LETTER FROM THE CATHOLIC CLERGY OF ALSACE

New Zealand Tablet, 10 April 1919, Page 21

LETTER FROM THE CATHOLIC CLERGY OF ALSACE

The Catholic clergy of Alsace, acting as a united body, have addressed to the Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Amette, a letter which is addressed to his Eminence and to the. whole clergy of France. The letter, which was dated on St. Stephen’s Day, is as follows: “Your Eminence, —Permit the clergy of Alsace to express, through you, to the clergy of France, of which you are the worthy representative, their sentiments of admiration, recognition, and cordial fellowship. We should be ungrateful if we could forget the sacrifices they have had to make to pay the price of our ransom and deliverance. Your ranks are thinned, your parishes desolated, your works paralysed, and thousands of your people who have made the sacrifice for the Great Cause sleep the sleep of heroes. “At all times, and with good reason, the priests of France have ranked as the finest clergy in the world, but how greatly have they surpassed themselves and how great has been their sacrifice during the last four terrible years. We suspected, in spite of the confusing and contradictory reports brought us in the enemy newspapers, the immense and fruitful work performed by your priests in the trenches, at the front, at the base, in the hospitals, and in the parishes. “But now that we can verify the results of their apostolic zeal, for we have in our midst the splendid French troops, we are moved to tears. We do not exaggerate in saying that if to-day the flag of the deliverer floats over the Cathedral at Strasbourg, a great part of this triumph is due to the clergy of France. With the great leaders and valiant phalanx of officers the clergy have been the principal promoters of the splendid moral of your army. Honor and glory, and, above all, thanks ! “But this debt cannot be repaid by words. Wo are impatient to repay it by acts. We wish to act in union with you. For ten years you have supported the struggles which count among the most beautiful which the history of the Church has ever recorded. They form the most congenial theme of our conversation in our fraternal re-unions: and we assisted at home as moved spectators, as the early Christians enviously assisted the struggles of their brother martyrs. To-day Providence grants our desires. She shall be blessed. “Oh ! The great joy of being able to renew the relationship, which at the end of half a century has been greatly relaxed and threatened with complete termination. ' Open to us the ranks of the great priestly family of France and let us partake of your trials as well as of your joys. “A bloodshed, generous and superabundant has cemented the new union. That the peace of God may vouchsafe to render durable and fruitful to the honor of the Highest and the salvation of their souls.”— Catholic News Service.