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EIGHT
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
MAY 23. 1912
Apostolic Delegate Tells
Story of Pope Pius XII
Sifters of Mercy from Savannah, Macon, Atlanta and Augusta gathered at the Sacred Heart Con
vent to honor Sister Martina Joseph, who on May 16 celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of her
profession as a religious. Sister Martina was complimented at a luncheon by the Parent-Teacher Asso
ciation of the Sacred Heart School, and is shown at the table with the other guests, standing, left to
right, Sister Mary Rose De Lima, Sister Mary Con suela, Sister Mary Cecelia, Sister Mary Stanislaus,
Sister Margaret Mary, Sister Mary Xavier, Sister Mary Angela, Sister Mary Berchmans, Sister Mary
Rosarie; seated, left to right, Sister Mary Columba, Sister Mary Veronica, Sister Mary Aloysius, Sister
Mary Katherine, Sister Martina Joseph, Sister Mary Annette, Sister Mary Ignatius, Sister Mary Agnes,
Sister .Regina Joseph.(Photo by Frank Christian)
Sister Martina, Augusta,
Observes Silver Jubilee
(Continued from page two)
Pacelli as Secretary of State.
Quite frequently he went in per
son to meetings and gatherings, to
religious and charitable celebra
tions, and there, eloquently ex
pounding the thoughts of the Holy
Father, he gave impetus and ardor
to the apostolic undertakings of
the Vicar of Christ, and to the
works of pastoral ministry. In ad
dition, out of his love for souls, he
found time to take part in solemn
religious festivities and to address
to those present his ardent sacre-
dotal words. A selection of these
discourses was gathered in a spec
ial volume in 1936. (1). The his
torical precision with which the
eminent orator brings back to life
in his panegyrics the outstanding
figures of Saints is admirable: The
supernatural permeates every one
of the discourses, and in each
there is a call to virtue, to piety
and to the practice of charity. One
senses in them the flame of a
great burning ardor of a great
spiritual father as he invites and
urges the clergy and faithful to
follow the paths of holiness.
In the “Foreword” of this par
tial collection he is quoted as
having remarked that the prepar
ation of sacred discourses was for
him a sweet repose from the pon
derous cares of his high office.
LEGATE
“A LATERE”
The highest of honors is that of
representing the Sovereign Pon
tiff as his Legate a latere—that is,
taken as it were from his very
side. On various occasions Pius
XI sent his Cardinal Secretary
of State Pacelli abroad in this
capacity. His Eminence was deep
ly conscious of the importance of
these missions, and had only one
concern which he sought to pro
mote by every means, that of
bringing to others something of
the soul of the supreme Pastor of
the Church, of making his own
words to the faithful vibrate with
the echo of the paternal voice,
and with the desires and solici
tude of the Supreme Pontiff. In
the triumphal welcomings, in the
solemnity of the sacred functions,
there radiated from his tall and
majestic person an air of spiritual
ity that won the masses to a feel
ing of profound religious venera
tion.
In October, 1934, as Legate a
latere to the Thirty-second Inter
national Eucharistic Congress, at
Buenos Aires, in a lofty discourse
on the Eucharist he addressed
an ardent message to all the
world, asking it to accept the king
dom of the love of Christ, and to
be guided by the teaching of the
Saviour.
On his return from Buenos
Aires Cardinal Pacelli was re
quested to visit Rio de Janeiro,
where he addressed the Chamber
of Deputies and the Supreme
Court of Justice which received
him with royal solemnity. He did
not limit himself to the compli
mentary remarks usual on such
occasior^,. but to the admiration
and surprise of those distinguish
ed assemblies he made an histori
cal discourse on the mission given
by Divine Providence to legisla
tors and judges to collaborate with
the Creator for the supreme good
of the community.
Twice he was Legate a latere in
France: in April. 1935, at Lourdes
on the occasion of the celebration
of a solemn triduum for the
closing of the World Jubilee of
the Redemption of mankind; and
in July, 1937. at Lisieux for the
inauguration of the Basilica erect
ed in honor of St. Teresa of the
Child Jesus. At the Grotto of
Massabiclle he addressed to the
clergy gathered from various na
tions a memorable and inspiring
-exhortation on the duties and the
sanctity of the priestly vocation;
and to the people he explained the
work of the Divine Redeemer for
the restoration of the freedom of
children of God to the human
race. After leaving Lisieux, from
the pulpit of Notre Dame in Paris
he addressed to France a triple in
vitation, “Orate. Amate, Vigilate,”
(pray, love, watch) and, citing the
glories of their past, he remind
ed the people of France of the
mission which Providence had en
trusted to them in defending the
faith through the practice of the
noblest, admirable virtues.
