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Thursday, March 10, 1949. Seventy-sixth Year.
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POPE DEFIES PERSECUTORS Romans, beloved. sons and daugh-
ters: grave and Once again, in a grievous hour, the faithful people of the Eternal City has hastened to its Bishop and Father. Once again this superb colonnade seems barely able to clasp with its gigantic arms the multitude that, like waves moved by an irresistible force, are washed up to the threshold of the Vatican Basilica to attend the Mass of Expiation, in the central point of the whole Catholic world, and to pour out the sentiments with whioh their souls overflow. The sentence imposed-amidst the unanimous condemnation of the civilised world-on the banks of the Danube on an eminent Holy Roman Cardinal of the Church has stirred on the banks of the Tiber a cry of indignation worthy of the city. But the fact that a regime adverse to religion has this time smitten a Prince of the Church venerated by the overwhelming majority of his people, is not an isolated case. It is one of the links of the long chain of persecutions which some dictatorial states are pursuing against Christian doctrine and life. A common characteristic of the persecutors of all times is that, not
CRUELTY EXCEEDS NERO'S 200,000 CHEER ST. PETER'S ADDRESS By Rev. Joseph J. Sullivan. (Radio, N:C.W.C. News Service). VATICAN CITY, Feb. 21.-Addressing 200,000 Catholics of Rome from the balcony of St. Peter's, His Holiness Pope Pius XII. drew a graphic picture of the weak, servile, accommodating attitude the totalitarian anti-religious state demands of a Church as the price of toleration, and was greeted by a thunderous "No !" from the crowds when he asked: "Is this perhaps the Church you love and venerate,?" All streets leaidng to St. Peter's Square were blocked, except for foot traffic, for two hours before the Pontiff spoke. Catholic Action groups had begun gathering for snore than an hour before an openair Mass, which was to be followed by the Holy Father's address and benediction. In addition to cries of "Long live the Pope," they carried banners proclaiming, "Christ will conquer" and "The gates of hell shall not prevail." The sun shone and it was warm and close when Archbishop Luigi Traglia, Vice -Regent of Rome, offered the Mass at 11.30 a.m. at an altar set up before the main entrance of St. Peter's. The arched entrance was framed in a beautiful maroon drape. on which was mounted a large gold cross, as a backdrop for the altar. His Holiness appeared at exactly 12 o'clock, after conclusion of the Mass, and acknowledged the great chee rs of the crowds for several minutes before he started to
speak.
requirements for efficacious care of souls? Can the Pope be silent wheel the point is reached of punishing with imprisonment a priest guilty of not being willing to violate the most inviolable and sacred of secrets, the secret of sacramental confession? Is all this perhaps an illegitimate interference with the political powers of the state? Who could honesty say so? (The crowd applauded at length.) Your acclamations have already given an answer to these and many other questions. May God, Our Lord, reward you for your Faith, beloved sons and daughters. May He give you the strength for present and future struggles. May He make you vigilant against the blows of His and your enemies. May He brighten with His light the mind of those whose eves are still closed to the truth. May He concede to the many hearts still far from Him, the gift of sincere return to that Faith and brother ly sentiments, whose denial threatens the peace of humanity. And now let our Apostolic Benediction, wide, paternal, and affectionate, descend upon the city and the world.
