The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-28
YEAR OF MOURNING
FOR CATHOLICS
End of Year 1911 Marks Close OF
Period of Sad
ness.
CHURCH CONTINUES TO GROW
Suffers More Prosecutions and
Hostility Than at Any
Previous Time.
BY HENRY yooD.
special Cable to The T,mes-Dlspatch.

Rome. January 27-The closG OF
1911 marked the ond of what was
designated by Pope Plus himself as
a year of mourning for the Catholic
church. 4 review OF the conditions
which the church had 70 face during
the past year in various European
countries indicates also that the year
was one Of mourning for the church
IN other respects than that which Pope
Plus had in mind when he SO desig-
mated II.
1t was carly in 1911 that Pope Plus
announced that tho church would ob-
servo the entire year as one of sad.
ness; thns no great function would
take place either at the Vatican or a,
st. Peters, and that In every way
possible the church and the Holy SEQ
would endeavor to make the world
realize the position to which the
church has been subjected by So
called spoiiation of Its temporal rights
oS the new Kingdom of Italy This
was decided upon because of the ccle-
oratons and eXpositions which italy
held last year in honor OF the 6fticth
anniversary OF it's national unity, anu
which, Of course, marked also the Az
tleth anniversary or the taking of
Rome and the Papal States from tho
Holy See io
On the other hand, had the condi-
tons of the year baen such that This
was the only reason why the HOLY So.
should have regarded the year as ono
OF mourning. 1t might we'll have re-
garded 1t in the end as a year OF re-
joiclnS instead Tho complete failure
OF the two centenary eXpositlons, the
utter failure OF any great crowds 10
come to Rome TO celebrate the ami
versary. and the distraction OF tho at
tention even OF the italian people from
the anniversary caused by the war.
might fully have justified the Vatican
IN processing to SEQ in such an out
come the righteous punishment or
| Italy for the wrongs which, the church
alleges, it has inflicted upon the Holy
See.
In spite of these adverse conditions
Tor Italy, however, Pope Plus, in his
| address before Che conslstory held on
November 81, again called the atten-
tion OF the cardinals of the sacred
College as we'll as tho entire world.
to the fact that the year had continued
to the last one Of mourning for tho
church.
During the year 1911 it was pointed
out that the church has suffered par
haps more p.rsGcut!ons and more
hostility In the various European
countries than during any previous
year Of its history. In France, for
instance, II was pointed out that the
work OF driving tina religious orders
Out OF the country progressed stead
~ mat the various religious houses
add congregations were forced 10
close; that the country churches wers
allowed TO fall into dtsrepair. and
that In every way possible Catholic
education was prevented.
In Portugal. the law of separation.
conceded 10 be one of the most drastic
measures that has been passed against
he church in centuries, continued IN
iui! operation. Under II al least three
biShops including tho Patriarch OF
Lisbon, were driven from their do
ceses. while other acts hostile TO tie
church continued without number.
In Spain there was Il slight lct-u,
in the opposition to Catholics, vet with
the exception OF the Eucharistic Con-
gress at Madrid at which the King
himself attended. thus showing his
loyalty to the Holy Sec. there was
nothing there TO cause the church to
rejoice.
In Russia also the church mot with
sne most bitter prosecutions II was
necessary TO notify the Gar that un-
less these prosecutions ceased the
HOLY See would sever It's diplomatic
relations with Russia, an act which
might result in an uprising OF many
" S''S NiSSpIileHleu Sath0llC nrOyinces
RMS was in q measure effective but
ieSs violent prosecutions continued
! throughout tha year, such as the Grim
mai prosecution of priests for admin
! istering the sacrament
Despite these conditions, il Is point-
cd out that the church has continued
10 grow steadily during the past year.
There was hardly o month that the
Pope did not have occasion to create
new procedures, vicarates and do
ceses. while the recent rehabilitation
or the sacred College served again to.
show the full strength OF the church.
AS consequence. II Is predicted in
Vatican circles that. having thus full
hiled his self-imposed task OF observ-
ing the year 1911 as one OF mourning,
Pore Plus will endeavor TO more than
compensate for II during the coming
year by full resumption OF the big
religious ceremonies at st. Peters and
the Vatican.
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