The Catholic World.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 31, 10 December 1897, Page 23

The Catholic World.

BELGIUM.— The Pontifical Zouaves.— Scattered through Belgium are numerous survivors of the Pontifical army that, under Lamoriciere, fought so bravely in defence of the rights of the Holy See. They have grouped themselves into various local associations, which meet periodically and thus keep alive the spirit otramartuh-ne which was so distinguishing a feature of the old Papal Zouaves. A federation embracing all the associations in the kingdom has been recently established, and the first general meeting, attendid by upwards of 200 of the old comrades in arms, was held some days ago at Brussels. Solemn High Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Riohel Claires by the cure, assisted by the clergy of the parish. In the choir was displayed the magnificent banner of the Brussels society, on which was to be seen a beautiful picture of St. Peter encircled with the inscription, " Pro Petri Sede." Immediately after the religious service the reunion came off in the hall of the St. Louis Patronage, when, after various ppeeches is was decided to form a mui-ual aid society for the old Pontifical Zouaves of the country. A banquet followed, at which the health of his Holiness Leo XIII. was enthusiastically drunk. On the same day the Dutch Zouaves met at Nimeguen to record their protest against the celebration of the breach of the Porta Pia. Headed by a band some 20 societies of Zouaves and Catholic young men marched through the town, their banners being borne by men wearing the Zouave Uniform. After having assisted at Mass they returned to the place of meeting, where several speeches were delivered. Congratulatory telegrams were received from the Pope, the Inter-Nuncio, and General Charette.

BRITISH COLUMBlA.— Consecration of CoadjutorBishop Of New Westminster.— Right Rev. A. Dentenville, N.M.1., was recently consecrated Coadjutor-Bishop of New Westminster, British Columbia, and after the consecration a unique reception was tendered to the Bishop. For years he has laboured most successfully among the Indians, and his name is dear to the Redman. Hundreds of Indians had assembled at his consecration and took occasion to express their esteem and love of their Blackgow n. They sang religious hymns in their native tongue and the Indian brass bands of the mission schools rendered the music. Addresees of congratulation were afterwards presented to Bishop Dontenville. The Mayor of New Westminster, on behalf of the citizens, extended the freedom of the city to all the visiting prelates.

ENGLAND.— Departure of Five Young Priests for South Africa-— On Saturday, October 2, five young priests, four of whom have only been just ordained, sailed from Southampton for Port Elizabeth to enter upon missionary work in the Eastern Vicariate of South Africa under the Most Rev. Dr. Mac Sherry. Their names are .- Rev. Stephen J. Browne, Rev. Thomas Cullinane, Rev. Win, J. M'Galhard, Rev. Patrick Bourke, and Rev. P. Moylan! Before leaving Ireland they pad a visit to Maynooth College, where they were hospitably entertained by the Rev. Dr. Macßory. It is consoling to rt fleet that the missionary zeal so characteristic of Ireland in the early a<?es of Christianity btill lives and burns in the hearts of our youthful Levites. Long may it continue. With such a spirit animating her students, a great College like Maynooth is sure to oveiflow in immeasurable benefits to the whole Engli&hspeaking portion of the Catholic world. We are sure that we^only voice the sentiments of our renders when we wish our latest missionaries a pleasant voyage, health, and strength to do much for God's glory in the Jar-off land wherein they have chosen to labour.

FRANCE.— The Conversion of England.— a most important ceremony took place at the Church of tot. Sulpice, Paris, on the 17th October, when the Archconfraternity of Pr.iyir lor the ConversioD of England was solemnly inaugurated. His Eminence Cardinal Vaughau and other representative dtholics from England were present. A very large contingent crossed the Channel for that occasion, and the day was a memorable one for Catholicism both in France and England.

The French Flag and the Sacred Heart.— The enemies of religion in France have made a discovery which they appear to think of much value to their cause, judging from the commotion they are raising over it. They have found the symbolical insignia of the Sacred Heart on a flag combined with the national colours. They maintain that such trifling with the national flag is seditious or worse, and they are moving the machinery of the law in the hope that buch levity on the part of Catholics will be solemnly declared a punishable offence. It was a little place in the Jura than the outcry was fu>t raised. In a procession the Cure had made use cf a tricoloured flag on which the ins-ignia of the Sacred Heart htd been worked. The sub-prefect, having much time on his hands and being anxious to hoist himself into general notice, caused legal proceedings to be taken against the priest. No judicial decision has yet been pronounced on the point of legality raised, but the publicity given to the incident hus put a new weapon into the hands of the Paris Freethinkers. They have discovered that there are several national flags " profaned by superstitious images" in common use at the Church of the Sacred Heart at Montmartre. The is one on each side of the high altar and another in one of the chapels. Moreover, on great occasions immense flags of the same design are hoisted from the top of the scaffolding, mid are thus displayed to the view ot all Paris. There is every likelihood that they will continue in use there, for unless it can be proved that they are '"seditious " it is hard to fee how the law can interfere. Now, so far from being seditious, they tend to f urthur the cause of the established Government. Thanks to the addition of the image of the Sacred Heart, the tricoloured flag has been admitted to places from which it was previously banished with the utmost vigilance on account of

its political associations. But there are still rigid legitimists who are scandalised at the combination of anything sacred with anything so unholy as the flag of the Republic and of the " roi bourgeois " Louis Philippe.

