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MAY 28, 1938
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
FIVE |
Bishop's Prayer for Foes Ended by Bullets
Reds Murdered Over Seven
Hundred Others at Bar-
bastro — Churches and
Tombs Profaned
BY MANUEL GHANA
(Spanish Correspondent, N. C. W. C.
News Service)
ZARAGOZA.—“Pardon my execu
tioners. May God forgive them as I
already have forgiven them.”
These were the words of the Most
Rev. Florentino Asensio Barroso, Tit
ular Bishop of Eurea di Epiro and
Apostolic Administrator of Barbastro,
addressed to his Red executioners be
fore he was shot on July 31, 1936, after
seven days of torture. (The date of
his death has been reported previous
ly as August 9). “My Lord, Jesus
Christ, true God and true Man,” the
Bishop had commenced to pray, but a
volley ended his prayer and his life
and his body dropped into the ditch
that had been prepared for it.
O « O
REDS SEIZED CITY
o-
-o
Barbastro, the noble and ancient city
of the Queen of Aragon, was the scene
of the very worst type of communist
impiousness. The
and the towers
churches still stan
ing—from the smallest shop to the
largest warehouse, as well as church
es and public buildings—had been
thoroughly sacked. All that remained
in the city were mountains of obscene
books and communist propaganda
which the Nationalist troops burned in
the streets after their capture of the
city.
On July 19, 1936, Colonel, now Gen
eral, Villalba entered the city at the
head of a group of workers belonging
to the C.» N. T. and the F. A. I. They
took possession of the barrack and
the munition stores, and thus armed
cowed the citizens into submission. A
platoon, accompanied by a howling
mob, rushed to the Bishop’s residence
and while the mob stoned the house,
the platoon arrested the prelate and.
pushing him forward with the butts of
their guns, amid insults and blas
phemies, took him to the convent of
the episcopalian Fathers which had
been converted into a prison. There
were 40 Escolapians already imprison
ed there and to this number were
added the Benedictines, the Mission
aries of the Sacred Heart of Mary, and
all the priests of the city. There were
several hundred in all. The guards
subjected them to pitiless insults and
torments.
CHURCHES SACKED
O O
Meanwhile the rest of the mob was
busy sacking the churches, particu
larly the Cathedral which, they
thought, would render a great return.
Truckloads of jeweled chalices, vest
ments, ornaments, and ancient tapes
tries of great value were taken to
Barcelona, and by July 26 all the
churches were completely despoiled,
but the famous joyero—the great
treasure that during centuries the
kings, princes and faithful had given
to the Cathedral as votive offerings—
was still missing. The fame of the
Barbastro treasure was such that the
Reds knew that it was well worth
finding and they searched not only the
Cathedral, but the entire city thinking
it might be concealed in some private
home.
When all other efforts were in vain,
they began excavating under the.walls
of the Cathedral. Day and night they
worked with picks and shovels, tear
ing down walls and tearing up floors.
Covetousness drove them on but when
they became weary with so much work
and no reward, the Communist mayor,
Jose Seco. ordered that the Rightists
be brought from the prisons and put
to work. They laBSred 16 hours daily
at the points of pistols. Eventually
they came upon an ancient necropolis
and were forced to profane its tombs.
Dust, ashes, bones—but nothing more.
The treasure was not found. Whether
it ever was found, or ever will be
found, is not known. Some say yes
and that it proved to be worth 80,-
000,000 pesos.
Spanish Leftist propaganda in the United States has suffered crush-,
ing blows from the simple, direct statements of former United States
diplomats possessing authentic, first-hand knowledge of European
affairs. Irwin Laughlin (upper left), United States Ambassador to
Spain from 1929 to 1933, told a Washington audience that atheism.
Communism and religious persecution were the real causes of the
Spanish civil war, and that the Nationalist uprising “was not a re
bellion against established government—good or bad—but an in
stinctive reaction of self-preservation of people who were bent on
restoring social order when they saw that the Government had
crumbled and was powerless to control tfie conflagration it had
lighted.” W. Cameron Forbes (upper right), former U. S. Ambassa
dor to Japan, who visited Spain with Ellery Sedgwick, Editor of the
Atlantic Monthly, compared General Franco to George Washington,
• and declared that Soviet Russia is behind the so-called Loyalists and
that Moscow's aim is to gain control first of Spain, then France and
then the United States. Former U. S. Ambassador to Germany and
a frequent visitor to Europe, James W. Gerard (center), said the
thinking people of France desire a victory for the Nationalist forces
in Spain. Former Ambassador to Spain Ogden H. Hammond (lower
left) said General Franco will re-establish law and order in Spain
and then permit the people to choose their own form of government, 1
Col. Campbell Turner (lower right), long in the U. S. diplomatic
service and for seven years a resident of the Iberian Peninsula, said:
“Assertions such as are flooding this country, that General Franco
will set up a Fascist regime in Spain, constitute a colossal propa
ganda fraud.”
