The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-08-08
JOSEPH BREIC-
End of War
And a Novena

t@ l WOnUeT now many VI uS LdVS IOlSOIICu THAI
World War II ended on the feast of the Assumption
of the Virgin Mary into Heaven.
In the western hemisphere, the date was Aug.
IA, 1945-the eve of the feast.
In japan. where the ceaSe-fire halted the strife,
the feast itself had dawned. 1t was Assumption Day.
Our prayers had been answered. The rosaries we
had recited. the Communions we had received, the
sacrifices we had made, had saved Chr1Stendom once
more, as so often in history.
Now VIZ are engaged in a worldwide novena.
led by Pope Plus XII, for a profounder peace.
The novena will close on another Assumption
Day, next Friday.
WE PRAY for much more than a ~Sheathing of
swords, which in our time take the form, as Pope
Plus said, of weapons of such lnhuman power that
they can "submerge in universal exterminatlon not
only the defeated but also the victors and the whole
community
We are asking God through Our Lady, for the
reunion of man kind in one family.
How can this be accomplished? Only by turn
ing to God as our Father; only by a return to His
house, like the Prodigal Son.
If we will put. away our prides and lusts, we
will find God waiting with open arms.
But we must not sit with the pigs praying only
with our mouths. We must rise up and 60 back to
our Fathers house.
Then we shall find ourselves stepping from
darkness into light, from hatred into love, from ugi-
AS POPE Plus, venerable with years and sacri-
flee, told us in his %encyclcal calling for this novena,
every intelligence not enlightened by the light. of
God separates itself little by little from the fullnesS
of truth. DiScords arise, increase and grow
The mind and heart disconnected from God are
like lamps when a storm has torn down the electric
lines. Where there should be illumination, there is
a blind cropping.
There cannot be true peace on earth, there cam
not be a happy human family, when the Church is
prosecuted, and when even many who think them
selves Christians whallow in pigsties OF evil reading,
entertainment and behavior.
"A state without religion" Pope Plus said, Can
not have moral recitude or order" So much for COM
muniSm.
MANY WRITE and spread their works wrote
the Holy Father, mot to serve truth and virtue, or
to give readers a true diversion, but to excite turbid
passions for the purpose of gain, or to offend and
soil with lies, calumnies and abuses all that is sacred,
noble and beautiful" So much for the literature,
drama and entertainment which leaves unclean the
hands of the western world.
We pray, therefore, for a vast pilgrimage OF
mankind to the atOnement needed to make OF our
planet what the poet Francis Thompson envisoned it
to be-a great censor, wreathed in clouds like in
cense, swinging in alteration and love before the
throne of God.
We address our nine days of special petition
to God through Mary because God made her our
Mother in making her Mother of our brother and
redeemer, Christ
BECAUSE CHRIST is our Savior, He is the way
to God. Because Mary is His Mother, she is the way
to Christ. God so willed it even in the Garden OF
Eden, when He promised a champion who would
come through the woman to crush the head of Satan.
We pray with trust and confidence. Never has
our Mother refused us. "We invite all the flock en-
trusted to us to place themselves confidently under
her protection wrote Pope Plus. g" 1t is certain
that at the end, the Church, like Christ our Redeem
er will have a peaceful victory over all enemies
We nouriSh the hope with certainty that she
(Our Lady, will not in any manner put aside the
UNIVERSAL prayers of Catholics"