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SIXTEEN THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA OCTOBER 26, 1940 “AMERICA’S DESTINY” An Address Delivered by the Rev. James A. Greeley, S.J., on a Columbus Day Program Broadcast Over Station WRDW, Augusta, by Patrick Walsh Council, Knights of Columbus Did you ever ask yourself the ques tion: "What are God's plane for me? What does God want me to do and to become? What is my vocation in life?’’ Almost everyone, at some time or other, gives thought to such plan ned disposition of his life; especially when one realizes that there is a Divine Providence guiding all hu man destiny. And what is true of individual man is true also of nations. Divine Prov idence has set down a special work for each nation to do, a destiny for it to fulfill, a vocation for it to fol low. Even the casual student of history can see the great nations of. the past, set within a niche carved by God’s vast outlines of destiny and duly realized by them. There is ancient Greece destined to be the great exemplifier of form; and from her, the orator learns his rules of rhetoric and eloquence, the poet his figures of speech, and the artist and architect his ideals of per fectly balanced structure. And there is ancient Rome, who possessed, it is true, her thinkers, poets, scientists and architects; yet her salient feature was not the ab stract mind, nor expression in perfect form, but power—power to rule, pow er to conquer, power to dominate and build. The Greeks thought out principles, the Romans applied them. There was again, a third race con temporaneous with Greece and Rome, which indeed Still survives and con tinues to work out its sublime and vital destiny. While Greece witnesses the evolution of the intellect under her guiding genius; while Rome mar shalled human forces into society, Jerusalem testified to the one true God and reminded man that beauty and power are, in their last analysis, spiritual and not material. While Greece shaped the intelligence and Rome trained the arm, Jerusalem pre pared the heart for the coming of the Truth. e ~ that when the Greek had forged tne Word and the Thought, and the Roman had drawn the whole world into a unified empire, a gentle little daughter of the House of David brought forth Him Who was the "Way, the Truth and the Life”. And the destiny of the three great peoples of the ancient world was marvel ously fulfilled. And this same disposition 'of nations applies to those which are still in existence. Some nations, we know, like individuals, may thwart the de- isgns of God in their regard, but others may offer even conscious co operation. If then, it is true that all nations have a Divine Mission we may well ask ourselves on this Columbus Day, when we commemorate the discovery of America, What is the Destiny of America? Picture to yourselves the ‘‘Divine Weaver” at His loom in high Heaven, bringing out of warp and woof the future of nations. He throws His shuttle to and fro; there is a great deal of rattling and apparently wild confusion; but the Divine design is unfolded in a tapestry of living his tory, glorious beyond all human fan cy. Into that tapestry is woven a name of singular significance—it is one of many formed with threads of gold—it is the name of Christopher Columbus. That name itself indi cates not only the vocation of the person who bore it, but, also sug gests the destiny of the nation which he discovered. "For the word “Columbus” is an other form of “columba” which means "a dove”. He, who was to bring back the olive branch of peace and hope, announcing the finding of dry land in a New World to the peoples of the crowded ark of Eu rope. bore that name not by chance but by design. And just as we forge a metal band about the foot of that carrier bird whose mission in life is to carry messages of hope and cheer, so, we are told “was with Columbus for this dove of peace, after his mis sion of discovery, had forged about his limbs metal chains on which were inscribed his identification, the word Columba, the dove. And has not our Nation itself, been unto the peoples of the world a harbinger of peace and hope, a dove that carried the olive branch to all the distressed peoples of the world? But when we look at the name “Christopher” we find a greater depth of.meaning. The great explorer knew and appreciated the meaning of_ that name so well that he wrote his auto biography, “Christo-ferens” the bear er of Christ, the better tob ring out the full import of the name. And is is not true, that our nation has been a bearer of Christ and Christianity from its very beginnings? Is a day, like the present, when nations have fallen back not only into paganism, but into barbarism as well, from our nation was sent forth messengers of peace and hope for. the world and reminders that their rejection of Christianity and their denial of God, would not only destroy brotherhood among men but destroy men him self. It is usually stated that America was discovered on October 12, 1492, when the little caravels of Colum bus weighed anchor at Guananhani. But this is only partly true. For America was not discovered in a day. Into that