Glory of Catholic Ireland

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 52, 30 December 1925, Page 25

Glory of Catholic Ireland

(By Mgr. Enrico Pucci, N.C.W.C. Correspondent.)

PONTIFF GIVES BLESSING TO IRISH ALL OVER THE WORLD.

In an exclusive interview President Cos- : grave of the Irish Free State, in Rome at the head of the Irish national pilgrimage, described his impressions of the reception tendered that pilgrimage'TTere. ■".;• "We were quite touched," the President said, "by the great benevolence so cordially ■expressed and shown us by the Holy Father. His Holiness could not have been more kind, more paternally affectionate to us. We had - expected that at the audience he would address us but we had anticipated only a few sentences of greeting and benediction; and '-'■.:. that would have been enough because we would have been content with a single word from the Holy Father. But instead the Pope deigned to make us a long discourse so full of affection and so generous in blessings that Ave were moved to the depths of our souls. We well know how busy the Holy Father is these days and for that reason we so greatly appreciated his action in devoting so much of his time to receiving the Irish pilgrimage." Given Private Audience. When the personal tribute paid Mr. Cosgrave by the Pope was recalled to the former he declared: . "The Holy Father has been too good to and I cannot do other than try my utmost , to merit what he had the kindness to say of ; me. But of that kindness I had another very eloquent example in the private audience granted me by his Holiness. Immediately before the pilgrimage was received Mrs. Cos- '-_ " grave and I had the privilege of kneeling at i the feet of the Holy Father, who spoke words of the greatest kindness for us, for the government, and for the Irish people. And here f -\ is something which will be very interesting to the Catholic newspapers in America. When I asked his Holiness for.his blessing for my v people and myself, the Holy Father replied: T . . " " 'Yes, we give all our most abundant blessings to you, your government, and your peo'c\-. pie. . .' and after a moment's reflection" he - added 'and to all the Irish race wherever it ." may be found throughout the world.' • "These words— beautiful and affection- • ateand truly worthy of a father, will greatly console all our brothers scattered over so t~-, many lands and across so many seas. - "In a word, the Irish could hardly have been more affectionate than they are alreiiy % . toward the Holy See. But if that affection ■ , could be increased this pilgrimage wiuld > have the effect of binding them still more | closely to the Holy Father." ;.„>* Beauty of Rome. |- The Irish President expressed his g»vat f admiration for the beauty and grandeur of :■ ..-; Rome. ._ r k "It has been a revelation to us. and we 7;.shall never forget it," he said. ;p "We knew that in Rome we should find rl _the Common Father," the President paid,

"but we were glad to find also so many brothers in all the persons who have overwhelmed us with kindness. In this connection I would like to say that my first visit to Rome was to the Christian Brothers, who have a flourishing centre here for their work. It was from them that I received my early education in Ireland and I always have the liveliest and most grateful memories of them. 1 was very glad to see that in Rome they are accorded as much esteem and veneration as in their own country." After expressing his good will toward the Catholic press and complimenting the Catholic papers, Mr. Cosgrave concluded the interview saying: .. --*- "The memory of this pilgrimage in this Holy Year of 1925 will never be forgotten in Ireland. We have come in considerable numbers but we would have come in still greater numbers bad the harvest prospered during the past two years and if the distress occasioned by the recent disturbed period of our national life had not increased the difficulties of our situation. But it has been, nevertheless, a solemn and consoling profession of faith, and I was extremely glad to find myself in the midst of my people while the Pope blessed them, recalling our past, praising our present and wishing us a still better future.' For this future, the blessing of the Vicar of Christ is certainly the most beautiful assurance." Pilgrimage Unique. The Irish national pilgrimage was unique among the pilgrimages which have come to Rome thus far during the present Holy Year, because of the number of bishops and pilgrims, because of the ' participation of all classes of the nation, and because of the presence of the head of the State as an humble pilgrim. In addition to the .usual Jubilee visits to the basilicas the Irish pilgrimage assisted at other interesting religious ceremonies. A Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by Bishop Hackett of Waterford in the Church of St. Isidore, the church of the Irish Franciscans, in commemoration of the third centenary of the foundation of that monastery by the noted Irish Franciscan, Father Luke Wadding. The complete text of the Pope's discourse to the Irish National pilgrimage, led by President Cosgrave, reads as follows: "You are not the first representatives of the Irish race nor the only ones whom we have received during this magnificent and blessed year. Many others of our cherished children have come already from dear Ireland which Ave always call the Island of Saints, the Emerald Isle, island as verdant as the standard of your pilgrimage, holy as the vast host of your saints. Many of these most beloved among our beloved children we have seen already, to the consolation of our heart; We may say, indeed, that Ireland is always near us. is always with us in a

