The Catholic World.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 30, 26 November 1897, Page 27

The Catholic World.

FRANCE.— The Alleged Visions at Tilly : Directions to a Bishop- — T ne Congregation of the Holy Office, having examined the documents forwarded by the Bishop of Bayeux regarding the visions which were reported to have taken place at Tilly-sur-Teulles, has published the following decree :—": — " The bishop must endeavour to avoid all that may seem a direct or even indirect approval of the visions or the pilgrimages, etc. He must further inform the faithful, through some Catholic newspaper, that it is for the ecclesiastical authority alone to give judgment in this matter, and that there is a vigorous obligation of conforming to that judgmentj udgment when it is pronounced. Meanwhile he is to prohibit clerics from entering into any investigation in the matter. \V ith regard to the withdrawal of the statue, he must decide in his prudence if that step is opportune, and at what moment it may be suitable to take it. — (Signed) L.M. Card. Pauocohi."

The " Te Deum " in the Churches.— Every Church has had its '• Te Deum " in thanksgiving for the Franco-Russian alliance Remote country places have not been behind the capital. But while the different churches of Paris have each celebrated the thanksgiving service after its own manner, the ceremonies ordered by the Cardinal-Archbishop took place at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Montmatre. This routed the ire of the Radical Press, and the curious spectacle was seen of prominent Radicals and Freethinkers, who dislike churches in general, taking up arms for the Cathedral of Notre Dame on the ground that the ceremony should have taken place there. At the same time they took the opportunity of calling the Basilica of Montmatre " the bazaar of the Fathers of the Assumption." The answer to this was that the so-called '' Bazaar of the Assumption," or, in other words, the magnificent Church of the National Vow, represents in a religious sense the whole French nation, and not a town or a parish. Accordingly the thanksgiving service was celebrated there with eclat. These religious manifestations have extended over a fortnight. The "Te Deum " ceremony at the parish church at Lourdes was the occasion of an interesting demonstration in memory of the Abbe Peyramall, cure of Lourdes, at the tima of Bernadette Soubirons. The procession, starting from the church and including the Mayor and Municipal Council, went to the tomb of the Abbe Peyramall in the crypt of the new church. There the "De Profundis " was sung and the people were called upon to contribute to the completion of the church in memory of their revered pastor. "We will ! We will ?" was heard on all sides. The Abbe Peyramall's memory is not only held in veneration by the people of Lourdes, but the man himself is looked upon as a saint. It may be remembered that he was Bernadette's protector at the beginning of her mission, when she was hardly believed in. and when the civil authorities threatened to harass her family. "They shall walk over my body," he said, "before they enter the Soubirons' house." He had said also : •' Little one, if you are deceiving us, you will never see the Blessed Virgin in Heaven." This was said half playfully and to test the child, for in reality he had believed in Bernadette from the first without waiting for the last wcrd of the celestial message, '• I am the Immaculate Conception."'

ITALY.— In the cause of Religious Freedom.— The anticlerical newspapers of Italy have one after the other published the information that, pressure having been brought to bear on the Marquis di Ttudini to prohibit all Catholic a.->semblies and processions on the ground that they tend only to ferment party spirit, the Premier i* at present considering the means of carrying out this project. The (Jatholic Prc*s, however, shows itself but little concerned with thc-c rumours. It is absuid to say that the exercise of religion is a paity display, and, besides, the Catholics have proved themselvts fo deu nnined of late in vindicating their right to the open display of their sentiments that no Government that did not positively court trouble -would now think of attempting coercive measures against them. In accordance with the present law the

priests are obli:ed to j;ive the police authorities notice of th^ir intention of holding a procession some time befoie the day fixei for it. To give evidence of their resolution and their spirit of union a large number of the parish priests have now decided to send in all their announcements at the beginning 1 of the year.

ROME.— The Promise of a Consistory.— Although nothing authoritative or certain has been given out, there is no great improbability in the revived rumour of the nearness of a Consistory It is Btated that the French Cardinals created in the spring of the year ■will receive the hat before its close, most probably in November. The new creations announced in the same way as the Consistory itself refer to a new Spanish Cardinal in succession to the late Cardinal Monescillo, and to two new French Cardinals, or at leatt to one. This creation would make a Cardinal resident in Curia, and in connection with it the same names are mentioned as on past occasions, those of Pere Ebchbach. the Superior of the French Seminary ; M. Captier, Superior-General e>f St. Sulpice ; and Mgr. Mourey, Auditor of the llota for France. It is also stated, and this time with particular likelihood, thut a new Cardinal will be made in the Roman Curia. The prelates nearest to this dignity and most mentioned in the connection are Mgr. Ciatca, 0.5.A.., Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda ; Mgr. Gennari, Assessor of the Holy Office ; and Mgr. Delia Volpe, Majordomo. Copt Visitors. — Amongst those who were recently granted the favour of an audience with the Pope were some nuns from the Copt Church in Egypt. The Mother Superior with her assistant and the Rev. Mothers* oc the difierent English and Egyptian communitjei were present. Thc'&e ze.ilous nuns have laboured very energetically in spreading the faith amongst the Copts. Two young girls have already joined their schools, and several others are preparing to follow. The Holy Father gave the nuns a most cordial welcome. Oa the same day, Ramsis Gress Bey, a noble Copt, was received in

audience. He told the Pope a painful story of the struggle the zealous missionaries have to make against want and penuary of every sort. The missionaries had themselves not complained and the true difficulties of their condition were consequently unknown to the Pope. On hearing of them for the first time, the Holy Father promised to take immediate steps to aid, as far as money advances are useful, the action of the priests who are spending their lives to recall the Coptu to union with their legitimate head, the Vicar of Christ,