The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1924. THE EASTERN CHURCHES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 15, 10 April 1924, Page 29

The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1924. THE EASTERN CHURCHES

HR reunion of the Western Churches, talked of all over the English-speaking world, is a consummation devoutly to he desired; but apart from the grace of Clod it is still a dream not likely to be translated into reality in the '' near future. ''While the question is ventilated in pulpit and in press until it has become so much a matter of common conversation that a man will ask your opinion of reunion as he will inquire what you think of the weather, there is current and ignorance, as widespread as this garrulity, concerning the more substantial prospects and the not less important bearings of reunion with the separated Churches of the East. But while the talk has been occupying the attention of the man-in-the-street, who does not know, in nine cases out of ten, of the existence of Oriental schiraatics, much is quietly being done for reunion with the latter. * Not only are there millions of Christian schismatics east of Rome, but for every sect to which they belong there is a corresponding Rite in union with the Pope. Many people are ignorant of the existence of these Oriental Uniate Churches, which are nevertheless in full communion with the Holy See while preserving jealously, and with Papal approbation, their, own traditional Liturgies which, far from opposing, Rome fosters and encourages. Popes have -always manifested a paternal zeal for the Uniate Churches. Within the last hundred years, Pius IX. founded a special congregation to deal with them. . Leo XIII. made frequent appeals to the separated sects and established in Rome conferences with the Uniates to study the best means of reunion. In his Constitution, Oridntalium Dignitas, he recorded his love and reverence for the Eastern rites and legislated explicitly for their preservation. He also founded many colleges, in , Italy and in the East, for the training of their clergy. Benedict, XV., -schooled in the spirit of Leo, , promoted ; prayers, for the Orthodox Catholics and established the Pontifical Oriental Institute, the-primary purpose of which is to train scholars to a full and sympathetic knowledge. of the state, of .religion among’;the Easterns, with a ; view - of .bringing them back ; to the Fold. The present Pope .pursues; the work - of ~ his predecessors with apostolic faith and charity. ■ It is surmised /that, when the Vatican Council is resumed the problem of reunion

with the East will be discussed, and it is to be hoped that • through ; prayer and study much will in the interval be done to banish the ignorance and misunderstanding / which m are .tho.chief causes of the ■; continuance of the schism/ The Oriental Institute aims at providing men who will be able to deal with Eastern affairs with understanding and sympathy; it strives to spread enlightenment, in the West and to afford authentic information to inquirers in the East. Begun in poverty, it is rich in hope and faith. Its courses embrace every religious question within its scone. There are

in all fourteen chairs which deal with such subjects as Comparative Apologetics and Dogma, the Liturgies and Canon Law of the East, its Patrology, Churcli History, Asceticism, Paleography, Archaeology, Languages, spoken and liturgical; and in time there will be added chairs for contemporary Judaism and Mahometanism, The Holy See supports the professors, the best-paid among them getting little more than half a crown a day.' On this meagre fund the Institute has to carry on its work, supporting its staff, providing books, and even furnishing aid to poor Russians ho knock at its doors. As only members of a religious Older could cope with such a task on such conditions, the Pope laid the burden on the shoulders of the Jesuits, asking them to pardon him for imposing on them an onus that was almost unbearable. As it was his 'to order, it was theirs to obey; and the work begun under such circumstances is now progressing with marked success. The Pope’s decree was issued in September, 1922, and classes were opened on November 16, the Feast of St. Josopliat. More than thirty priests from different countries have undertaken the courses, and a periodical, Orientnlia Christiana, appears every two months. Degrees in Sacred Oriental Science are conferred. Public Conferences, over which Cardinals are pleased to preside, , take place frequently. The Institute has found itself, and nothing but lack of further funds prevents wider and more far-reaching activities. When the means permit, more students will be welcomed, books, will be published, and new Professorships established. > •

Outside of the faithful Uniale Churches there are many millions of so-called Orthodox Christians, who have valid sacraments, adore Our Lord in the Eucharist, and manifest the livelist devotion to the Mother of God. They are thus much nearer to ns than the Christians who are members df the various Protestant Churches; and in the U mates, who preserve a similar liturgy, there is a link in the chain that reaches very close to them. For this great union, which Lyons and Florence aimed at without lasting results,- the.professors and students of the Oriental Institute are laboring cheerfully under great Hardships, inspired by the Pope who trusts that Providence will provide the means of success, and hopes that “Catholic charity which gave bread to the hungry Russian people will also give to the Church the bread of Oriental knowledge.” If Ave can help in no other way, we can at least help by our prayers that God may hasten the return to the Fold of all his sheep in the East as well as in the West.