DEATH A RELIEF
?
O-
Death must have been a relief to the
aged Bishop. There were days when
the prisoners were not even given
water. On the seventh day the guard
told the prelate scornfully: “Prepare
yourself tonight for we are going to
take you for a walk.”
That afternoon the wine-cellars and
taverns had been cleaned out. 'Wine
and other intoxicants ruled the city.
Meanwhile in the prison, the Bishop
and his priests were praying fervently,
preparing for their martyrdom. At
1 a. m., tlie Bishop said to his com
panions: “My sons, I am going to give
you my last blessing and then we shall
celebrate, as did Jesus with His Dis
ciples, our last supper.” Many began
to weep. “Do not weep,” he added.
“We must pardon our enemies. They
know not what they do.”
At 2 a. m., a squad entered the pris
on. Bishop Asensio took a last look
at his clergy then said t ohis execu
tioners: “Let us go.”
REIGN OF DEBAUCHERY
The streets of Barbastra were re
sounding with the cries of debauch
ery. A troop of lewd women had ar
rived from Barcelona. One notorious
character, known as “La Perusa”, was
waving her pistol and boasting of the
number of people she had killed. And
through this seething mob, the Bishop
was led to the cemetery. They made
him stand beside his yawning grave.
A disgusting and sacrilegious rite
was enacted after the body had fallen
into the grave. Before returning to
the city to resume their orgy of blood;
wine, voluptuousness and pillage, they
parodied a religious service for the
dead—chanting the Internationale in
imitation of liturgy.
On successive days, other prisoners
were killed in like fashion. Of all the
priests of the diocese, only five escap
ed with their lives. But on the walls
of Escolapian convent, used as their
prison, one may read the messages
that they left behind: “Let us forgive
our enemies.” “The blood of Chris
tians is the seed of martyrs,” and like
inscriptions which reflect the truly
Christian spirit that Bishop Asensio
had inspired in his priests.
BURIAL DENIED
R
More than 700 Rightists were execut
ed at Barbastro. One of the worst
torturers was known as “El Zapatil-
las.” He visited his hatred even upon
the bodies of his victims- They were
denied decent burial; their families
piled up in the same ditch and sprin
kled quick lime over the top. For this
reason he earned another nickname:
“Et Enterrador”—the undertaker.
When the last group was being taken
from the prison, four of them—one a
priest—refused to leave. “We prefer
to die here if we must,” they said,
“but we will not go.” They were Shot.
As in all the cities taken in the Na
tionalist advance, the churches of
Barbasto were found to be without
everything that is used in services:
not even a candle was left. Fortu
nately the reredos of the Cathedral,
which is very artistic, was not dis
turbed. But the tombs of the Bishops
of Barbastro were the objects of spec
ial vandalism. There is not one that
escaped destruction and profanation.
Jesuit Cardinal Is
Consecrated Bishop
Cardinal Boette Becomes
Archbishop of Genoa
and friends could not reclaim them _ _ ^
later for “El Zapatiilas” buried them and a representation front Genoa.
VATICAN CITY.—His Eminence
Pietro Cardinal Boetto, S. J., was sol
emnly consecrated Archbishop of
Genoa in the Church of St. Ignatius
in Rome April 23.
His Eminence Gennaro Cardinal
Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte, Dean
of the Sacred College, was the conse-
crator. The co-consecrators were
Archbishop Giovanni Battista Federi
co Vallega and Guiseppe Mignone,
both of whom were bom in Genoa.
Following the consecration His Holi
ness Pope Pius XI received Cardinal
Boetto in audience. The Holy Father
also received relatives of the Cardinal
DETAILS OF KILLING
OF MSGR. ASENSIO
ARE NOW REVEALED
.ENVOYS BELIE LEFTIST DOCTRINE
Victim of Bandits in China
Buried at Maryknoll, N.Y.