event went years of patient waiting, days of weary wanderings, nights of studious application, dis appointments, rebuffs, heartaches, all nobly enduced. And so also, jus as a Faith in God and in His Divine Son, Jesus Christ, marked the first dedication of our land, so also has the spirit of Christ, shown in self- sacrifice, in tribulations, in afflic tions and trials, in bloodshed and the supreme sacrifice of life, marked in delibly the Consecration of our Na tion. These are the real ramparts we have watched. The destiny of America, then, may well be signified by the name of Christopher Columbus, its discoverer. Yet so also may the work which Heaven intends her to do in the ful filment of that destiny be signified by the name ultimately given to our land—America. That word is another form of the name ‘Emeric" and “Emeric” means, mark it well, “Self-government, or LIBERTY”. The man who first sug gested the name, soon afterwards changed his mind and wanted to sub stitute another name; kings fought against giving that name to our coun try, yet no opposition was able to undo a work So mysteriously well done as that of naming the new world with a title that means sen- government and liberty. And how well has our country lived up to that destiny, which would make her of all the nations of the world the defender and the guardian of LIB ERTY. . . . L „ .. While we rejoice in the Dedication of our land by Columbus to Christ, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life; while we recall with reverent and grateful hearts that it has been Consecrated by the blood of those who lived and fought and died in the sacred name of self-government and liberty for all men; we must realize that it is our grave responsi bility to preserve that nation not only as the guardian and Defender of Liberty, but as the champion, against Atheistic nations, of the great God who has fashioned America s destiny, and the eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ, who has inspired our courage, sustained us in our adversi ties, and purchased for us a rational ground and a spiritual foundation for that doctrine which teaches the brotherhood of man and the father hood of God. And as we watch our spiritual ramparts, may we repeat tne prayerful motto from the shield 01 a great city of our nation: # , t “Sicut patribus. sit Deus nobis. May God be with us, as He was with our Fathers. NATIVE OF SYRIA DIES IN SAVANNAH SAVANNAH, Ga.— Charles Slava, a native of Syria, whose death took place September 28, was buried in Bonaventure Cemetery following funeral services at the Cathedral of St. John th Baptist. Mr. Slava is survived by his wife Mrs. Jennie Rahal Slava. Real Estate Insurance Loans Store Leasing ADAMS-CATES CO. Hurt Building Atlanta. Georgia J. P. O’HARA FIFTY YEARS WITH AUGUSTA HERALD Compliments THOMAS H. DANIEL ATLANTA J. P. O’HARA AUGUSTA, Ga.—When The Augusta Herald, which last month celebrated its “Golden Jubilee” began publica tion in 1890, Jeremiah P. O’Hara, as a "galley boy” worked to prepare the first issue of that newspaper for publication. After half a century, Mr. O’Hara is still connected with The Herald, the only member of the original staff that can claim a record of service that extends through fifty years. “Uncle Jerry”, as Mr. O’Hara is affectionately hailed by his associates, was complimented some time ago with a dinner at which the entire staff of The Herald, editorial, busi ness office, circulation and mechanical departments, gathered to pay him a tribute of esteem- For a number of years Mr. O’Hara was foreman of the composing room at The Herald, and for the last fifteen years has been setting headlines. Mr. O’Hara is treasurer of The Herald employes saving fund, and the adviser and friend of his fellow workers with whom his popularity is boundless. Since The Bulletin is printed at The Herald plant, Mr. O’Hara has also contributed toward preparing this paper for publication for many years- London ‘Times’ Pays Tribute to Jesuits BY GEORGE BARNARD (London Correspondent, N. C. W. C. News Service) LONDON.—Tribute to the Society of Jesus is paid in a Times leading article on the occasion of the So ciety’s 400th Anniversary. The Times remarks that the Society keeps its fourth century, as it kept its first and second, in the midst of European war. “Medieval Christendom made re peated attempts to reconcile the di verse ideals of the soldier and the monk,” it said. “One method was that of the armed monasticism of the Templar and Hospitaller Knights. Ignatius inverted that example by seeking to endow with the military virtues a body of men who should fight only with the sword of thv spirit.” The Times editorial goes on: “The Jesuits undergo a training of the se verest character, solely designed to make them proficient in wielding the arms required for their warfare—phV losophy, theology, and the special dialectic of the Society. “Absolute obedience to the orders of their Superior officers is the very essense of their discipline; and their readiness to shed their blood for their cause is attested by a long list of martyrs, which the tragedies of the present generation have shown to be by no means