Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 40, 21 October 1925, Page 55

Catholic World

%' EGYPTIANS MAKE SACRIFICES FOR CATHOLICISM. : Apropos of the pilgrimage which recently |j|visited Rome from Egypt, it is interesting '..:§to note the observations made by the Jesuit missionaries who are laboring in that famous region.' “The College of our Fathers in Cairo,* writes one of them, “dedicated to the Holy v; Family has for some time been admitting Coptic Catholic youths destined for the sacred priesthood. Afterward, if it is judged opportune, they are entrusted to the Oriental Seminary annexed to our University of Beyrouth in Syria. “The Sovereign Pontiff, Leo XIII, of saintly memory, desired to further the formation of the Coptic clergy, placing beneath his august patronage the seminary founded by him in 1899 at Tahtah, an important city of Upper Egypt in the Province of Ghirgheh, distant 200 kilometres from our residence at Minieh. . “As the Catholic ceremonies profoundly impress these Oriental peoples, our Fathers are extremely solicitous in preparing them well. The children are most carefully prepared for First Holy Communion. A Retreat of three days always precedes the great event. A procession to the church is a fea- . ture of the ceremonies which always creates a very favorable impression. The little ones carry a lily in their hands, symbolic of spotless innocence. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated ~' 7 3n the parish church by the Coptic Bishop, or in his stead by the Vicar-General. The Acts before and after Communion are recited by the children under the form of a dialogue with the Father who has prepared them. This method of reciting draws the attention of those who are present and furnishes them A with reflections that are at once instructive and edifying. Often the conclusion of the pagan parents is: I will be a Catholic with my little one. “Many sacrifices are mad© by these poor people for the Faith which becomes so dear to them on acquaintance. Many come over an hour’s , journey over the roads to receive Holy Communion. Thanks to the devotion, example and prayers of the little children, many of the elders obtain the grace of conversion.” PILGRIMS FROM AFRICA VISIT ROME. From all quarters of the globe pilgrimages pour into the Eternal City. Although the summer months are not ©specially. popular because of the heat and other inconveniences of travel conditions, numerous bands con- ; tinue to arrive daily, and to proceed to pay their homage to the Holy Father, Pope Pius ; . XI, either before or after fulfilling the conditions imposed for the Holy Year Indulgences, ■V Two of the most recent to arrive were pil/t*rim bands from Carthage and from Egypt. \ , Mgr. ■ Lemaitre, ' Archbishop of Carthage, I celebrated - Mass for his followers in the Chapel of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Bas- ' ilica of St. Peter, The pilgrims were divi- ■ ded into two-groups, -the men occupying the ,4 Gospel side, and the women the Epistle

side of the altar. Mgr. Tosan intoned the hymns in Latin, and afterward in the French and Italian, the languages known to most of the pilgrims. General Communion. followed. After the Mass the pilgrims were overjoyed to hear that the Holy Father would receive them at midday. Prayers for the first visit were recited in unison. In the afternoon, after the Papal audience, the pilgrims paid a memorable visit to the great Mssionary Exhibition. The pilgrimage from Egypt comprised for the most part citizens of Cairo and Alexandria. Some of them were representatives of the black races. Their visit to St. Peter’s Basilica was most picturesque as well as solemn. The Miserere was intoned in Arabic as they entered the Chapel of the Most Holy Sacrament. There, before the Sacred-, Host, the representatives of Northern Africa found themselves, as filled with piety and fervor as were their great ancestors, the fervent Christians of the first centuries, illustrious because of their martyrs. Through the Musselman invasion they have lost a great part of their faith and civilisation. Here, then,, was the remnant of them, in the greatest Basilica of all the world, united in faith and in prayer for the Roman Pontiff, the Church, and their own necessities. OOO'C'OOO

CRUSADE FOR REIGN OF CHRIST. A great crusade for the enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in families is being waged throughout Judea, Galilee, and Sam.aria. The homes are being placed under the royal protection of Jesus Christ, and the image of His Divine Heart has been accorded the place of honor therein, that it may preside over the fortunes" and destinies of the Christian inhabitants of Palestine. - In this campaign of filial devotion, the first place is held by the religious communities and Catholic associations, who are doing their utmost to increase devotion to the Divine Heart of the Redeemer among the people. Bethlehem and Jerusalem, cities so closely identified with the greatest events in the life of Christ, are foremost in this campaign. The ancient city of Joppe, celebrated in Sacred Scripture through the Prophet Jonah and the symbolic vision of St. Peter, during the last Good Friday suspended all business activities within its walls. An entire day was consecrated by the inhabitants to holy prayer. No sound of traffic resounded through its usually busy * streets, but all was perfect quiet and calm. Bethlehem, the Royal City of the Saviour’s Birth, was not behindhand in paying homage to the Redeemer - of the. World during the days of solemn commemoration of His Sacred Passion and Death. The principal function of the week took place in the Church of the Salesian Fathers. In the morning Solemn High Mass was sung by the Custodian of the Holy Land, Rev. Aurelius Marpetta. In the afternoon Mgr. Kean, Auxiliary Bishop, and Vicar-General of the Diocese, presided over the religious functions. • v- • ’ * •

An hour of public Adoration terminated the x exercises. A procession of the Most Blessed Sacrament was held. >. In Jerusalem Mgr. Barlassina celebrated in his church the Mass for the Confraternity of the Agonizing Hearts of Jesus and Mary. A choir of Brothers sang the music of the Mass very impressively. Solemn Benediction brought the function to a close.