The Irish standard., 1912-06-15
Victory Won by Constantine Over
Maxentius to be Commemo-
rated Next Year.
Anniversary of Historic Event
Expected to Attract Many
to Rome.
Monument to be Erected on Spot
Where Maxentius was Defeated
1900 Years Ago.

Mario Prince Chigi has announced
the program for the celebration of the
centenary festival of the proclama-
ton of the peace of the Church as fol-
lows:
The year 1913 brings the 10th cen
tenary of the granting of freedom and
peace to the Church. through the Off
cial recognition OF Christianity and
OF the essential rights of Christian
society, proclaimed by the Emperor
Constantine in the Edict Of Milan in
the spring of the year 313.
| This great fact, which followed
closely the glorious victory won by
Constantine over MaXentius under the
walls of Rome on the 2Sth October,
312, has a weight and meaning of
the highest import in history and
calls for Il special commemoration in
our own days. It changed the for
tunes of the world. and in it's CEN
tennial celebration all the nations
should rejoice, for to Christianity they
owe their highest glories. their chief
progress in material and moral well
fare. and generally their advance in
civilization. Catholic nations have
special reasons for JOY in this COM
memcration. and above all Italy,
which more than all the others felt
the bcneficent influence of the new
civilization in religion, manners and
customs, sciences. literature and the
fine arts. And among all the cities of
Italy, Rome has it's own peculiar
grounds for exultation. as this seat
of the Successors of st. Peter shone
with new glory, and shed the light
of its supremacy, of faith, of justice
and of charity over the whole civil
ized world.
Under the inspiration of these lofty
ideas and noble sentiments, two Ro-
man Associations--the Head Associa-
tion Of the Holy Cross and the So
cety for rendering Honour to the
movement to make a solemn COM
mcmoraton in the year 1913 of the
great event of the year 3l3, which in
its Importance reaches far beyond the
bounds of individual nations and be-
longs to the worlds history.
The chief lines Of the program,
which the Supreme Council appointed
by the Pope intends, with the aid OF
local committees, to carry out, are
the following:
/. The erection OF n sacred monu-
ment near the Milvian Bridge, where
The Emperor Constantine defeated
, Maxentius, which will serve as "a
memorial of glorious deeds to future
generations, and at the same time
minister to the spiritual needs Of the
population in that new quarter
2. The promotion in Italy and else
to God, and of special festivities, to-
gether with publications, learned as
well as popular, so that all may know
E the Importance of the great religious
and historical fact that is being COM
: memorated.
All Catholics, therefore, are invited
I to take part in this celebration
, through the constitution of local com
, mittees under the direction of their
own Bishops, and in touch with the
Supreme Council of Rome, SO that
everywhere there may be q common
commemoration of 80 great an event
in the manner best suited to each in
J., dividual place.
Al A remembrance Of this first triumph
g of the Church and of the liberty and
!, true peace brought by Jesus Christ tC
:. the world with the conquering sign
!, of the Cross, is all the more oppor-
t tune in the times in which we live
: that the powers of darkness are wag-
o ing fierce war on all sides against the
8 Christian Religion, with tendencies
@ and insinuations of return to pagan
ism.
: The Cross of Christ was the banner
: under which were proclaimed those
h principles that freed mankind from
e the shameful yoke Of idolatry ant
from the barbarism of slavery, taugh