The San Francisco call., 1908-08-16

NEW YORK, Aug. 15.-The feast of
the assumption is one of those days
that marks clearly the vast difference
between the worship paid by Catholics
to the blessed Virgin and the alteration
which they reserve for God alone.
They believe as an article of faith
that our blessed Lord ascended by ms
own power into heaven. But they have
also a pious tradition, universally ac-
cepted, that after her death the blessed
Virgin Mary was, by the power of her
divine son, assumed into heaven. She
could not, being a mere creature, raise
herself to heaven, but God, out of re-
spect for her sacred person and for
her wonderful privilege of being the
mother of his divine son, preserved
her body from all taint of corruption
while in the grave, and on the third
day of his almighty power assumed
her body and soul into heaven. 1t is
a beautiful tradition, and will very
probably be some day defined as an
article of Catholic faith, to be believed
by all Catholics. 1t shows in strlk-
ing manner the high value set by the
church upon purity of soul and BODY
and her horror of the opposite vice
of unrestrained qualification OF the
passions of the flesh.
BECOMES POWERFUL COURT
BY the new law of Plus X the sacred
Roman rota is raised from the state
of comparative inactivity to which IL
had sunk and is restored to mucn OF
its pristine glory as a most important
and powerful court for the settling of
cases of canon law. 1t is the court of
first instance for trying such cases.
Under the special law just promul-
gated it will consist of 10 prelates.
called auditors, elected by the Roman
pontiff. They must be of mature age.
having at least the degrees of doctor of
theology and canon law, and noted 1or
their probity. prudence and knowledge
of Jurisprudence. They are retired from
office at the age of 75.
Notaries too, shall be elected by
the rotal college by competitive exam
ination, their election to be confirmed
by the supreme pontiff.
The sacred rota administers the law
in two forms: either by benches OF
three auditors or before them all, un-
less the holy father decides otherwise
This tribunal has always been. &C
corded great authority in all countries.
Even the legislative acts of the popes
! for the general government OF the
| church have at times been based on
it's sentences and decisions, which, IN
| their turn, contain the faithful ex-
preston and Interpretation of eccles-
| iastical legislation throughout the
centuries. It's jurisdiction practically
| ceased in 1870.
The Sacred Rota has usually been
somewhat international in its mem
bership; and it is thought that this
| feature may even become more ndrkeO
! henceforward.
Cases appealed from the Sacred Rota
go before the Apostolic Segnatura fol-
| review and final disposal.
ENTHUSIASTIC PARIS MEETING
The Paris newspapers have been
greatly exercised by the unexpected
move of the present archbishop OF
Paris in appearing recently at a public
meeting in the Sale Wagram in thai
city. One paper states that he was
/ saluted by the frantic applause or ar
immense multitude. The amazed edi-
/ tor comments thusly: There were
5000 men present, piled on top OF eacf
other up to the cornice, and shout
! arose like the roar of the sea on the
sand, hurrah for Monseigneur! We
have often heard of the public mani.
festations in which Catholic Ameri-
cans assert their faith and which oul
! prudence, or respect, or timidity made
| impossible but the ice is broken, ano
| henceforward anywhere from Batig-
nolles to Menilmontant, from La
Ayl1
is a hall big enough, the Archbishop
of Paris can present himself, and, i
the young men who are his guard Of
honor do not protect him, the audience
will When down the narrow lane o,
crowding men, all on their feet, the
archbishop wended his way, in hi:
purple soutane, and ascended the
platform, it was like lifting the f1as
over the soldiers of an army H'
made the sign of the cross, and the
5000 men made it with him; not in {
hurried, shamefaced way, but in
large and challenging fashion tha
meant everything. 1t was the act o
faith of the 5000.
when the archbishop started to go
simultaneously Hurrah for the Pope
arose from the multitude and reverb
Grated like thunder through the hall
and then, without an order and with
ont a signal, 5000 voices intoned th
credo that ratified through tn
vaulted roof of the hall and startlet
the crowds outside who wanted t
listen to the great cry of a people as
serting its faith"
VALUE OF RELIGION
M. Harvard, in LIE Soleil (Paris)
takes the ground that the people o
France are so essentially Catholic tha
all efforts to secularize their school
must inevitably fail.
They would not be true to their deep
est instincts of civilization If the,
failed to recognize the educative valu
of religion as the only influence tha
can touch the heart. He maintain
that the schools of atheism are beinl
denounced by parents and guardians
, and that the new Independent churc
5 foundations and orders are everywher
( being encouraged to build school
: which shall take their place
: This is incontestably shown, h
thinks, by the fact that, since tn
q denuding of the schools of their re
!. ligious emblems, the French peopl
: have, out of their own pockets, con
!, tributed to the founding of 1900
I schools in which their children shall, a
l of old, be taught the truths of tn
= Catholic faith.
On the other hand, says NJ. Harvard
the atheistic school is practically de
serted. It has no influence, and
Stunned even by anti-clerical parent
: who have the welfare of their childre
at heart. It's failure is so apparen
that one is conscious of a reactio
, against its usefulness in the, column
of practical minded newspapers whic
are nv no means friendly to the chllrcl