closed. “By the practice of these virtues they have made themselves the main army of the Church, and to them be longs the chief human credit for the survival of the Roman Church into the modern world.” “STREET PREACHING” SESSION TO FEATURE EVIDENCE CONFERENCE NEW YORK—The convention of the National Catholic Evidence Con ference, which is to be held here No vember 15-17, is expected to be the largest in the history of the confer ence. Delegates from Evidence Guilds in Oklahoma City, Washington, D. C., Chicago, Buffalo, Detroit, Philadel phia and Baltimore have signified their intention of participating in the three-day conference. One of the features will be a ses sion of “Street Preaching in Action’ at which representatives of the organ- tration from Cincinnati, Buffalo, Bal timore and Philadelphia will give demonstrations of technique used in their respective cities. The Catholic Evidence Guild of New York will be host to the confer ence, which is meeting in this city for the first time since the con ference was organized in 1832. THE MOST REV. Thomas Potha- camury. Bishop of the newly-erect ed Diocese of Guntur, is the six teenth native - bom head of a Dio cese in India, Burma and Ceylon. THE SOCIETY FOR THE -FOR HOME AND 'i DIOCESAN DIRS Rev Jambs J. Grady FOREIGN MISSIONS ’EAST HARRIS ST. Savaa/mam.Ga. Mission Intention for November “For the Sacred Congregation of the Propa gation of the Faith” immensity and variation of the inter ests of the Catholic Church that he is able to discern the absolute need for different departments devoted ex clusively to the studying and admin istration of the various phases of ac tivities. Upon investigation we find the close similarity between national and ecclesiastical government, the former deriving its administrative form from the true and tried methods of the latter which functioned de spite the rise and fall of temporal kings and rulers through the cen turies. Like the growth of a mighty Holy Mother the Church has added therefore, from time to time, new branches to the structure of Her fedi- fice for administration, and realiz ing the importance of Her expansion program. She begs the prayers of the Faithful during the month of No vember for the Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of the Faith. An Early but Undefined Need The work of this Sacred Congrega tion was begun actually in the first years of the Church since the propa gation of the Faith—the dissemination of Christ’s teachings—was the prim ary reason for Her existence. It mo tivated and financed, through the help of the laity, the travels and foundations of the Apostles them selves. It was this undesignated phase of Church administration which made possible the work of Boniface, of Augustine, of Patrick of Ansgar, of Cyril and Methodius. However, it was not until the on slaughts of the reformation and the expansions consequent upon the great era of exploration that the continen tal character of the Church’s activi ties became changed and enlarged. Vast and hitherto unknown peoples and nations loomed upon the horizon of the hardy explorers of that period. As a watchful Mother, ever eager for the spiritual and temporal care of Her children, the Church realized that with this expansion program, a new and specialized department must be erected to care for the needs of these districts. On June 22, 1622, af ter years of careful study and pre paration, the Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of the Faith began its functioning as it operates today. Mission Needs Special administrative plans and rules were naturally consequent upon the peculiar needs of the widened territory under the care of Christ’s Vicar. What applied to decisions concerning European Christianity differed widely from the plans and needs of peoples ignorant not only of the teachings, but of the very Name of Christ. After 16 centuries of existence the great tree of Catho lic administration bore new branches which, young and tender, required special sustenance and care. It is interesting to remember that it was not only far Cathy, the King dom of Nippon and the distant Indies which experienced the solicitious care of the Sacred Congregation of Propa ganda from the time of its creation until the present time. Newly dis covered America was the object of its untiring interest and concern. For almost 300 years our own United States was beset with the problem of territorial expansion and develop ment, prospered under the devoted and understanding care of this Con gregation. Even today while re moved from the status of mission ter ritory, large sections of the Americus continue under the jurisdiction of this most important department of the Catholic Church. As a matter of fact, the present Prefect of Propa ganda, His Eminence Pietro Cardinal Fumasoni-Biondi was Apostolic Dele gate to the United States from 1922 to 1933. Present Day Conditions As at the time of its foundation, the Sacred Congregation of the Propaga tion of the Faith embraces in its care all that concerns the spiritual and material well-being of the missions. It decrees the territorial limits of ec clesiastical divisions in countries where the Church is