IT ALY—The Italian Government and Catholic Gatherings.—The Italian Premier, yielding to infidel pressure, has given instructions to the Prefects of the various provinces to deal with Catholic gatherings as they would with those of Anarchists or Socialists when they find that the former show opposition in any way to the existing institutions. The attention of the police authorities is also directed to meetings of a social nr political character held m churches or on church property. This ukase is looked upon by mauy as a mere sop to the anti-religious crowd, but in any case it could do no harm. The Catholic Congresses recently held have infused new life and vigour into Catholic ranks and dismay into the ranks of their opponents A. little tyrannical opposition is the very thing just now needed to consolidate the Catholic strength

ROME.— Hoist with their own Petard-— On Saturday October 2 (says the Rome correspondent of the Uni terse), the anticlerical party m Rome took it into their heads to organise a lay procession m rivalry, and possibly in mockery ,of the religious processions which latterly have been frequent. Had they foreseen the result they would probably have abstained from all demonstration, as their undertaking ended in utter failure The Catholics during the last couple of years have succeeded in organising their forces m the most admirable manner, and in spite of persecutions of various kinds on the part of 'the authorities they have succeeded in their purpose of asserting their right to the open manifestation of their religious sentiments. The anti-clerical section imagined that their parody of a procession would meet with the sympathy of the majority of the people in the part of the city where it was held But the fervent Catholics there openly showed their reprobation of the idea, and the general public joined them in hooting the irreligious demonstrationists. Were it not that the police afforded protection to these latter, it is certain that they would have fared badly. This should be the fate of this illiberal class of people in every country of Southern Euuope, and it is fairly obvious that good religious tendencies and general prosperity would be the practical gain pen^

Rumoured Dissolution of the Pope —it was announced in London in the first week of October— and the rumour caused no small sensation— that the Pope was so seriously ill that a fatal termination was apprehended. The Pope's physicians however, gaye an immediate denial to the report and asserted that though the Pope is very weak, the condition of his health considering his years is not at all abnormal. The weakness affects his hands especially. It is the result of an attack of ague over twenty-five years ago. The London Universe has an amusing story apropos of this weakness. It says that it is related of a certain Cardinal that he looked aghast when, receiving from his Holiuess some written instructions which he was to repeat to a foreign prelate at a distance. Smiling gently at his subordinate's evident denseness of comprehension, Leo Xlll. began to advise him as to the best route to take time of departure, deportment to be observed, etc. The Cardinal interrupting him, remarked bluntly : '• I can remember all that your Holiness but how can I possibly explain to a foreigner instructions that I can't read myself? Your secretary must be about the worst m existence. He writes like a spider in a fit!" Now couriery is one of the Pope's principal characteristics; therefore, instead of humiliating the Cardinal by telling him whose writing he had characterised, he took back the "paper looked at it closely, laughed, admitted that the objection was a just oue, and promised to have the instructions rewritten.

The General Elections in France.— The statement made in the Paris Press that the Vatican intended to take some action regarding the coming general elections in France gains credence i« ecclesiastical circles here. It is said that Cardinal Rampolla has sent two priests of a religious Order to visit the various bishops of France, and to explain to them personally the intentions of his Holiness in mapping out for the Catholics of France a definite line of policy. It is the duty of Catholics, his Holiness lays down to take an interest in the welfare of their country. It is their duty also to submit to the authority which they find legitimately constituted over them. Furthermore, the ecclesiastical authorities should labour to eradicate political strife between Catholics to work on constitutional grounds, and to leave the action of the Christian Democrats untrammelled. Advice of this kind is for the best interests of France from every point of view, and yet there are to be found French journals, such as the Petite liepuUique, insane enough to demand an application of old Gallican law. which decreed that Papal delegates before entering France must have the authorisation of the Government.

UNITED STATES -The Christian Brothers -The Christian Brothers have just secured tea acres of land a Bhort distance above the city of Hampton, Virginia, and will erect thereon an extensive educational establishment, to be known as Ammendale Institute. The establishment will have a double purpose, inasmuch as a portion of it will be used as a house of retirement lor veterans in the Order who are entitled to a respite from their labours. To this end a number of large buildings overlooking the waters of Hampton roads will be erected. The first work of course, will be upon the college structure, which, it is said, will be provided with every modern device necessary to insure the health and comfort of its pupils.