'The Gates of Sorrow '

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 15, 11 April 1907, Page 22

' The Gates of Sorrow '

The non-Catholic religious newspaper press in. New Zealand- has not., yet ,• so far as we are aware, .expressed much or any' sympathy with those who are fighting the battle of Christianity against aggressive N official atheism in' France. . But on the 01/ her hand-, no reputable journal among them has, so far as we know, joined in the paean of rejoicing with which a 1 Christian ' gutter-journal, in , Auckland recently greeted (rather prematurely) the . triumph .of the Christ-hunt-ers. -And that, we suppose, is one of the small mercies that one must be thankful for. An esteemed Protestant clergyman recently remarked, to us that the French Church is now;, in travail. ' And fear not;? he added; 'she will reach her joy. through the gates of sorrow;.' And so hope we. ."VWthout knowing or in-" tending it, Nero, Domitian, Marcus Aurel-ius, and the other 'grea/t. Roman persecutors worked out the Divine - Will. So/ under Providence, maY :the Pigmy Neros that 1 are dressed with a little , brief authority in France. ' Oftentimes - > * ' 'In" such wise God does the events dispose, That they .who ..itaost oppose do work His Will.' 'The, great and lasting' joy of the Church in France - 'may indeed be reached^,' through the gates of sorrow '; and 'those who most, oppose..', may, , after all, and _jwithout intending it, amply.,' work. His Will.'