Newspaper Page Text
MARCH 31, 1945
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LA YMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF
GEORGIA
SEVEN
Former Rabbi of Rome
Convert-Rabbi
mmmrnmmm
Pius XII Deserves Title of
“Defender of Civilization f
Vatican Newspaper Declares
(Radio, N. C. W. C. News Service)
VATICAN CITY—His Holiness
Pope Pius XII richly deserves Hie
title of "Defensor Civitatis,” that
is. Defender, Guide arid Father of
C ivilizat.ion. Osservalore Romano
declares in a stirring tribute to the
Soverign Pontiff accompanying a
recent picture of the Holy Father,
reproduced cn the first page of the
newspaper, to mark the sixth an
niversary of his coronation.
Osservatore recalls vividly the
extraordinary appearance of Pope
Pius XII on the Vatican loggia on
March 11. 1944. to appeal for the
sparing of the Eternal City or
Rome from the ravages of war.
The paper hails the success of this
appeal, calling the Pontiff "Defen
sor Civitatis,” as it did a year ago
This title, now almost univer
sally accepted, means defender not
only of the “urbrf,” or City of
Rome. but. of the civilization of
the world with all its spiritual
connotations, the article states.
“From no throne, no tribunal,"
say Osservatore, "has the defense
°f'the moral palrimony of nations,
ol the civitas gentium (common
wealth of nations) sounded so ten
aciously, so generously, so coher
ently. Catholicism has expressed
and revealed itself once more in
the fullness of its civil mission,
which endures with its religious
mission and has been indivisible
and undivided from this latter for
two thousand years.
"Alongside it. so many forces
and voices which down the cen-
turies have been associated with it
or opposed to it now exist no more, i
Rut Catholicism endures, it suf-1
fers. it struggles, it prays accord-1
ing to the eternal promises of in
defectible strength for the Roman
Pontificate.”
The article points out how in
1870, \\hen the doctrine of Papal
infallibility was declared, rational
ist critics interpreted it as the last
step in the Church toward a sort
of personal Pontifical absolutism
which would alienate the Church
more and more from the popular
demoei*fce tendencies of the Nine
teenth Century.
But, the article continues, his
tory has proved the critics wrong,
lor de facto the Roman pontifi
cate. once its infallibility was de
clared, has gained more and more
in the eyes of Catholics and of all
thinkers precisely because this
very fullness of authority has
gained greater prestige, and Papal
pronouncements concerning hu
man affairs have won greater
weight and wider audiences on the
part of all nations as the divine
Gospel-teaching, leading mission
of the Papacy has become, by con
trast with mere human institutions
and doctrines, increasingly evident
and brilliant.
The Osservatore article con
tinues by citing the rise in the
prestige of the Papacy from the
uays of Pope Leo XIII andliis pro
found social messages to the pres
ent day. It concludes by extolling
the pronouncements of Pope Pius
*XII. especially throughout the pe
riod from just before the outbreak
of the war to the present time as
worthy of the best traditions of the
divine mission of the Church and
Papacy. The course of history is
declaring, the paper says, that
Pope Pius XII richly fulfills the
title Defensor Civitatis.
Franciscan Nuns in Italy
Shared Scanty Rations
With Their Liberators
AUGUSTA, Ga.—The Francis
can *Sisters of the Immaculate
Conception, who conduct a Color
ed school and orphanage in Au
gusla, have had news from mem
bers of their Order in Italy.
On tlie morning of June 4 last
year, the Franciscan Sisters at 51
Viale Glorioso on the Janicuhim
Hill, awoke to hear strange
voices in the house next door, a
house that was being used as a
headquarters by the German
Army.
Listening intently, they recog
nized American accents. They
were hearing the first Allied
troops to enter Rome.
The Sisters invited the men* in
for lea or coffee. Finding that the
soldiers w ie on guard duty and
could not leave their posts, they
filled urns arid took them outside,
and that morning they shared
their scanty rations with some 200
American soldiers.
