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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.