not yet on a self- sustaining basis. It appoints, sub ject to Papal approval, the bishops and prefects for these divisions. It grants permissions and exemptions, examines conditions in the missions, studies and approves the constitutions of religious congregations dedicated to the apostolate, considers the vari ous acts in the processes of those saintly individuals whose names are proposed for the lists of martyrology. By a providential coincidence The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, which functions under the Sacred Congregation, was founded exactly two centuries after the latter was established. Now it is this Society which begs the prayers of the faithful in behalf of the Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of the Faith. Rt. REV. MONSIGNOR THOMAS j. McDonnell, National Director, The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. A HEARTENING THOUGHT With scarcely any promise of fu ture alleviation the Church faced persecution for the first three cen turies of Her existence. She was forced to burrow into the ground to bury Her dead in the catacombs and even to worship there among Her slain. Her first saints, like Her lat est heroes, were her martyrs. Yet it requires the same deep convic tion and devoted spirit to live for Christ as it does to die for Him. Courage is the virtue needed today. We know that the Church has always possessed it, for Her sons and daugh ters have proved it in every age by what is called the best tests. But are the rest of us proving the same thing by the similar test of loyal, zealous lives? We shall be strange companions to the' martyrs of heaven, if we are ashamed to live the cause for which they were not ashamed to die. The Field Afar—October. A MARTYR’S CENTENARY It is interesting to learn that, de spite the troubled conditions in China, a solemn High Mass was cele brated on September 11, last, in the Cathedral of Peking, China, to mark the JOOth anniversary of the death of the Vincentian Martyr, Gabriel Per- boyre. This was the missionary who, daring to defy the law or proscription against all Christians, entered the Flowery Kingdom and taught the doc trines of Christ. He was captured by the Chinese authorities, and the words “Sie kiao ho tchoun,” meaning “propagator of a false religion”, branded on his face with red hot irons. After four long months of im- mprisonment and terrific torture he was finally strangled to death on September 11, 1940. The twilight of the gods has come to many parts of China today but the followers of the religion which Blessed Perboyre taught have in creased to approximately 3,000,000 during the past century. Let us hope that his benign influence will con tinue in that vast country until all are united in the great dictrine of charity he taught. AMERICANS IN FINLAND During a recent visit made by the Rev. Adrian Deelan to the office of The Society for the Propagation of the Faithful it was learned that there are four American Sisters of the Precious Blood from O’Fallon. Mo., in Helsinki, Finland, and that they stayed right in the capital despite the air raids and invasions. Their resi dence was bombed and they have lost everything, except their mighty de termination to remain with the peo ple they came to instruct and win once more to Catholicism. Father Deelan, who has worked for many years among the Finns, hails from Holland as do all the misisona- ries in Finland, except the four Am ericans. “All the eastern portion of the country, which has been taken over by Russia is now closed to mis sionary endeavor,” he stated, “and, therefore, we must try to open new centers in the western sections. As may be imagined this is no easy task, particularly under present circum stances. The help which Holland was always so willing to extend is com pletely stopped, but our Bishop, Msgr. Cobben, says there must be no lessening of our zeal for souls. Let us hope America, who has already given four of her daughters to Fin land, will come to our aid at this time.” COUUON—THE LEPER COLONY A letter just reoeived from Rev. F. X. Rello, S. J„ chaplain of the Culion Leper colony, contains some interesting facts concerning this lit tle known leper colony in the Philip pines. “This is the largest and poor est of leper colonies,” he writes. "Our people are now living on something like fifteen cents a day per person and this sum includes food, clothing, medicine and housing—everything. This is a land where a score of dia lects are spoken. There are some 7,- 000 inmates now housed on Culion Island, some of whom are Americans, stricken with the most dreaded dis ease—leprosy.” DID YOU KNOW THAT. . . Three hundred years ago the Em press Dowager and Crown Prince of China were Roman Catholics? Unfor tunately, Prince Constantine, son of the Emperor Yung-Li, last of the Ming dynasty, was murdered: and the Church lost one of its most ardent defenders. IF YOU WERE UNPREPARED LAST SUNDAY TO MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION FOR MISSION SUNDAY, THE OFFERING MAY BE SENT THIS WEEK TO YOUR DIO CESAN DIRECTOR OF THE SO CIETY FOR THE PROROGATION OF THE FAITH WHOSE NAM* AND ADDRFSS IS LISTED AT THE TOP OF THIS COLUMN,