PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT

New Zealand Tablet, 15 May 1919, Page 35

PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT

, .?. .*, {Kl* i-riv. „ i ->j.y/: oil---' vpadvin: o'* Jxis-i&lb-i■ A great Spanish: Catholic noble has .passed away in the person of 7 the Duke of Santo Mauro, head of the household of i Queen d Victoria; Eugenie, who died in Madrid on February 21 of heart - failure. 1 He was, a great i patriot,: and x one who upheld with ; dignity and splendor the finest 7 , traditions of the grandees of his native land. A. Catholic of ardent faith, he leaves « behind him a vacancy in the life -of Spanish society, and the religious and charitable world,; which it will be difficult to fill. He was a great favorite with the young. Queen, and received many marks of royal- favor also from the King. , . Hbb 7 &3smpjM.?.a<‘C< Mi • ! The Sacred College has suffered another bereave--ment by the death of Cardinal Fonti, a distinguished Papal diplomat connected with South America. He was Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of ■Religions when an attack of influenza carried him off in his 76th year after the pious reception of the sacraments and a special blessing from the Holy Father; The body was removed to the Church of San Carlo al Corso, where Solemn Requiem Mass was sung with all the stately pomp attaching to the office for a deceased Cardinal. Fifteen Cardinals and the Corps Diplomatique accredited to the Holy See attended. The Mass was sung by Monsignor Palica, Vicegerent of Rome, and the music was rendered by the singers of the Papal Chapel. The seminarists of different nationalities, the various religious Orders and Congregations were all represented, and the absolutions 'were given by Cardinal Vannutelli, Dean of the Sacred College. - Afterwards the body was conveyed to the cemetery of Verano for interment in the mausoleum of the Vatican Chapter. Writing of the late Sir Wilfrid Laurier the London Catholic Times says; —“It would have been difficult for any man to do a more important work for Canada than that which was accomplished by Sir Wilfrid Laurier. With his great ability, and the influence it secured for- him in public life, he might have done much had he taken a less patriotic view of his duty, to accentuate the differences between the British and the French races. But the whole object of his work was to create as far as possible a homogeneous national feeling. He did not weld the British and the French together, but he kept before them ideals which they could alike admire, and in that way he did a great deal to banish dangerous dissension. His advocacy of the principles of Liberalism did not tend to win for him increased confidence amongst some of his co-religionists, but though cultivating independence in his general views, he was always faithful to the teaching of the Catholic Church, Highly gifted as a political leader and orator, he exercised a wonderful power over his followers and his audiences. In Ireland’s cause he took a keen interest at all times, and was firmly convinced that nothing would be of greater service to England than to grant her national rights to the-sister country.” The recent appointment of the Right Rev. Patrick J. Hayes, Bishop of the United States army and navy chaplains, to the important post of Archbishop of New York, brings universal joy to the clergy and laity of that immense diocese. To none, however, does it give a more lively sense of satisfaction than to the Christian Brothers >of - New York, < and in particular to the faculty of their highest institution of learning in that city, Manhattan College. For a, strange coincidence marks the elevation of Bishop " Hayes to the Archiepiscopal dignity, M inasmuch as three' episcopal graduates. of I Manhattan of C three / successive years have been - raised within a short space of 5 time to; the rank of Archbishop and now f rule over three lof the most important dioceses:*,>ih-v America. These are, besides Archbishop Hayes, the Most-Rev, Austin A. Dowling, Archbishop of '■ St. Paul, and the Most Rev. George W. Mundelein, Archbishop of Chicago. These three prelates received almost their .’entire, early training in the Brothers’ schools, and are to-day not only close comrades of < 7 college days, 5 but also staunch 17 - friends of the / ■ • ■ t. r. -nr . ■ u - -■ ivn ■ - ’ »- * «• * -

Brothers and loyal alumni of their old Alma Mater, Manhattan. . Archbishop Dowling graduated in the class- of * 1887, Archbishop , Hayes in 1888, and Archbishop Mundelein in 1889. 1 “* -* fl 4 , £ Delayed news from Rome informs us (says the Catholic Bulletin ■■ of St. Paul, U.S.A., ; of March 27) that last month there passed away Archbishop Grasselli, one, of the ablest(and most beloved prelates in a city where extraordinary men abound. ; Death was brought on through the- infirmities of ; age-.superinduced vby severe attacks of asthma. ; Of : herculean build, the • venerable patriarch, with Tong flowing white beard,; flashing-eye, and. highly intellectual features, impressed the observer with a sense .of majesty and of power, r The extended and varied career of the late prelate, his missionary labors, .diplomatic offices, manifold .accomplishments, and irrepressible geniality made him not only a; conspicuous figure in Roman life, but one of the most valuable acquisitions in ecclesiastical circles. 7 His familiarity with the Oriental languages and customs, as well as his sympathy with the peoples of the Par East, caused him to be chosen for the delicate position of Apostolic Delegate to Constantinople. The good that he wrought was manifested in the friendlier relations that soon arose between Rome and the Orient. The thorough optimism of the man never deserted him. Big and broad mentally, he could meet the most desperate problems with a smile, and conquer them by the very power of his personality. By the four last Pontiffs, including Benedict XV., he was revered as a man of unusual holiness and of , consummate ability. In his death the Church may be said, truly, to have suffered a most distinct loss. ,