representative of its own, the venerable Irish College which we- are so glad to have near ~. us, as were our predecessors who vied in demonstrating their benevolence toward your beloved college, this cherished representative of a people, of an island, of so dear a part of the great Catholic family. All know how- ,. dear this college is to us. It shall always be so and we shall be glad when able to do something for its greater prosperity in order that its numbers may become even greater, ever a more imposing representative of the dear sons of our Ireland. ; Happy to Greet President. "But a pilgrimage such as this, so imposing in its numbers and so remarkable on account of its composition, is worthy of special note K a pilgrimage amongst whose leaders Ave see the head of the State, His Excellency Mr. Cosgrave. We are happy to greet him here in the house of the Common Father —so worthy a representative and so worthy a ruler of a people so pious and Catholic. A devout Catholic- himself, he fittingly represents the faith and piety of his people and gives them an example, the more cogent and more beautiful because it comes from his high position. It is a pilgrimage conducted by so many bishops that it suggests, as it were, the happy illusion of a council; a pilgrimage in which we see such conspicuous representatives of the clergy of Ireland, both secular and regular, of those grown old in loyal service as well as those maturing under our eyes and near our heart in the beloved Irish College hope of the Church in Ireland and the whole Church, the desire of your people, your episcopate, and our own cherished hope." All Classes Represented. "A pilgrimage such as this in which we see in review before us representatives of all classes; this pilgrimage more than any other gives the impression that all Ireland has come to us, that all Ireland so fully and completely represented, is before us, near our heart. No words can "express the sentiments of joy which the sight inspires, since, beloved children, we cannot but think that you represent Ireland; the Island of Saints, according to its ancient glorious title, Ireland that may also be called the Island of Martyrs, the Island of Apostles, the Island of Missionaries. All this is, indeed) true—the list of your saints is so wonderfully rich, so numerous are the martyrs that adorn your martyrology, so many are the apostles whom you gave to Europe, including Italy which itself has sent apostles through all Europe, Italy, the home of the apostolic see. The labors, of St. Patrick in your dear Ireland were duplicated by St. Columbanus in Italy, St. Gall in Switzerland, and many others in ■ different regions and this in the darkest ages when to be apostles meant also being pioneers of civilisation for countries and peoples, guardians of the last flickers of i literature which the Barbarian invasion had i so nearly extinguished. And even to-day Ireland gives many missionaries to the Proi pagation of the Faith as demonstrated by a , visit to the Missionary Exhibition. ; l

Piety of Irish People. if "Your presence here to-day clearly expresses and calls to mind all these glorious re- \ ■ cords, these splendid pages of history past and present j and this is why our joy at your .visit is so deep, so tender, and so particu- * ;- * larly paternal. "We congratulate you, not only on these past glories of which you are so justly proud, ~.f~ but also on those which you yourselves have added to them, for we know from what we have heard and read, from what your bishops have told us, from a thousand different sources, what an ardent faith glows in your dear country and ( what deep piety, what sincere practices of Christian life sanctify your homes. We know how intense is your devotion in the churches to the Most Holy Sacrament and how frequent your reception of Holy Communion and how loyal your attachment to the Apostolic See, to our Holy - Mother the Church, how filial, deep, and characteristic is your attachment to the Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ, the successor or St. Peter. "Moreover your presence here manifests all this and in a most beautiful and most impressive manner, for we cannot help calling to mind the long journey undertaken with its inevitable pain, sacrifices, and inconveniences. You have faced all with serene and generous hearts and your behaviour, the filial devotion with which "you have responded to the invitation to come to Rome, bears eloquent testimony to the sentiments by which you are animated, as likewise does the lively, heartfelt, intense devotion which you have manifested in the visits to the basilicas. have thus contributed largely and effectively to that rivalry of fervor which the Catholic world has brought and still brings and shall continue to bring to Rome during this year of .benediction. ) Imparts His Blessing. "Therefore, most dearly beloved, we earnestly desire that your pilgrimage to Rome and your stay in the Holy City may be replete with consolation, grace, and heavenly favors so that the real meaning of the Holy Year . the year of sanctification—may be realised in each of your souls. "Let each and every one of you, then, coming here to the heart of the Holy Mother , • Church, to the home of the Common Father of Christendom, already so inspired with faith and piety and Catholic spirit, return to your dear island, to your cities and to your homes, still more holy, still more pious, still more fervent and devout so that the Divine Heart already so pleased with you may be still more pleased and may more richly bless you as we now bless you. "And so, beloved children, it is with all our heart we grant you the apostolic benediction, which you have come to seek from the | heart of your loving father, as the crowning »■' grace of your holy Jubilee. And as such we wish to grant it to you, as the crowning grace of sanctification and salvation for your souls. T .V "We wish to bless all near and dear to > you; your families, your homes, your relatives, your children, and particularly the

aged, the sick and infirm, left behind in their sufferings. You shall take them our blessing, telling them of our heartfelt sympathy and encouragement. Praises Priests, Bishops. "We feel sin earnest desire to bless these priests, splendid representatives of the regular and secular clergy. We know that in blessing each one of these good priests, we bless our great family of those who go to them to seek spiritual food, and all the holy works in which each of them exercises his priestly mission. But in a more special and in a more privileged way, as we are accustomed to say, we bless these seminarians, these beloved aspirants to the sanctuary, the priests of to-morrow, your hope 0 beloved children of Ireland, the hope of your episcopacy and of the whole Church. May this blessing aid them to respond ever more gene-

rously to the very special grace which already draws upon them the veneration of their people. "In a more particular manner we wish to bless the bishops here present to-day and with them the whole episcopate of, Ireland whom they worthily represent, because we feel that in blessing their sacred persons we bless their churches, their dioceses, their priests, and their people. "We wish, in fine, to bless all Ireland, 4 ' with its past as full of glory as of martyrdom, with its present so peaceful and happy, Ireland with its great future which cannot fail where faith" and piety— true fonts of Christian life —are such strong and lively evidences of the blessing of the God of nations and peoples. All Ireland, all dear beloved Ireland and its government, we wish to bless in blessing now its head and President here before us."