SISTER RITA REILLY
SILVER JUBILARIAN
Native Charlestonian 25
Years Columbia Ursuline
COLUMBIA, S. C.—The Ursulines of
Columbia, S. C., recently celebrated
the twenty-fifth anniversary of the
religious profession of their beloved
Sister Mary Rita Reilly. Sister Rita
tvas known before her entrance into
religion as Miss Kathleen Reilly of
Charleston, 3. C.
A Solemn High Mass was sung in
the Convent Chapel by a cousin of the
jubilarian,' the Very Rev. James T.
Reilly, S. M., pastor of Sacred Heart
Church, Atlanta. The Very Rev. Mar
tin Murphy, V. F., was deacon, and
the Rev. Thomas Mackin, subdeacon.
The Rev. Lawrence Sheedy served as
Master of Ceremonies. Present in the
Sanctuary were the Rev. Thomas
Weiland, O. P., and the Rev. Maurice
Daly.
Among the guests were four Sisters
of Our Lady of Mercy, three of whom
are co«sins of Sister Mary Rita: Sis
ters Agatha of Charleston, Sister Per-
petua of Charleston, and Sister Ursula
of Greenville. John Reilly, a brother,
and Miss Julia Prunty, an aunt of the
jubilarian also attended the celebra
tion. The Sisters of Saint Dominic
and the Sisters of Charity of SL Au
gustine, both new communities in Co
lumbia, were among the religious
guests on this occasion, which was
marked by a strictly religious charac
ter.
MSGR. QUINN DIES—
WAS MISSION LEADER
Failing Health Forced His
Retirement in 1936 at 49
(By N. C. W. C. News Service)
WHITE PLAINS, N. Y—The Rt.
Rev. Msgr. William Quinn, former
National Director of the Society for
the Propagation of the Faith in the
United States, died here late in April
at the age of 51.
Monsignor Quinn, who resigned in
1936 from the post which he occu
pied so eminently for 14 years, suf
fered a severe cardiac ailment on his
visit to Rome in May, 1936, Monsig
nor Quinn was forced to relinquish
his work in aid of the missions to
which he had devoted the greater
part of his priestly career.
Was born in Sedalia, Mo., August
17, 1885, he received his education at
St. Vincent’s College in Los Ange
les, Calif.', at St. Mary's, Perryville,
Perryville, Mo., and at Kendrick
Seminary, St. Louis. In 1917, he was
appointed Director General of the
Marquette League. In 1922, Monsig
nor Quinn was selected as National
Director. Upon the resignation of
Bishop Freri in 1924, Monsignor
Quinn was selected as National Di
rector. In April, 1932, Monsignor
Quinn was appointed Prothonotary
Apostolic in recognition of his ser
vice as Director of the Propagation of
the Faith in the United States.
MINISTERS HEAR
CHICAGO BISHOP
Adults Problem to Youth,
Msgr. Sheil Asserts
(By N. C. W. C. News Service)
CHICAGO.—The Most Rev. Ber
nard J. Sheil, Auxiliary Bishop of
Chicago, addressing more than 200
Protestant ministers, said that youth
of today is as fine as the youth of
any generation.
“It is not youth which is the prob
lem but we who are the problem to
youth,” said the Bishop, who has a
wide reputation in youth work. He
has directed the activities of 50,000
boys, underprivileged boys. At the
meeting the Protestant ministers
were given a sketch of how the job
was acocmplished. It started with a
boxing program, progressed into oth
er athletic programs, then into the
homes of participants, to hotels for
youth, to a school of aviation, schol
arships and sponsorship paroles. It
has been built into a program which
touches the lives of nearly 200,000
young people and their families, he
said.
Bishop Sheil outlined to the min
isters a new activity of the Catholic
Youth Organization, of which he is
founder—a nationwide flying club
sponsored jointly with other civic
and philanthropic groups.
NEW YORK’S State Board of Re
gents rejected the request of the
American Committee on National
Welfare to exhibit the film, “Birth of
a Baby.”
34-Year-Old Native of Pitts
burgh Martyr as Mis
sionary in Orient
(By N. C. W. C. News Service)
OSSINING, N. Y. — With cere
monies marked by simple beauty,
Maryknoll welcomed home the mor
tal remains of its “smiling boy priest,”
the Rev. Gerard A. Donovan, a native
of Pittsburgh, captured by bandits
in Manchukuo, October 5, and found
slain February 11.