A priest who recently returned
to England from Rome told the
story and gave some account of
wfiat tile Sisters—the majority of
whom were English or Irish, have
been doing for the comfort and
welfare of the Allied troops.
Ever since the liberation of
Rome this cbnvcnt, near the spot
where St. Peter was martyred, lias
been a home to any British or
American man or woman. Catho
lic or non-Catholic, who eared to
call. A welcome and ? meal were
always waiting and if sewing or
mending were needed the Sisters
were happy to do it,
There is no official recognition
of what they do and the Sisters
refuse all recompense. Meanwhile,
they have continued their work of
teaching English to Italians and
catering to 40 or 50 Allied service
women every night.
The Sisters gave up another job
when they started their work for
Allied troops. Throughout the
German occupation, Jews had
been hidden in the convent, and
the greatest care had to be taken
that, no evidence of their pres
ence was ever visible to suspi
cious Nazi officers who called at
frequent intervals.
Many of the Sisters, being Irish,
were technically neutral, and had
a certain measure of freedom,
but even they knew what was go
ing to happen to them at ahy time
if the Nazis had discovered that
the nuns were giving shelter to
Jewish refugees.
BROTHERHOOD WEEK
OBSERVED IN AUGUSTA
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Rev.
George Lewis Smith, pastor of St.
Mary Help of Christians church,
Aiken, S. C.. was one of three
speakers who appeared on pro
grams sponsored here during Bro
therhood Week by the National
Conference of Christians and .Tews,
with the cooperation of the USO
Council ol Augusta.
Father Smith, with Rabbi Isaac
k. Marcuson, of the Congregational
Beth Israel, in Macon, and the
Rev. Cecil A.. Denny, pastor of the
i iist Christian Church, in Macon,
.poke at luncheon meetings of
the Kiwanis, Lions and Optimist
clubs, before the students of
Mount S. Joseph Academy, the
Boys Catholic high school, (he
Junior College of Augusta, the
Richmond Academy, the Tubman
high school and the North Augusta
high school, and on radio programs
broadcast over stations WRDW
and WGAC.
The-local committee which ar
ranged for the observance of
Brotherhood Week was headed by
J. Marion Adams, Lee Blum and
Hugh Kinchley. representing the
National Conference of Christians
and Jews, and Mrs. William E
Fair, representing the USO Coun
cil.
During the week, Hugh Kinch-
le.v, the Catholic co-chairman of
Inc Brotherhood Week committee,
spoke before the Congregation of
the Children of Israel, at the in
vitation of Rabbi Sylvan Schwarlz-
mann.
Speakers on the Brotherhood
Week program in Savannah were
the Right Rev. Msgr. Joseph L
O’Brien. S. T. D„ pastor of St.
1 atrick s church, Charleston: the
Rev. J. Milton Richardson, of St
Luke’s Episcopal church, Atlanta’
and Rabbi Joseph Messing of
Brunswick.
In Macon, the speakers during
• he Brolhehood Week were the
Rev. Robert. Brennan. O. S. B. of
Savannah; the Rev. Leo C. Shep
pard. D. I)., of Pullen Memorial
church. Raleigh. N. C.. and Rabbi
Herbert S. Waller, of the Congre
gation B’nai Israel, Columbus, Ga.
as "Natural Growth”
(Radio, N. C. W. c. News Service)
ROME.—Prof. Pius Eugene Zol-
h. who as Dr. Isreale Zolli was
Chief Rabbi ol’ the Jewish com
munity here prior vo his recent re
ception into the Catholic church,
plans to dedicate himself to teach
ing in (lie University of Rome, he
(old the N. C. W. C. News Service
in an interview here.
Professor Zolli, who received his
I’ h’St Holy Communion on Febru
ary 22, took the names Pius Eu
gene in honor of the Holy Father
when he received the Sacrament
of Baptism a few days before.
