Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 50, 17 December 1924, Page 55

Catholic World

VENGLISH LEGACY FOR THE POPE. piss Emily Hickey, the talented Catholic author and poetess who died in London a few weeks ago (says Catholic News Service, London, for October 27), has left in her will a bequest of £IOO for his Holiness the Pope. CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP FOR "V BELGRADE. is to have its first Catholic Archbishop in the person of the Franciscan friar, Father Romik, who has for some time exercised jurisdiction as Apostolic Administrator of the Serbian Banat. Provision for a- Catholic archbishopric of Belgarde was made in the Concordat of 1915, but the great war intervened and prevented the carrying out of the plan. The . new appointment is therefore the fulfilment of the arrangement made in 1915. Father Gnisowek, of the Lazarist Fathers, is to-be the new Bishop of Ueskiib, the AlI banian bishopric which dates its history back to the fourth century. CONVERSION OF HANS HERZL. I Hans Herzl, son of the founder of the Zionist Movement, was not baptised as a Catholic in Vienna last July. This report was circulated by the Jewish Telegraphic J Agency several weeks ago, and both secular I and Catholic journals all over Europe gave publicity to the item. I According to. the London Tablet, Mr. I Herzl has informed that journal that his reception into the Catholic Church took place in London and not in Vienna; it happened , oiKOctober 18, and not on July 20. There I is, no doubt that Mr. Herzl has ! become a Catholic. CATHOLIC INFLUENCE IN EDUCATION V The educational power and influence of I Catholics in London at all events, is not likePly to diminish. All the signs are entirely in the other direction. So declared- Cardinal Bourne, when addressing the Catholic So- - ciety of tho University of London. The Cardinal spoke strongly in favor of retaining the system of external degrees in I this university, a system which some reformI ers are trying to abolish. At present degrees ; of the university are granted to successful I students who pass the examinations, although I they r may not have studied at an affiliated college of the university. ' I This external degree system, which is pureI ly academic, and has no connection whatever I with religion, has been fully taken advanr tage of by,Catholics; and to-day some of the most learned and distinguished Catholics are graduates of London, having gone no as exj ternal students. jj Sir John Gilbert, who is the first Catholic ever.to be,elected chief executive of the ; ; Lotion County Council, showed that Cathode graduates : of London University are taking a prominent part in public life. Anions <j these may be found two Chairmen of the 4 London County Council, and a Sheriff of the P City. of London for the ensuing civic year.

SAINT TERESA CROWNED IN AVILA. Thousands of visitors from the countryside flocked into Avila this year for the festival of St. Teresa, when the solemn act of the coronation of tho Saint's statue was performed by the Bishop of Avila, assisted by the Archbishop of Valladolid and the Bishop of Segovia. The King and Queen of Spain were unable to be present at the ceremony, but their Majesties were represented by the Infanta Dona Isabel, who with the members of her suite were entertained at the Episcopal Palace. The crown of St. Teresa is a remarkable work of art, made by a famous goldsmith of Madrid. The cost was defrayed by a popular subscription. The function began with a Pontifical Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Valladolid. The panegyric of St. Teresa was preached by the Bishop of Segovia. While the crown was being placed on the statue a choir of a thousand voices, directed by Padre Irrarruizaga, sang a special hymn, composed in honor of the great reformer of the Carmelite Order. CATHOLIC BISHOP FOR CZECH ARMY. Mgr. Bomibera, who up to the present has been Chaplain-General of the Czecho-Slovak Army, "has been appointed by the Holy See to be the Army Bishop. The episcopal consecration took place a few days ago in the Emaus Church in Prague, when the Archbishop of Prague consecrated the new Bishop, assisted.by his two Auxiliaries. Among those who assisted at the imposing ceremony was his Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and 19 generals with some 200 officers. Tho consecration sermon was preached by the Nuncio, who spoke of the task of an Army Bishop, who must labor for the revival of the religious sentiment which is so necessary to avert the perils of military life, and impress upon the minds of the troops those virtues which go to make the character of the defenders of the fatherland. CZECH NATIONAL FESTIVAL. The national festival of St. Wenceslaus was very widely observed this year at Prague, and the observance has a special significance in view of the scheme for abolishing this festival. On the vigil of the feast there was a great torch-light procession from the Cathedral of St. Guy to the Hradcany Place, where t.be Archiepiscopal Chancellor spoke at the statue of St. Wenceslaus. On the day itself there were Pontifical Masses celebrated in the Old Slav Rite by the Metropolitan Canons, Mgr. Picha and Dr. Hanus. By a special privilege of one of the Popes the Canons of the Prague Chapter have the right to wear the mitre, and they have other .privileges of a quasi-episco-pal character. After mid-day there was a great pub'ic procession from the church of St. Ignatius

to the Hradcany, in which more than 15,000 persons took part. The relics of St. Wenceslaus were carried by priests, and after the reliquary followed the Archbishop of Prague with the Canons of his Chapter and clergy from all parts of the Republic. The day ended with a display of fireworks from the gardens of the Grand Seminaire in Prague. NOTES FROM ROME. In the strictest privacy the body of Pope Leo XIII. was conveyed from St. Peter’s to the Lateran, where it will repose until the festival of the Dedication, when the solemn funeral rites will take place. It was generally known that the translation would take place, but not the slightest indication was given as to the day and hour. Intelligent anticipation gave the end of October as the possible date. Shortly after dark the tomb was opened in the presence of the Cardinal Secretary of State and Cardinal Merry del Val, who is Archpriest of St. Peter’s, and the coffin was removed and placed in a motor car, and taken through the less frequented streets to the Lateran, where .it was received by the members of the Chapter, and escorted to the chapel where it will repose until the solemn funeral takes place. The opening of the juridical year of the Tribunal of the Rota was signalised by a solemn Mass of the Holy Ghost, which as celebrated by Mgr. Zampini, Sacristan to his Holiness. After the singing of the Veni Creator and the taking of the oath, the members of the illustrious Tribunal were received in audience by the Pope. Mgr, Massimi, the Pro-Dean, read a discourse in which he spoke of the difficult mission of the Tribunal, invoking the protection and aid of Our Lady of Good Counsel. His Holiness replied in a very eloquent discourse reminded his hearers that they who pass judgment will themselves also be judged. The approaching Holy Year, said his .Holiness, has special significance for the administration of justice, which is sanctity, just as sanctity is justice. After the audience the members of the Rota were received by Cardinal Gasparri, who offered them copies-of a new work on the sources of the Canon Law. The Holy Year will have a special interest for philatelists, for it has been decided to issue a series of special Holy Year stamps. The stamps will be of the value of 20, 30, 50 and 60 centimes, one and five lire; but they will be sold at a premium for from 50 to 100 per cent. The stamps will depict the four Major Basilicas, and the ceremonies of the opening and closing of the Holy Year at the Holy Portal .in St. Peter’s. The difference between the price of the face value of the stamps and the actual price charged is to go to the Holy Year Committee.