In May, 1938, only ten months
before his elevation to the Chair
of S.t. Peter, he was Legate a la
tere to the Thirty-fourth Interna
tional Eucharistic Congress at
Budapest. His discourses were all
inspired by love of the Eucharist
and had the effect of truly great
preaching; nor did he forget on
that occasion to cite an example of
heroic virtue, the angelic Blessed
Margaret of the royal family of
Arpad of Hungary, a Dominican
nun of the thirteenth century who
was indeed “a burning lamp be
fore the Blessed Sacrament.”
The United States of America
also had him as guest for more
than a month in October and No
vember, 1936. Although he came
privately, he was welcomed every
where with acclaim and enthus
iasm.
The fervent desire of his heart
during that hasty visit was to
know better the religious life of
this nation, which beats with the
evangelical impulse of the first
missionaries, pioneers and heroic
confessors of the Faith. He was
able to confer with the Cardinals
of the United States and with
seventy-five American bishops, to
visit churches, seminaries and uni
versities, convents, hospitals and
schools. On numerous occasions
during his stay, he delivered re
ligious discourses for the comfort
and edification of innumerable lis
teners, all of which were inspired
by the supernatural and eternal.
Undoubtedly that visit was pro
vidential, as it formed strong
bonds of affection between the
one who shortly after was to be
come the supreme Shepherd, and
this land so full of life and
promise in every field.
A most important feature of
such journeys escapes us almost
entirely, because nothing or very
little of it is known to the public.
Innumerable questions, recom
mendations and petitions of a
private or a general nature were
laid before him. Cardnal Pa
celli, both as Legate a La
tere and as Apostolic Nuncio,
rjever refused to receive petitions
of any kind. He examined theirt
with patient charity, and made
careful note of every detail. No
one can adequately evaluate the
good that was done privately and
silently in this manner.
SUPREME PONTIFF
Thus did Eugenio Paceili bear
the dignity of a Bishop in the
his offices that he occupied; and
now the entire world celebrates
the Silver Jubilee of his Episco
pate.
Of these twenty-five years, he
has passed three years and two
months on the Pontifical Throne,
as Supreme Priest, and Vicar on
earth of “the high Priest over the
house of God” (Epistle to the He
brews, X, 21). Divine Providence-
had prepared him for the heights
of the supreme ministry and Mag-
isterium, throughout a priestly, in
tellectual, diplomatic novitiate,
marked by the most profound
spirituality, always, but especially
in a time when the greatest con
flict in human history has been
unleashed, the quality most neces
sary for the office of Supreme
Pastor was that of love. Our Lord
in Choosing his first Vicar on
earth, sought precisely that:
“Jesus said to Simon Peter,
‘Simon, son of John, dost thou love
me more than these do’?” (St.
John, XXV, 15). Thrice he repeat
ed the same question, and to the
affirmations of St. Peter, He re
plied: “Feed my lambs,” “Feed my
lambs”, “Feed my sheep”.
Pius XII in the exercise of his
episcopate had given a. generous
response of love; in a sublime and
constant practise of love of God
and of neighbor he was well pre
pared for the office of universal
Father. The proofs of his love
..ere abundant, rich and extensive
in proportion to the lofty roles and
missions enrusted to him by the
Bishops of Rome who preceded
him
From the beginning of his Pon
tificate. from the chair of truth
Pius XII has spoken only words
Sister Martina Joseph, R. S. M.,
superioress of the Sacred Heart
Convent in Augusta, was honored
on May 16 with a luncheon at the
convent, the occasion being the
twenty-fifth anniversary of her
profession as a Sister of Mercy.
Sister Martina, the former Miss
Mary Cummins, was born in Can-
nonswood, Queens County, Ire
land. She is the daughter of Mrs.
Mary Moore, and the late John
Cummins, of Cannonswood. She
came to this country in 1915 to
enter the Sisters of Mercy at St.
Vincent’s Convent in Savannah,
of love, and his deeds have been
truly those of love, peace, and of
spiritual, moral and social recon
struction. His program sprang
from the heart of a Father.
IIIS GOVERNMENT
His five conditions for peace
are and will remain indispensable
for a true restoration of order and
peace in the world: independence
of all nations, large or small,
strong or weak; liberation of na
tions from the slavery of arma
ments; wise reconstruction of in
ternational institutions in order to
remove the consequences of past
lapses or deficiencies; earnest ex
amination of the real needs and
just demands of nations and of
peoples as well as of ethnical min
orities; and above all a sincere and
effective return to the immutable
principles of Divine Law. (Allocu
tion of Christmas, 1939).