After impressive ceremonies in San
Francisco similar to those accorded
Father Damien, the leper priest of
Molokai, Father Donovans’ body was
brought across the country by the
Rev. Joseph Connors, a Maryknoll
missioner in Korea. The remains ar
rived at Harmon Station Sunday
morning and were met by the Most
Rev. James E. Walsh, Superior Gener
al of Maryknoll, and a delegation of
Maryknoll priests. They were brought
to the Maryknoll Seminary, here,
where they were received by the en
tire community and conducted pro-
cessionally to the chapel. A low Mass
was celebrated immediately by the
Rev. Joseph Donovan, M. M., brother
of the slain pirest.
O Q,
MOTHER AT MASS
o a
Deeply impressive was the arrival
from Pittsburgh of Father Donovan’s
aged mother, Mrs. M. J. Donovan.
Small of build and dignified of bear
ing, she exemplified hardy fortitude,
as kneeling in the presence of her
dead son, while a second son celebrat
ed the Mass, she recalled a third son
laboring as a Maryknoll missioner in
South China. “I understand,” she re
marked quietly, “that if I am to be
honored with three priestly sons in
the mission field, I must be ready to
see one die a martyr.”
A Pontifical Mass of Requiem was
celebrated in the Maryknoll Chapel,
this morning by Bishop Walsh, assist
ed by the Rev. Frank Mullen, of
Pittston, Pa., and the Rev. John
O’Donnell, of New York City, both
companion Missioners of Father Don
ovan in Manchukuo. Immediately folr
lowing the ceremony Bishop Walsh
pronounced a forceful eiiogy.
Interment took place in the Mary
knoll Cemetery. Strikingly beautiful
was the procession of 500 priests, re
ligious and lay people which wended
its way along wooded paths to the
sequestered nook high above the
Hudson, where the mortal remains
are to rest in final repose.
The Rev. Gerard A. Donovan was
born in Pittsburgh, October 14, 1904,
He was educated in McKeesport
schools, and entered the Maryknoll
Preparatory College in 1917, and was
ordained to the priesthood in 1928.
After three years of professional work
he -was assigned for mission work in
Manchukuo in 1931. Father Donovan
was 33 years of age at the time of his
death.
Charlotte*s Junior j
C. D. of A. Meeting
(Special to The Bulletin)
CHARLOTTE, N. C.—The Charlotte
Court of the Junior Catholic Daugh
ters of America held its annual Mo
ther-Daughter Banquet in the private
dining-room of the S. & W Cafeteria,
May 7. First second and third honor
pins were awarded each. Junior sue- j
cessfully passing the respective tests.
Special guests of the Junior Court in
cluded the Rev. Maurice McDonnell,
O. D. S., chaplain, and pastor of 9t.
Peter's Church; Mrs. W. A. Jarrell,
grand regent of the senior court; and
a member of senior Catholic Daugh
ters, the mothers and friends of the
juniors.
Margaret Harriss, secretary-treasur
er, reported on activities during the
past twelve months. Mrs. Jarrell,
grand regent, presented the honor
pins. Jane Kidd, president of the Jun
ior Court, presented a gift "to Father
McDonnell, and Anne Zeman, junior
chairman, presented a special award
to Mary Pelone for outstanding loyal
ty to junior ideals. Miss Zeman also
presented an award, to Miss Kidd for
unselfish service and inspiration to
others as president of the junior court
There were short talks by Father
McDonnell, Medora Makiner, and
Teresa Scullion, counsellors, Miss Ze
man, Margaret Hartman, Gertrude
Buckley and Helen Ray, the last three
of whom spoke on “words.”
Those receiving Honor Pins includ
ed: First Pin: Madeline Crow, Cecilia
Calloway, Anne Marie Hummert, Bar
bara Libby, Madeline Moeller. Lucy
Vehue; Second Pin: Anne Beatty, ,
Armenna Benner, Mary Ann Edmis-
ton, Frances Foley, Jean Hartman, j
Blanche Lampke. Phyllis Mueller,
Harriette Ritch, Mary Williams, Jean .
Zeman; Third Pin: Gertrude Buckley, j
Clenna Fisher, Jean Fisher, Margaret !
Harriss, Margaret Hartman, Virginia ;
Jarrell, Jane Kidd, Maricarmel Mark- t
waiter. Mary Ellen Pennell, Helen Ray
and Barbara Schachner.
HAWAII'S Catholic schools save the
tax-payers the sum of $600,000, Bishop
Allencastre, vicar-apostolic to Hawaii,
states. There are nearly 8,000 pupils
in the Catholic schools there, ane-
tenth of tlie total in all schools.