The Irish standard., 1886-09-25
CATHOLIC NEWS.
Ireland and Rome.

isf Ireland and Rome.
It seems singular thing, when on
4 comes to think of it, that with all it
wealth and variety Of churches, Rom
should not contain one bearing tn
name Of the Apostle of ireland for it
Patron SAINT. There is scarcely one
the other nations of Europe whose Pa
tron Saint Is not commemorated in th'
Eternal City by temple dedicated tt
his name and honor. Ireland, with he
glorious st. Patrick, is almost the soil
tary exception. When the 18th O.
March comes round in each year th'
Irish in Rome have to seek the friendl!
shelter of the Church of ST. Agatha o.
the Church Of St. Isidore for the cele
bration of the Feast Of their Natlona
Saint. 1t is not easy to conceive no"
this should have continued so long, but
nevertheless there is the solid fact star
ing us in the face, and to this hour St
Patrick has no shrine in Rome. And
assuredly this could not have been from
any lack of sympathy between Rome
and Ireland, nor from the absence OF
holy old traditions to bind them to-
gether in atfectionate union. Since the
golden link of love between them was
first blessed by Celestine in the person
of Patrick, it has never been sullied or
sheltered, and no power of man has
ever availed to break it. Her unbroken
line of Prelates has always testified for
! Gland her loyalty to the Roman Pom
llus, and her readiness to do service in
their behalf. And Rome has in turn
been always true to Ireland, and the
most illustrious of it's Popes have been
the truest aud most consistent friends
to this old Catholic land of ours. It is
not, therefore, any want ofmutual SYM
pathy that has caused the strange fact
of which we are writing. Nor is it that
Rome has no traditions Of Ireland
abiding in her sacred places. The no.
blest of the Irish exiles sleep their long
sleep on the slopes Of the Janiculum,
and close to the spot where the mar
tyrdom of st. Peter is so reverent]y
commemorated. The heart Of lreland's
beloved Liberator rests in one of its
most ancient and venerable churches,
and the great Luke Wadding is only
one of host of Irish ecclesiastics and
scholars whose remains are inferred in
Roman soil.
But yet, in Rome, that has SO many
OF Ireland, Ireland's National
Saint is without special temple to his
glory. But at last change is likely to
take place. Father Glynn, the ener-
getic and patriotic Prior of the Com
munlty Of the Augustinians in Rome,
has thought the happy thought of erect
ing there the church whose absence is
certainly so striking and so singular.
He has already made a giant stride in
Jhe direction af success. He communi-
Gated the idea to the Sovereign Pontiff,
Leo XIII, and his Holiness at once
sanctioned the project and gave it his
blessing. From out his slender re-
Sources u6 Has 1lOuVCO VIC AuO6AAA~
,ent sum of four thousand francs, and
;hus has set practical example which
s sure to be followed. TIE venerated
superior of the Irish College, the Most
Rev.. Archbishop Kirby, has, as might
,e expected from his brave, generous
IRISH heart, entered enthusiastically
nto the project, and given it his bless
ng and his gift. Father Glynn will
oon be in ireland to solicit assistance
or his undertaking, and we can promise
i'm that he will not have long to wait
efore receiving sutlient sum from
rish Catholics at home aid abroad for
be erection in Rome of a temple
7orthy of Ireland's National Saint and
+ the scattered children of his love and
rejection. Freeman's Jour-
al.