The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-03-02

ence of such barefaced spectators
and denounces them to the public for
what they are"
No Fasting in Belfast.-The gravity
of the food crisis in Ulster is evil
denced by the announcement in Bel
fast Catholic churches that owing to
general shortage of food items the use
of flesh meat will be permitted on
fast days. Serious representations
were made by -four and butter mer-
chants to the Belfast Food Committee
as to the peril of famine in those
items. Supplies of -four are running
low all over Ireland. 1t is estimated
that the Irish people are consuming
some 10000 sacks, the increase being
due to the high prices of other food
items. The butter situation in Ire
land having reached highly critical
stage, an order was at last issued by
the Food Ministry, prohibiting further
export.
Pope Makes Most of Vatican Funds.
A proof of the soundness of the Vat
lean finances is seen in the innumer-
able donations, which the Pope is gen.
erously making to countries, cities,
town and persons suffering from the
effects of the war and also in the fact
that in order to avoid unemployment,
he has continued to carry on the regu-
lar work in progress in the Vatican
and in other possessions of the Holy
See and has also started new under
| takngs, such as the new museum in
st. Peters. There is no foundation
| for the report that owing to the i'm
poverished treasury the Holy See is
| about to raise a world loan, says a
| Catholic Press correspondent. It's reg
ular income from invested funds and
from Peters Pence is, it is true, much
restricted, owing to the war, but sew
eral generous offerings, especially
| from American Catholics, as we'll as
economies effected by the Holy Father
have helped to supply the deficits.
Spanish Hierarchy speaks.-A most
striking collective declaration has just
been issued over the names of fifty
eight members of the Spanish HER
archy addressed to the Catholics OF
the country and dealing with the pc
litical and social duties of the hour
This historic document, drawn up il
grave and elevated style, supplies th'
most eloquent testimony as to the
critical character of the present situa
ton in Spain. Participating in thu
general preoccupation, the prelate
consider the, actual moments as o
the utmost gravity, critical and so
; emn; and they look upon it, therefore
: as a strict duty to recall "Catholi
teachings and standards of action il
i regard to some social and politica
i obligations, the loyal and sincere prat
: tice of which will powerfully contrib
I ute to the happy development an
successful outcome of the tremendou
crisis through which Spain is passin
at the present day."
- Clerical Astronomer.-Rev. Lu
Rodes, S. j., of the famous Sun o.
: servatory of the Ebro, at Roqueta
- in the diocese of Tortosa, Spain, wa
- a. visitor a few days ago at the q
Economical wookrooms of DR.. Br
= shear, of the Pittsburgh Observation
- where he watched, with great interes
= a six-foot slab of f1awless glass unde
= the delicate instruments of Garrett
= workmen, who kept six feet ava
from their work for fear the heat
even one human body might MULTI
y their effort. When the work for or
day was finished he and DR.. Brashet
discussed stellar things. Father Rode
attended a meeting of the staff of tt
! Allegheny Observatory that afternOO
: where he delivered a short talk on tt
sun explorations of his home obser
:, atorio, Del Ebro, which was CO
structed in 1904, especially for su
= study and to arrive at the laws whic
govern the relation between sun. spo
y and the magnetic phenomena of tt
y earth. These American Observ
- tories,' he declared, "are the best
the world. | have studied in ever
= continental city and never quite III
- derstood their envy of American a
Economical knowledge. I am now CO
= WINGED the Americans are withol
n peers"
War Losses.-The loss of the ChurC
= in cathedrals, church es, convent
y schools and institutions in general
- this war is tremendous.
is The Passion PIay.-Oberammerga
a where every ten years the famou
,r Passion Play takes place, is in a d
la plorable condition consequent upo
e the war. The next play should be
70 1920.
House of Mercy.-On December 1
: 1927, the first House of Mercy was e
tablished by Mother Catherine M
Auley, in Baggott street, Dubli
Since that time the work Of the ST
he tiers has spread to nearly every co
a ner of the universe.
al Clubs for Belgian Girls.-A nue.