Preaching Through the Press

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 14, 22 April 1925, Page 17

Preaching Through the Press

"; t J A priest complained a short while ago of the strong language used during a lecture at Barnet on Wyclif, the hero of Low Church Protestantism (says the London Catholic Times). The Vicar of Christ Church, Barnet, riposts in the lieu net Press with, a Tv cjuoque. For did not Pope Pius IX issue "one of his most shocking excommunications" against Victor Emmanuel 11, the-first King of United Italy read as follows.: "By the authority of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and of the holy Canons, and of the ' undefiled Virgin Mary, Mother and Nurse of Our Saviour, and of the celestial virgins (sic!), angels, archangels, thrones, dominions (sic powers, cherubim and seraphim, holy patriarchs, holy prophets, apostles, and evangelists, and of the holy innocents, martyrs, and holy confessors, virgins and saints, the elect of God, we excommunicate and we anathematise him, and from the threshold of the Holy Church of God Almighty we sequester him, that he may be tormented in eternal and excruciating sufferings. May Father, Son, and Holy Ghost curse him. May he be damned wherever he be, in the field, in the highway, and by the way, in wood or water or in church. 'May he be cursed living or dying, eating or drinking, fasting or thirsting, slumbering or sleeping, standing or sitting, in the brain, ■in faculties, from the brow of his head to the sole of his foot. In his breast, in his ; heart, in his body may he by the Son of the

Hving God with all the glory of His Majesty -||be cursed and damned. Amen, so let it be.” ■This is bad enough, but Mr. Roberts, Vicar ||of Christ Church, Barnet, tells ns he has p left out the worst parts How People Trip. Notice that Mr. Roberts definitely and || categorically states that Pius IX used the above form of excommunication and asks us to take his unsupported word for it. Why is no reference given to an authority for the statement P Only the careless, the uncultivated or the disingenuous act thus. Mr. | Roberts is further guilty of the serious fault | of stating categorically as true what he does A not know to be true. He definitely and | clearly says that Pius IX used the formula ■ I' of excommunication quoted above. He does J not know that he did. Plain men have a lip harsh name for such a way of acting. If if Pius IX had used a formula of excommuni- !| cation against Victor Emmanuel II he would, of course, have used the official forjf mula to be found in the official book, the ' \ i Pontificals Pomamum. As a matter of fact >: Victor Emmanuel II was included, though, i i not by name, in the excommunication de- | dared against all those who took part in the j| .taking of Rome. This declaration of ex||[communication was made in an Encyclical setter of the date Nover be r 1, 1870, which Twits sent to all the bishops of the Church, What has happened in Mr. Roberts’ case is probably this. He has come across this ■ ■quaint form of excommunication which re-

minds one of the Ingoldsby Legends. There are a number of such concoctions. Then he has argued thus: Pius IX excommunicated Victor Emmanuel II: here is a form of excommunication ; therefore it was this form of excommunication which Pius IX used. ( .The logic of this is appalling. Unfortunately it is fairly typical. No formula was necessary: if one were used it would have been the Roman official formula and not such a fantastic thing as that quoted by Mr. Roberts. <X> ' , . ...WEDDING BELLS LAYBURN—KELLY. A pretty wedding was recently solemnised in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Timaru, when Margaret,' younger daughter of Mr. Patrick Kelly, Jackson Street, Timaru, was United in the bonds of holy matrimony to Ernest Thomas, younger son of Mr, and Mrs. John Layburn, Harper Street, Timaru. The Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., officiated and celebrated the Nuptial Mass, during which beautiful choral music was played by Miss Eileen Dennehy. Gounod’s “Ave Maria” was devotionally sung by Mrs. T. W. Lynch. The bride, who was led to the altar by her father, looked very charming in a beautifully draped gown of cream satin cbarmante finished with an accordeon-pleated panel of georgette and touches of silver. A long train of silver tissue lined with pale pink georgette fell from the shoulders. A daintily embroidered tulle veil, touched with orange blossom, was worn, and she carried a shower bouquet of choice white flowers. The only bridesmaid (Miss Ailis Molloy) wore a dainty frock of lavender georgette with accordeonpanels and a tulle veil with silver leaves. She carried a bouquet of pale lavender flowers. Air. Thomas Banks, of Winton, attended as best man. The reception was held at the West worth, when there were present relatives of the bride and bridegroom, and the Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., who presided. Later in the day Air. and Airs. E. T. Layburn left by car . for the north, the latter wearing a smart fawn gaberdine costume and a becoming hat to match. IN —COTTER. A very pretty wedding was solemnised in St. Benedict’s Church, Auckland, on Wednesday, February 18, when Aliss Kathleen Cotter, eldest daughter of Mr. James Cotter, Rocklands Avenue, Alt. Eden, was married to Mr. James AlcKinstry, eldest son of Air. J. J. McKihstry and the late Mrs. McKin--Btry, Belfast, Ireland. The Very Rev. Dean Murphy officiated. The “0 Salntaris” was sung by Aliss McCarthy (a friend of the bride), and the Wedding Alarch was played by Air. Harry Hiscocks. The bride-looked charming in a dainty gown of ivory silk marocain with ostrich feather trimming arid a. beautiful tulle veil with a coronet of orange blossoms, and carried a shower bouquet. The chief bridesmaid, Miss Winnie Cotter (sister of the bride), was daintily attired in an almond green crepe-de-Chine frock with ochre colored lace trimming, a smart , black hat with floral trimming, - arid carried a beautiful bouquet of pink and white flow-

•r«. The second bridesmaid (Miss Jean AlcKinstry) wore a, maize crepe-de-Chine dress and a stylish black crinoline straw hat with ■roses and autumn leaves; she also carried a pretty bouquet of flowers. Mr. C. Shore was best man, and Mr. T. Cotter groomsman. After the wedding ceremony the bridal party and guests, numbering about 50, motored to the Domain, the wedding breakfast being partaken of in the Domain Tea Kiosk, and the customary toasts honored. Aliss Keary (aunt ,of the bride), who acted as hostess, received her guests. The bridal couple left Auckland by the Limited Express, en route to the AA 7 aitomo Caves arid then on to Wellington. The bride’s travelling dress was a smart cinnamon brown gaberdine dress with a biscuit colored panel and brown buttons and a small brown satin hat to match. Air. and Mrs. AlcKinstry were the recipients of many cheques and beautiful presents. The bridegroom’s presents to the bride were a handsome pair of pearl earrings and a beautiful handbag, and the bride’s present to the bridegroom was a silver inkstand. The chief bridesmaid (Miss Winnie Cotter) received a present of a vanity bag, and Aliss Jean AlcKinstry a gold armlet. In the evening a number of friends were entertained at Air. J. Cotter’s residence, where a pleasant evening was spent.