cables that/ President Cosgrave, Dr.Eoin Mac Neill, Marquis MacSwiney and party ,on their /arrival from Genoa w r ere - received - , at the .Bishop’s Palace /by the Papal Legate, - the Archbishops of Dublin, Jauam, and Fcrmo, the Bishops of Corte, Devon,.. Bobbio, Bergamo, Tivoli, and. Piacenza, the . Abbots .. Modena ; , and Genoa, r and. by / Abbot-General Olwitani, * Monsignor Bobbi, - Vicar-General Ryan, Protonotary Apostolic Cu,:Vice-Rector Irish College, Rome; Fathers Dunne and, O’Donnell, Dublin, representatives of the Irish Carmelite Fathers, Franciscans, Dominicans,- Augustinians, r - Vincentians, and Salesians; ‘and the laity included the Vice- ’ Prefect of Piacenza and the Mayor of Bobbio, who attended to greet the distinguished visitors on behalf of the civil •3 authorities. 3 / : r '- ii’-v 3 : ;

The pilgrims present included. Sir John and Lady ‘'O’Connell arid Mr. Curran, of Dublin. : - • - . Following the celebrations there were.scenes of great . 'enthusiasm, and the . city resounded to cries .of “Viva Irlanda!” ..“Viva Italia!” “Viva Papa!” At night there was •a great firework display. r __ ' t " POPE AND IRELAND. “Island of Saints and Home of Culture.” The letter from the Pope which was read by the Cardinal Legate, amongst other things, stated: “Coluriibanus is to be reckoned amongst those distinguished and exceptional men whom Divine Providence is wont to raise up in the most difficult periods of human history to restore causes almost lost. ' , “This illustrious son of Ireland worked within no narrow confines. As scholarship throws an increasing light upon the obscurity of the Middle Ages the more clearly is it manifest that the renaissance of all Christian science and culture in many parts of France, Germany, and Italy is due to the labors and zeal of Columbanus —a demonstration hath of the glory of the Church, and more particularly of Catholic Ireland. “Throughout these regions so many traces of pagan superstition were implanted in men’s manners, and the repeated invasions of the barbarians had so far succeeded in clouding their minds with error and brutalising their souls, that the institutions of Christian life lay almost prostrate, and the light of the arts which grace human society was almost extinguished. “Home of Excellent Culture.” “In those dark, murky days it is marvellous how Ireland shone in religion and civilisation, so that as it is justly called the Island of Saints it may no less justly be called the Home of excellent Culture.” “History tells how the deepest recesses of its valleys and woods echoed the prayer and toil of the hermits, and numerous settlements arose, which were so many schools of sanctity, and, for their age. so many seats of the highest •scholarship in every field of knowledge, so that eager youths came there in troops from all quarters to be taught literature and science.” Then followed a narrative of the life and labors of St. Columbanus, with reference to the foundation at Bobbin, ■“celebrated for its penitential spirit and its cultivation of the other Christian virtues, and for studies which made its fame in Northern Italy equal to that of Monte Cassino.” The letter concluded by conferring on the Bishop of Bobbio and his successors the title of honor of “Abbot of St. Columbanus.” Concluding Celebrations. The concluding religious celebrations in connection with the Centenary of St. Columbanus took place from midnight on Monday, when Masses were celebrated in the Crypt. The Mass for the delegates was said at the tomb in the presence of a great gathering, and at 9 a.m. on Tuesday Cardinal Ehrle held a reception of the Catholic Associations and Societies, and blessed their banners. . Pontifical Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop of Dublin at 10.30 a.m., when the attendance included the other Irish prelates and clergy. The music was by Perosi. Rev. Professor Chiarclla gave an eloquent discourse on Monday afternoon. After Pontifical Vespers there was a solemn imposing procession, in which the relics of St. Columbanus were carried through the streets of the city, thronged by Irish priests, students and pilgrims. On their return to the church the processionists were given an eloquent sermon, and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament followed. Then came the ceremony of the veneration of the Saint’s relics. At night a grand concert was given at the Piazza, the Cardinal, prelates and pilgrims assisting; and the celebrations were brought to a close with illuminations and a firework display, when scenes of the greatest enthusiasm took place throughout the city. - Dr. Cronin was present representing the National Universify. ' ■'•••'/I W v , There is no happiness in the world like that of a disposition made happy by the happiness of others. There is no joy to be compared to it. There is no sorrow that is not softened by it; for it is the balm of unselfishness.