We found Professor Zolli. whom
we have known since last summer
when we interviewed him follow
ing the liberation of Rome, making
a retreat in one of the religious
houses in the Eternal City. In the
quiet ol a bare room typical of
monasteries in Rome, the distin
guished convert was seated be
hind a smaH desk on which lay a
catechism, several other books,
and a crucifix. Calm and pleasant
of manner, with a flowing while
beard, he reminded us of a classic
character from one of Rembrandt’s
canvasses. He greeted us cordi
ally.
“Could yon tell us something
about the spiritual crisis whidh
brought about your conversion?"
we asked Professor Zolli. He re
plied: “There was no spiritual cris
is, not a crisis in the usual mean
ing of the word, but a slow evolu
tion imperceptible in its origins.’
“It is difficult for'me to recon
struct the process of my conver
sion,” Professor Zolli went on. “It
was a natural growth; even many
years ago I gave my writings a
and a character intimately
Christian. This fact was noted by
various scripture students whose
names I did not even know, al
though myself was unaware of it
If I had noted this character my
self. who knows if I would have
expressed it in so explicit a form?
An Archbishop residing in Rome
once had this to say of my book
’The Nazarene’: ‘Every man is sus
ceptible to errors, but so far as
f can see. as a Bishop I could sign
my name to this book.”
1 he oldest recollections of my
spiritual life, ’ said the noted con
vert, “which I am now trying faith
fully to recall, make me under
stand that which others had al
ready seen without telling me
about it: namely, many years ago
I was a natural Christian. If I
had noted that 20 years sooner,
what has happened now would
have happened then.”
The fact was mentioned that
some Rome- newspapers did not
speak kindly of Professor Zolli’s
conversion to Catholicism.
"I know if,’ he replied. “I have
heard some of the comments.
Some people consider my conver
sion as owing to (he intervention
ol Jesuits. I want to say now, in
I lie interests of truth, that my re
lationships with the Jesuits have
been limited to the exchange of
exegetieal notes on the Old Testa
ment. to an occasional instance of
proof reading, and to the exchange
ol New Year greetings. No one
in (lie world has ever tried lo con
vert me.”
. As we were leaving Professor
Zolli said this lo us: "T continue to
maintain unchanged all my love
for the people of Israel and my
sorrow for the lot which has be
fallen them.”
Professor Zolii is a scripture
scholar of high reputation.
In Athens, the Rev. J. Robert
Brennan, pastor of St Joseph’s
Church, spoke with Rabbi San-
ford Sapcrstein, of the Congrega-
tion of tlie Children of Israel, and
the Rev. Harvey C. Holland, pas
tor of the First Methodist Church,
on a program presented for some
800 high school students.
The Very Rev. Msgr. Joseph G.
Cassidy. pastor of SI. Theresa's
chinch, Albany, Ga., spoke on.
Brotherhood Week programs in
Miami, Fla.
PARTY FOR GIRL SCOUTS
AT SAVANNAH USO CLUB
MONSIGNOR O’BRIEN
ON CAMP PROGRAMS
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS of
Kansas City spent 1,497 hours in
nocturnal adoration during the
past year in the Benedictine
Chapel of Perpetual Adoration,
CHARLESTON. S. C.—The Rt
Rev. Msgr. Joseph L. O’Brien. S.
T- D.. pastor of St. Patrick’s
Church ii^ Charleston, has just
completed a week’s program for
service men at Savannah and
Camp McClellan. For several
years. Monsignor O’Brien has
spoken on similar programs spon
sored by the National Conference
of Christians and Jews.
SAVANNAH, Ga.—Senior Girl
Scouts of Savannah were guests at
a tea-dance given at the USO-
NCCS Club on March II, the oc
casion being the thirty-third an
niversary of tlie organization of
the Girl Scouts.
I ea was poured by two members
of the Girl Scout Board. Mrs. J.
