The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-11-17

For some time the light was seen to
shine from the grotto, and as the peas
ants saw it, they crossed themselves
and knelt in prayer. But a Christmas
morning came when the looked-for
light shone not. They climbed to the
grotto. The old priest was dead. They
buried him like gallant soldier fallen
in battle, on the spot where he had
fallen. But his memory lives to this
day, and Mgr. Falize heard the story
1 have briefly resumed told by the cap
tain Of the steamer in which he was
when passing the Grotto of st. Mich
ael.
When introducing their heresies into
Norway, the Lutherans came as wolves
in sleeps clothing. They made as few
changes as possible. Their parsons
called themselves parish priests; they
put on alb and chasuble for the chief
service and called it, as it is still called,
the Mass, Happily in baptizing they
have continued to administer the sac
rament validity. The worst thing the
Lutheran preachers have done is to fill
the minds Of their simple hearers with
absurd prejudices against Rome. In
some parts of Norway, besides believ-
ing that the Pope is Antichrist, the
people believe that there are no more
Popish priests in the world, and that
Roman Catholicism is as extinct as the
mammoth. But above all the Norwe-
gian loves honesty; so when he dis
covers that he has been misled about
the old faith, he is all the more ready
to listen to it's preachers.
Wherever there is Catholic chapel
Lutherans throng to it, especially dur
ing the long evenings of northern
winter. Nothing pleases them better
than to listen to u sermon of Catholic
missioner. But they like to have their
sermons long. An hour or more is not
too much for them. Conversions are
often the results. Father Timmers told
me that, in his parish of Frederickstad,
within the last twelve months he had
received some thirty adults into the
Church. Yet the place is seaport
with a population OF only some twelve
thousand souls. 1t has Il good church,
hospital and priests house.
Throughout Scandinavia the hospital
with it's nursing sisters is the best help
to the missioners. The hospital, open
to all classes and creeds, breaks down
many Lutheran prcjudices and Catho-
lie charity intlames the hearts Of many.
Nor are the hospitals burdensome.
Patients, who can, readily pay. And
in some places in Norway the Catholic
hospitals receive grants from the sur
plus profit on the sale of strong drinks
which, under the licensing laws, is de-
voted to works of public utility. The
hospitals are everywhere popular. A
splendid hospital of Our Lady OF Good
Hope, fitted with all modern appli-
anccs, lit by electricity, provided with
fine bath and operating rooms. Every
year kind-hearted Lutheran ladies Of
Christianin collect some five hundred
pounds for this hospital. AT Pors-
grund, the Sister Superior of the hos
pital died recently. The non-Catholic
doctors of the town insisted on being
pall-bearers at her funeral, during
which all the bells of the place were
tolled, while all it's authorities fol
lowed the humble Catholic nun to her
grave.
Norway is, in the best sense, Il thor
oughly democratic country. Knowing
the temper of it's people, the govern
ment seeks to secure to all equal rights.
1t has swept away one after another
the disabilities of Catholics. Three
years ago it modified the second nrti-
Gle Of the constitution by which "Jesu-
Its and religious orders are not .toler-
ated in Norway" 1t struck out the
words land religious ORDERS" by II
to 81 votes The fence against Jesu-
its will be broken down in it's turn.
The Storthing lately voted a bill by
which a person might impose on his
heir the obligation of cremating the
testator's corpse. The Vicar Apostolic
thereupon wrote letter to the presi-
dent of the Storthing pointing out that
to impose such measure on Catholic
heir, for instance, would be n violation
of freedom of conscience. The letter
was read in Parliament and the Stor-
thing reversed it's first vote. The bish-
op was thanked by several non-Cath-
Ollie newspapers for his action in this
matter.
The number Of Norwegian Catholics
is small, only some fifteen hundred in
a population of over two millions.
There are thirty priests, Of whom ten
are Norwegians; also some fifty nuns,
of whom twenty are natives. The cen
ter of Catholic life in Norway Is at
St. Olave's, Il church well situated in
"a commanding position in Christiania.
1t is served by three priests. Adjoin-
Ing 1t is the bishops house, print