The Irish standard., 1891-02-28

way seemed to be more neglected
whether this WAS the case on account 0
it's distance from the archieplscopa
see, or because the preaching of th
faith was received with less Welcom
among the fierce Norsemen, is Difficult
to say.
Norway was to receive the light O
Christian truth from another country
from England.
One of the heirs to the Norwegian
crown, Hakon Ethelstanfoster, while
being educated at the court of Ethels
tan, King Of England (925 94l), had
there embraced the Catholic faith; and
when he became King Of Norway ir
the wear 936, he attempted TO introduce
that faith among his countrvlnen, but
his attempts proved fraitless., Pagan
ism was deeply rooted there, and
Hakon, although man of great virtue
and beloved by friend and foe, did not
possess the ability and strength of char
acter necessary to contend with the
heathen opposition he met with.
! Hakon's SUCCESSORS were either luke
warm Christians CT thoTongh"goiDg
heathens, and nothing was done for
Christianity till Olaf Trygvason became
King in the wear 995. This King, at
one time Viking, had on one Of his ex
peditiOns in England embraced the
Catholic faith. AS ne was both sim
cere Catholic and a brave soldier. his
attempts to spread Christianity ia his
kingdom met with success, but is reign
was SO short--lasting only fTe years.
that he could not accomplish very much.
AT his death, In tne year 1000, he left
much TO be done, and as there was no
member of the house powerful enough
to claim the crown, the existence Of
Norway as an independent country was
Threatened, and it seemed as it 1t was
fated to become a province of Denmark.
However, things took a turn for the
better when in the YEAR 1O44 Olaf Har
aidson, or ST. Olaf, as he is generally
known In History, presented himself as
a claimant to the throne, Providence
had designed this holy King as the man
who was to save the independence of
Norway and establish the Catholic re-
ligion in that country.
St. Olaf had also been a Viking, and
had become Christian on one of his
expeditions. No sooner was he seated
On the throne than lie set himself with
all his power and energy TO organize
and spread the Church in his kingdom.
Finally he laid down his life for it and
died as d martyr for the faith on the
29th day OF July, 1882. a day which, as
long as Norway remained Catholic
country, was the greatest festival in the
year. 1t was to Norway what st. Pat
rick's day has been and is for Ireland,
the feast of their patron saint, and their
national feast as we'll.
Together with the Catholic religion
St. Olaf had labored SO manfullY to es
tablish in Norway. came, as has ever
been the case, the essentials Of that re-
llgion, law, order and organization.
Norway, up to the time OF st. Olaf, was
divided among several chieftalns, who
ruled over greater or smaller portions Of
the country and claimed for themselves
the title of king, and refused to ac
knowledge any superior, These chief
tains were subdued By st. Olaf, and the
country began its existence as one statn
under one organized and Independent:
government, and such 1t remained as
long as it was Catholic country.
When about 500 years later the ruin
of the Church was brought about by the
Protestants, the Independence of Nor"
way was also doomed.
The kings succeeding St. Olaf in
Norway being all Christians, not many
wears elapsed before the whole country
was Catholic. With the growth Of the
Catholic Church the prosperity and
thrift OF the country also went hand in
hand in every direction. and as long as
Norway was Catholic country it
welded greater political power than it
has ever since possessed. During this
period, which by some is called ''The
Dark Ages it produced what has been
termed the classical literature of Nor
way, which for the purity of it's diction
has ever been considered worthy to be
compared with the Greclan and Roman
classics.
The banishment Of the Catholic faith
from Norway brought with 1t the loss
Of national liberty as an independent
state aud reduced the intellectual and
social life Of the people to most de.
plorable condition. At the beginning
Of our century. however, the sweet rays
OF liberty again began to beam upon
the country, when tbs Norwegian peo-
pie, following the glorious example of
the United States Of America. declared
it's independence and became once more
q free country.
Fergns son---'sI saw you at the theatre
last evening. How did you like The