EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19980, 4 July 1939, Page 2

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

HISTORICAL DETAILS WELLINGTON GATHERING FEBRUARY FIXTURE Wh.at are Eucharistic congresses? Where and how did they begin? From time to time, there are accounts of these enormous, assemblages of members of the Catholic Church in various parts- of the world, attracting hundreds of thousands of people from distant countries and invariably attended by many ecclesiastical dignitaries. Eucharistic congresses may be local, national or international. The one which is to be held in Wellington next February is called the National Eucharistic Congress, harmonising with the celebration, of the Now Zealand centennial, but it also will be international, in the .sense that it will attract important personages, notably a cardinal legate representing Pope Pius XII, and many people from overseas.

Tin- Eucharistic Congress, in essence a public affirmation, of honour by Catholics to the Sacred Host, will be, in fact, the most profound tribute paid by members of itihat church as their contribution towards l the National celebrations’. French Gill’s Endeavours Actually, Eucharistic congresses, as organised celebrations by multitudes of people, are of -comparatively recent origin, and it has been said -the history of their establishment is the life story of a French girl, Marie Tamisier. I Daughter of a wealthy family of Tours, Mile. Tamisier, while experiencing no call to join a religious congregation, was noted for her devotion to the central feature of her religion, the mass. She voluntarily submitted to poverty, and, noting the popularity of religious pilgrimages in France ■some 70 years ago, it occurred to -her that pilgrimages- in honour of the Sacred Ho.st would be at once an inspiration to the -people and an affirmation of faith. Extraordinarily enthusiastic, the young woman enlisted powerful support, including that of two cardinals, and -the first pilgrimage was held at Avignon- in 1873. Various pilgrimages followed at different places in France, until it was suggested that congresses with a more elaborate organisation should be conducted. Difficulties Eventually Overcome Marie Tamisier’;? endeavours, in Belgium and Holland as welL as France, wore not without difficulties, and it was not until 1881 that the first Eucharistic Congress was held at Lille. The assemblage was only 300(1 persons, but they represented nine nations. The express- purpose of the congress was to increase devotion in order to resist the active forces of irreligion of -the clay. Marie Tamisier died in 1010, but Eucharistic Congresses h?ve become world-wide events-. In her lifetime, the movement extended to congresses in Switzerland, Belgium, England, Palestine, -Germany, Italy and Canada. A congress in Montreal saw some 800,000 people present -at the final Benediction. Congresses have been held -through-out Europe—the last was in Budapest—in Africa, America, Australia and the Far East. Manila, in, the Philippine Islands, was the scene of the most recent congress in- the Pacific region. At the congress in Sydney in. 1928, there were assemblages of more than 1 UO.OOO people -at the various ceremonies, and no fewer than, half a million were present at the final Benediction. While New Zealand cannot hope to rival the attendances recorded in larger countries, there is no reason to expect comparable enthusiasm to toe lacking during the event in Wellington.