The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-01-21

once in the wilderness of the Trans
vaal, for over two days. He told of
the success of the missionaries, espe-
cially since 1896. The outbreak of the
Zulu revolt seeming to have been also
the sign of their conversion
cATHoLlcITY AMONG THE SCAM
DINAvIANs.
Probably nothing is sadder in the
story of the so-called reformation than
the way in which the Norsemen of the
early sixteenth century, who had been
| such faithful Catholics and such good
missionaries in earlier days, had their
| faith stolen from them and forced
| from them by the combination of venal
lecclesiastics and the government -au-
thorities who saw an opportunity for
| the plumber of the Church and for the
reduction in prestige of the only force
| that had held governments in check
before. That story is just coming out
| now and some time it will prove a
great influence for good In the mean
time it is interesting to realize that
| the Scandinavian nations are coming
back to the Church. The reorganiza-
ton of the hierarchy in those regions
| and the gradual Introduction of mis-
sionaries in many parts of the country
are not only removing old prejudices,
but making people realize how much
was lost when the old Church came to
| be so blackened for political and per-
| sonal advances. In the December
Catholic World there is an article on
| 'The Catholic Revival in Denmark and
| Iceland" which shows very clearly
that as Professionalism dies Catholicity
gradually finds it's way in and has
come to be recognized as the Mother
Church of Christianity misunderstood,
illuminated, supposed many times to
be dying, but with more energy than
ever. Tt is a subject for consolation
now that the southern nations are
darkening their faith through some cf
the same political Vaccinations.
In 1860 there were only two Catholic
congregations in Denmark at Co.
penhagen, the other Fredericia-with
two churches and two chapels. Now
the capital alone has three parish
churches, four churches belonging to
religious orders, and thirteen other
churches and chapels. There are five
Catholic elementary schools in Copen-
hagen, four secondary schools and St..
Andrews College, with both classical
and commercial courses and with State
recognition. From the very beginning
it was recognized that education more
than anything else, true education,
would help to bring back the people of
the Scandinavian countries. Outside
of the capital progress has been almost
as satisfactory. There are some thirty
churches and chapels and about half
as many Catholic schools. There are
fifteen religious communities, eight for
men and seven for women in the coun-
try. The so-called reform movement
has died out at the top, for the edu-
Gated people have a very little of any
thing like religion in them and the
only serious-minded religious people
among the educated classes are Cath
olics. This is what is coming to be
true in all the Protestant countries of
| Europe.
What is thus happening in Denmark
| is occurring also in Iceland, and the
outlook there is most encouraging. Not
many years ago there was but one
Catholic resident in Iceland. Once a
year a priest sailed from Copenhagen
to bring her the ministrations of the
Church. She refused absolutely to
leave her country in spite of urging,
and so there was some Catholicity in
the country. Some years ago, how
ever, the Marist Fathers established a
mission in Iceland and this is now
| fourishing and above all promising.
Perhaps one of the most interesting
events in the history of recent Catho-
licity in Iceland has been the CONVEX
sion of the son of the eminent Ice
landic author, Owen Thorkelson. This
attracted much attention and served
to allay many prejudices. The most
curious false impressions had existed
among the people of Iceland One rea-
sonably well-educated women was so
sure that the Mass contained a lot of
curses against Protestants, that until
she had been shown missal and had
gone over it for herself she could not
be persuaded otherwise. After all,
many of our Protestant friends in this
country fifty years ago harbored just
such prejudices as this. DR.. Thorkel-
son pointed out that the devotion to
the Blessed Virgin was very great in
Iceland in the old days and no less
than $50 churches were dedicated to
her. 1t is said that a fine collection of
hymns in her honor in the old Ice
landic, which was at one time the i'm
portant literary language in Europe,
/ is shortly to be published. We can
count on Mary bringing back her own
to her and the missions in Iceland will
surely flourish.-Buffalo Union and
Times.
/ PRIEST MURDERED IN CHINA.