The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-09-13
Within the Arctic Circle in Norway are
Two Catholic Churches for
Divine Sacrifice
Barriers of Prejudice Have Been Removed
and. the People Take Kindly
to the Old Faith.

Few even of well-infcrmcd Catholics
are aware of the missionary activity of
the Church. An occasional magazine
article, the annual collection taken up
for the propagation of the faith. hr an
international incident like the recent
troubles in China. make us dimly con-
scious that one of the marks of Christ's
Church is her univcrsality, but so
many other interests claim our Htten-
tion that this consciousness passes
away until the collection comes round
again. or some soldier from the out
posts of Christendom. in the person OF
a missionary, bearded generally aud
grown gray in THE service of the Mas
ter, comes to ask for help for n strug-
Cling mission in some remote corner of
the world. writes Rev. w. ]. White,
u. D., in ST. Vincent's Visitor.
Yet it is literally true that "from the
there sacrifice" the Catholic priest is
found in the frozen regions of tho
North as we'll rs in che burning climes
OF The tropics. Norway is generally
considered q stronghold OF Protestant
ism. but there is a Catholic population
within it's borders small indeed In
numbers. and scattered from Christi
ana to Hamlncrfcst. but firm in faith
ana unswcrving in allegiance to the
successor OF the Fisherman A bishop
and twenty-tlrac priests have the spir
itual care Of this small flock, and no
where in the world is II more devoted
body Of priests to he found. Their
zeal is apostolic, for their untiring ef-
fort to keep the spark Of faith alive
in the flock committed to them, while
by prayer preaching and godly lives
they address themselves TO the other
sheep without the fOld-those whose
descendants were robbed of the faith
by the c,lpidty of their rulers. 1t is
true that little progress is yet mnde
along this line, but from time to time
notable conversions cheer the mission
Aries and spur them on to raw efforts.
Two years ago noted Protestant pas
tor OF Chrstiana, The author OF n book
OF theology, surprised his flock by re-
signing his pastorate to enter the Cath
Olic Church; whilst little later a
young Lutheran Of good family, who
had llis attention first called to Cath
oleism by the Corpus Christi process
sion in Christiana, was received into
the Church and is now in an ecclesi-
astical seminary preparing himself for
the priesthood. .......
Twenty-Five years ago Norway was
made Vicariate Apostolic. and Bishop
John Fallize was sent to take care OF
the vast territory that stretches from
Kristiansand to the North Cape.
Bishop Fallize has worked untiring-
ly; parishes have been multiplied, the
number of priests increased, hospitals
and schools have been erccteu and the
old spirit Of prejudice against the
Church, born mostly OF ignorance, has
In many parts died out.
In fact, Protestant Norway might
read lesson in liberation to some Of
the Catholic countries of Europe. The
Storthing, the Congress of Norway,
wished to pass law short time ago
ON cremation, which would conflict
with the conscience Of the Catholic
population. Two articles of THE law
had already been approved, when the
bishop, who was away on visitation
OF his diocese, heard of it and sent
protest to tire president Of the St0rth-
ing. 1'hc protest was respectfully con-
sidcred and the law modified to suit
the Catholic position.
When the bishop wished to build
church at Stavangel, ON the west coast
Of Norway, THE municipality aided him
to acquire property, opelrad n street to
give access to the church, and put an
army Of men at work to have it ready
in time for the dedication. Yet in all
the parish of Stavanger there are only
ten Catholics and these do not belong
TO the wealthy class.