Harold Mulherin and Mrs. Elsie
Espy Frank' and was served by
members of Troop 29. Miss Rose
Hoffman, one of (ho Scouts, spoke
briefly in appreciation of the oc
casion. which honored members of
seven troops, and Miss Elizabeth
Lcacy, hostess and chairmen of t-ke
Sunday evening program at tiie
club, responded. In addition to
the Girl Scnm.s, about’two hun
dred sorviee men attended.
^ Music was furnished by Miss
Elizabeth Prendorgast. George Up
church, Miss Margaret Mary Byers,
Miss Louise Sneed and Sgt. Robert
Scott, of Chatham Field.
The reception room was dec
orated with dogwood and azaleas
and the table was covered with
a lace cloth centered by a spray
of camellias.
Professor Israel Zolli, former
Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Com
munity in Rome, whose conver
sion to the Catholic Faith has at
tracted international attention.
Baptized with his wife, by Arch
bishop Luigi Traglia, Professor
Zolli took the names of Pius Eu
gene. in homage to the Holy Fa
ther The above picture was taken
last' July following the liberation
of Rome by the Fifth Army—
(NCWC).
Rabbi, Now a Catholic,
Once Offered Himself
as Hostage to Nazis
(Radio, N. C. VV. C.'News Service)
ROME—Professor Israel Zolli,
former Chief Rabbi of the Jewish
community in this city, whose con
version to the Catholic faith has
attracted international attention,
once offered himself as a hostage
if the Nazi forces then occupying
Rome would release several hun
dred Jews they were holding for
ransom.
This was brought to light shortly
after Rome last June, and the Al
lies learned with some amazement
and great interest of the extraor
dinary assistance which the Holy
See had afforded to the Jews of
the Eternal City while the Nazis
occupied this capital. The N. C.
W. C. News Service was previleged
at that time to have an interview
with Professor Zolli. who now,
since his conversion, has tempo
rary refuge in the Pontifical Greg
orian University here. The Ponti
fical properly shelters Professor
Zolli from the curious while he
seeks a new place of abode.
Professor Zolli reveals now that
his conversion was a process that
went on for years, and there was
evidence of nearness to the Faith
when he granted the N. C. \V. C.
News Service its interview seven
months- ago. He spoke feelingly
as he said then that “the Vatican
has always helped the Jews and
(he Jews are very grateful for the
charitable work of the Vatican all
done without distinction of race.”
He added that the Jews of Rome
called Pope Pius XII “Our Pope,”
Because of his great kindness to
them.
And today Professor Zolli says
he did not abandon the Jews liv
becoming a Catholic. Tie does not
love the Jews any less because he'
embraced the Catholic Faith, says
this man who only a few months
ago offered his own life in ex-
c « a . n ? e * 0! those of other members
ol Ins community.
1 lofessor Zolli. who is 85 years
?0Q’ 0 WaS /r, h , ie£ Rabbi of Rome from
19,19 until he resigned that office
a short while ago. Previously he
had % served as Chief Rabbi of
triests, an office lie assumed 35
years ago. He is a man of deep
learning and has many published
volumes. Even before coming lo
Romp Hi 1939 he was invited to
®°'*ahorate in the work ol' the
I onliftcal Biblical Commission and
he Italian Catholic Encyclopedia.
CONVERT FROM JUDAISM
ORDAINED A PRIEST
NORWALK. Conn.—(NC)—The
climax of a spiritual journey from
Judaism to Catholicism was reach-
ed by tile Rev. Anton Morgcnroth,
: • ®P- Jewish convert, when
ho was ordained a priest on March
, at the Holy Gliost Seminary
Forced to flee Berlin in
1933 because of Ins Jewish birth
he first went lo England and then
to South Africa. In 1936 lie came
to the United States and settled In
California, where his study of Ca
tholicism finally led him into the
church. He began his study for
the priesthood the following year.