Spanish Singer and Her Song

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 16, 6 May 1925, Page 19

Spanish Singer and Her Song

The following gem was cabled from Rome under date March 7 ; to the Dominion newspaper press and duly treated to the usual startling headlines: "The Spanish singer, Raquel Meller, has had a private audience with the Pope. She sang her famous song, "Pendant la Procession," which aroused so much opposition in Paris. She lias been reprimanded and threatened with excommunication by the Archbishop of Paris. The song tolls the story of a young girl who utters the most extreme blasphemies as she witnesses a religious procession. ; Later, through a priest's teaching she becomes a- most ; ardent convert. The Pope and cardinals ■ heard the song, and the former pronounced the Benediction on Senorite Meller, and gave her permission to continue the song." THE FACTS OE THE CASE. Under the heading 'An Advertising Canard" a. Home paper prints the following:—• "The Paris Comoeclia, a paper devoted to theatrical matters, lately published a report of an alleged incident at the Vatican, which has since been reproduced with variations

in. the press of many countries. Some df the London daily papers took it up. One of them published it with sensational headings—“ The Pope Sits in Judgment Singer Menaced with Excommunication,” and the like. It told how a lady, who has already appeared on the Loudon variety stage, and whose name was starred in Paris, was threatened by the .ecclesiastical ' authorities with excommunication for singing what they considered an irreligious song. She appealed to the Pope, was received in audience at the Vatican, sang her song, declared herself a good Catholic, and asked for -he Holy Father’s approbation and blessing. The story ended by telling; how. Pius XI. gave the blessing she asked for .and'told her there could be no reasonable objection to her performance. The Ossr.rvatore Romano, in its issue of March 8, declares that the whole story — improbable on the face of —is puraviente inventnfn ‘ a mere fiction ’ —and declares it as Una ifjnobile reclame —“a vulgar advertising stunt ’ —and protests against th's abuse of the venerated name of the- Holy Father.