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viAth crushing their victims physically, they seek further to render them despicable and hateful to the fatherland and to society. Who does not remember the Roman Martyrs of whom Tacitus speaks, sacrificed under Nero and depicted as incendiaries, abominable evil doers, enemies of the human kind? (Ann. 15, 44), The modern persecutors show themselves docile pupils of that inglorious school. They copy, so to speak, their masters and models, and even surpass them in cruelty, skilful as they are in the art of employing the most recent advances of science and technique to the end of a domination and an enslavement of the people such as would have been inconceivable in past times. Romans, the Church of Christ follows the path marked out by the Divine Redeemer She knows herself eternal; she knows thst she esannot perish, that the most violent tempests will not avail to submerge her; she does not beg favours. The threats and the injuries of terrestrial powers do not intimidate her. She does not meddle in problems purely political and economic, nor does she deign to pass judgment upon the usefulness or the harm of one form of government or another. She gives to Caesar that which is rightly Caesar that which is rightfully Caesar's, but cannot betray or abandon that which is God's. Now it is well known what tne totalitarian and anti-religiodt state demands and expects of her as the price of its tolerance and problematical It recognition. would like a Church silent when it should speak, a Church that would dim the light of God, adapting it to the desires of human wills when she should loudly proclaim it and defend it; a Church that detaches herself from the firm foundation on which Christ has raised her to set herself down on the shifting sand of opinions of the day and abandon herself to the current (of opinion) of the moment; a Church that does not resist oppression of the conscience and does not watch over the legitimate rights and the just liberty of the people; a Church that, with indecorous servility, remains a Church only within the four walls of the temple, forgetting
Arrangements For St. Patrick's Day The St. Patrick's Day Committee had their last meeting on Sunday night to complete arrangements for what is hoped to be one of the best celebrations held so far in Perth in honour of St, Patrick. The artists engaged for the concert are pleased that His Majesty's Theatre has been obtained this year, as it is the most suitable in Perth for a concert of this kind. The programme is a completely Irish one which includes some of the best singers and stepdancers in the State. Bookings at Nichblsons; patrons are again advised to book early. Preparations are already being made on the Subiaco Oval for March 17th. The transport authorities have arranged to run special trains and buses to and from the Oval. Among the attractive features this year will be the St. Patrick's Day Invitation Handicap (100 yards), which will be run at 3 p.m. Ten of the leading sprinters in the State are competing. They are as follows:T. Meagher, L. Howard, W. De Gruchy, I. Wood, J. Keeling, G. Saturday marks the Tenth anniversary of the coronation of Ward, N. Dallimore, F. Fox, G. Eugenio Pacelli as Pope Pius XII., Vicar of Christ, Bishop Helyar, K. Deane. of Rome, Supre me Pontiff of the Universal Church, PatriA loudspeaking system will be installed on the grounds. All atharch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metroletes should be ready for the politan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of march past, led by the Clontarf the City of the Vatican, 258th. successor to St. Peter, Prince Boys' Band, at 2 p.m. sharp. Starting blocks may be used, but of the Apostles. making of starting holes is not permitted. The Public will enter at the received The Pope, by Divine promise, the faithful are persecuted and Roberts Road entrance, The Rethe Divine mandate ligious will enter gate under memthe is, in human even his weakness, arrested because they refuse to from Christ: Go ye into 9) and invincible and unshakeable, her- be separated from their true bers' stand. crossroad (Matth. 22, (The crowd teach the people (Matth 28, 19). ald of truth and justice, and the Mother Church? Beloved sons and daughters, principle of the unity of the again cried, No.") RADIO. voice Church. His denounces Can the Pope be silent when spiritual heirs of the innumerable errors, On the Feast of St. Patrick, superstitions, idolatries, the right of educating the very legions of Confessors and Mariniquity, makes char- children is taken from the parents Mr. Laurie Noonan, tenor, will be tyrs; is this perhaps the Church condemns heard in a recital of traditional by a minority regime, that wkould Irish songs over Station 6WF you love and venerate? (A great ity and virtue to be loved. Can he, then, be silent when like to separate them from from 9 15 to 9.30 p.m. Mr. Noonan shout from the crowd. "No.") Do you recognise, perhaps, in in a nation there are torn from Christ? will sing "Silent, 0 Moyle"; Can the Pope be silent when "Down by the Sally Gardens"; such a Church the lineaments of the centre of Christianity in the face of your Mother? (An- Rome, with violence and cunning, the state, exceeding the limits of "She Moved Through the Fair"; other shout from the crowd: the Churches which are united to its competence, arrogates to itself ".I Will Walk With My Love"; "No.") Can you imagine a suc- her, when there are imprisoned the power of suppressing dioceses, "The Little Lays of Gartan," and cessor to St. Peter who would all the Greek-Catholic bishops of deposing Bishops, of upsetting "Gartan Mother's Lullaby " Miss bow to such demands? (Another because they refused to apostate the ecclesiastic organisations and Phyllis Blott will play the accomtheir faith, when the clergy ;lad reducing it below the minimum paniments. shout of "No.")