Great victories are necessary as
the prerequisites for a new world
order, and Pius XII has indicated
them: triumph over hate; triumph
over mistrust, which renders im
possible the realization and the
stability of any sincere agreement;
triumphs over the distressing prin
ciple that utility is a basis of
right; triumph over those germs
of conflict which consist in two-
sided differences in the field of
world economy; triumph over the
spirit of cold egoism which im
pedes sincere juridical and econ
omic solidarity and fraternal col
laboration.
Here then is the way in which
a gentle and firm hand directs the
Church. His pronouncements,
even from the first one transmit
ted by radio to the whole world
the day after his election to' the
Supreme Pontificate, have all
been marked by this characteristic
program. His marvelous activity
is focussed upon this objective and
he imparts the same spirit to the
various units of the Church, di
oceses, parishes and Catholic in
stitutions.
May the world pay heed to the
warnings of the Father, and may
nations again see that without
God, without Hi's law, and without
His love, there can be no reorder
ing or reconstruction. May the
banners of the ardently-desired
peace appear on the occasion of
this Jubilee of Pius XII, and may
it be the dawn of the resurrection
we pray for, through which a free
mankind may once again walk in
the paths of Christian civilization.
where she made her novitiate. On
May 16, 1917, she made her
solemn profession as a Sister of
Mercy, and since that time has
taught in the Catholic schools in
Savannah and Augusta. For six
teen years she was on the faculty
of St. Vincent's Academy in Sa
vannah, and for the past nine
years has been at the Sacred Heart
School here.
Sister Martina is a grand-niece
of the late Sister de Chantal, one
of the pioneer Sisters of Mercy
in Georgia, who taught for many
years in Augusta.
A sister of Sister Martina, the
former Miss Julia Cummins, is
Sister Columbia, R. S. M., super
ioress of the Immaculate Concep
tion Convent in Atlanta.
The celebration began with a
special Mass celebrated in the
convent chapel by the Rev. J. E.
O'Donohoe, S. J., pastor of the
Sacred Heart Church. Music for
the Mass was sung by the Sisters’
choir, with a solo at the com
munion by Angelo Punaro, a form-
er'pupil of the jubilarian. Miss
Itala Punaro was at the organ.
The entire convent was decorat
ed with flowers sent to Sister
Martina by various organizations
and her many friends. The
luncheon was served by the Sac
red Heart Parent-Teacher Associa
tion, and the out-of-town guests in
cluded Sister Angela, superioress
of St. Vincent's Academy, Savan
nah; Sister Regina Joseph, Sis
ter Cecelia, Sister Rosarie, Sister
Catherine, Sister Ignatius, Sister
Aloysius, all of Savannah; Sister
Veronica, superioress of Mount de
Sales Academy, and Sister Berch
mans, of Macon: Sister Rose de
Lima, Sister Xavier, Sister Con-
suelo and Sister Columba, from
Atlanta; Sister Annette, Sister
Margaret Mary and Sister Stanis
laus, of Augusta.
Sister Martina, during her years
at the Sacred Heart Convent has
gained the admiration of countless
Augustans by her ability as a
teacher and executive, and has
won the friendship of all who
know her by her cheerful, friendly
disposition and her ready wit. Her
work with young boys of the teen
age is outstanding.
The observance of the anniver
sary concluded with benediction
in the Convent chapel.
CATHOLIC WOMEN'S CLUB
IN CHARLESTON SPONSORS
BENEFIT SILVER TEA
CHARLESTON, S. C. — The
Catholic Women’s Club entertain
ed with its annual silver tea on
May 2 at the home of Mrs. Charles
P. Aimar, for the benefit of the
National Social Service School in
Washington.
The program included musical
numbers by Miss Ivy May John
son, trumpet soloist, who was ac
companied by Jack Metz, pianist.
Mrs. Edwin Owens was general
chairman of the committee in
charge of the affair.
NEW ASSISTANT AT
SOUTHERN PINES
SOUTHERN PINES, N. C. —
The Rev. Thomas Roche, who has
been assistant pastor of St. The-
rese’sr Church in Wilson, has been
appointed assistant to the Rev.
Herbert A. Harkins, pastor of the
Church of St. Anthony of Padua
here. Father Roche replaces the
Rev. Philip Edelen, w'ho has been
assistant at St. Anthony’s and
chaplain to Notre Dame Academy
for the past two years. Father Ed
elen has been named administrator
of Blessed Sacrament Church,
Burlington.
Father Roche, who is a native of
New York, was ordained to the
priesthood at St. Patrick’s Cathed
ral in that city in May of last year,
by the Most Rev. Francis J. Spell
man, Achbishop of New York.
On May 26, the Rev. Herbert
Harkins, pastor of St. Anthony's
Church, will celebrate his eighth
anniversary Mass at Our Lady of
Lourdes altar in that church, of
which he has been pastor since
February of this year.
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