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Vol 46. No. 19 SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 11, 1965 _
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BACK IN ST. PETER’S
Pieta Returns;
New Law Bars
Further Trips
VATICAN CITY (NC) - On
the same ocean liner that took
it to New York, over the same
superhighway it traveled from
Rome to the port of Naples,
to the same high chapel of
St. Peter’s which it had oc
cupied for centuries, came
Michelangelo’s famed statue
of the Pieta from its 19-month
visit to the New York World’s
Fair.
Millions of visitors to the
fair had been given a broad
view of the stark white sta
tue of the dead Christ and
His grieving mother from
three moving platforms at the
Vatican pavilion. Now the sta
tue, confined to its minuscule
chapel, will offer a restrict
ed view to visitors in St.
Peter’s basilica, who must
view it from an outside cha
pel.
A new Vatican regulation
bars any future voyaging for
the Pieta or other Vatican
works of art.
When announcement was
made almost two years ago
that the famed sculpture would
leave St. Peter’s for the first
time, a storm of protest was
aroused in art circles.
Dangers involved in remov
ing it from its pedestal, crat
ing, shipping, and unloading
it were cited as reasons why
the Vatican offer to display
it at the Fair’s VaticanPavil-
lion should be withdrawn.
The sculpture has returned
to its accustomed place in St.
Peter’s unharmed, but ap
pears that Vatican officials
have had second thoughts
about exposing it to any fu
ture dangers which might be
involved in sending it abroad
again.
The Pieta and the ancient
statue of the Good Shepherd
which accompanied it to New
York were brought back
aboard the Italian liner Cris-
toforo Colombo. Accompany
ing them were officials of the
American insurance firm
which insured Michelangelo’s
masterpiece for a reported
$8 million. In its buoyant
steel case lashed to the deck
of the liner, packed in shock
absorbing plastic, the statue
and its protective shell weigh
ed 12,000 pounds.
Waiting for the Pieta at
the Naples dock was a truck
to carry it to Rome. Along
the superhighway from Naples
to Rome which often sees cars
traveling at upwards of 100
miles an hour, the truck bear
ing the priceless statue was
kept to no more than 30 miles
an hour. A dozen motorcycle
policemen were detailed to ac
company it from Naples to
Vatican City.
Vatican authorities made
virtually the same arrange
ments for its return to its pe
destal as for its departure:
rolling the case up the front
stairway on special rollers to
a pre-marked spot on the ba
silica’s vast porch, trundling
it to a specially built plat
form before its pedestal and
unpacking it on that platform,
then moving it inch by inch
backwards onto its pedestal
along the platform, which was
built at precisely the level of
the pedestal.
The plaster copy of the Pie
ta which has stood in its place
during its absence was re
moved to its old place in the
Vatican treasury. The third-
century statue of the Good
Shepherd was entrusted to the
Vatican museum pending com
pletion of a pavilion to house
works of art formerly hous
ed in the Lateran Palace,
which has been undergoing re
novation with a view to hous
ing the Rome vicariate’s of
fices.
HEADLINE
1
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HOPSCOTCH
NATION
Nuns Seek Vote
BOSTON (NC)—Will cloistered nuns in Massachusetts be al
lowed to vote? Both the Massachusetts Senate and House have
passed a bill allowing cloistered nuns to vote without leaving
their convents, but it will not become law until signed by the
governor. Present law allows registrars to sign up voters in
their homes if they are ill or disable. But the legality of send
ing registrars to convents to register cloistered nuns is being
questioned.
FAR EAST
Named GMOY
YUAN LI, Formosa (NC)—An American missioner. Father
Francis X. Rebol, M.M. of Cleveland, has been chosen as the
Good Man of the Year in Formosa. The Good Men and Good
Deeds movement seeks to encourage public spirited acts by
each year selecting someone from different areas as an ex
ample. This year the people and officials of Yuan Li town
ship in the northern half of Formosa elected the 41 year-old
Maryknoller, who has been in this country for 12 years.
Stigmatist
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands(NC)--AugustineCardinalBea,
S. J., German-born president of the Secretariat for Promoting
Christian Unity, has asked for an investigation into the life and
holiness of Therese Neumann. A Bavarian peasant, Therese
Neumann died in September, 1962, at Konnersreuth, Germany
where she spent all of her 64 years. She is said to have suf
fered from the stigmata--the wounds of the passion of Christ--
and to have abstained from food and drink for many years prior
to her death.
POPE PA EL ORDERS
■
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POPE PAUL VI
WITH GRATITUDE
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THE PIETA GOES HOME. The crated Michelan
gelo masterpiece, seen by 27 million visitors to the
New York World’s Fair, is anchored to the deck
of the Italian liner Cristoforo Colombo.
(RNS Photo)
TRULY ECUMENICAL
Council Decrees Show Church
Is ‘Eager For New Horizons’
VATICAN CITY (NC)- A
Church eager for new hori
zons emerges ever more
clearly from the deliberations
of the ecumenical council now
that its last session is draw
ing to a close. A careful
study of the five decrees pro
mulgated Oct. 28 reveals an
evolving pattern of reforms
systematically coherent in
their purpose which makes
the “new look” of this reno
vated progressive Church
gradually more evident. It
is a pattern that fits the ge
neral plan broadly outlined by
Pope John when he issued his
first call for “aggiornamen-
to” some three years ago.
Ten of the 16 draft pro
posals on the council’s sche
dule can be seen in an over
all perspective. They deli
neate a structure which re
flects to a growing degree the
realization of an ambitious
program no one had dared
foresee when the council first
convened. Not until the six
decrees still on the agenda
are promulgated wiU their
evaluation be possible as a
unit with those that preceded
them. Even at this interme
diate stage, however, the
framework can be distinguish
ed.
The key elements stem from
the new concept of the Church
as the People of God, as stat
ed in the constitution on the
Church. The document on the
pastoral duties of the bishops,
which is complementary to it,
applies this concept in a new
vision of “collegality,” mean
ing a sharing of power by the
world’s hierarchies with the
Pope. This concept even
tually will find its tangible
expression in the world sy
nod of bishops which will be
come an agency exercising ex
ecutive power in the govern
ment of the Church together
with the Pope.
The new pattern reaches
out further by giving juridi
cal status to national and re
gional episcopal conferences,
thereby overcoming tendenc
ies of centralization no long
er in keeping with the needs
of a pluralistic society. This
will logically entail a reor
ganization of the Roman curia
and of the Vatican foreign ser
vice, and a simultaneous in
ternationalization of the staff
of both, preferably with the
inclusion of competent lay
men.
The impulse behind this
opening of the new horizons
in the Church is truly ecu
menical in the spirit of the
pertinent decree adopted at
the last session. It is an
impulse that will gain mo
mentum once the decree on
religious liberty is formally
approved, which is also bound
to create a refreshing atmos-
Solemn Triduum
Of Prayers For
‘New Pentecost’
FIVE PACIFISTS are sprayed by a heckler’s fire
extinguisher as they seek to burn their draft cards
at a rally in Union Square, New York. Shown from
left 'are Thomas Cornell, 31, Marc Paul Edleman,
19; and Roy Lisker, 27. The other two were David
McReynolds, 36, and James E* Wilson, 21. Spon
soring the rally was the Committee for Nonviolent
phere in interfaith relations.
Within the Church itself it
also will develop a desire for
better understanding of the
Catholic faith and thereby
create new incentives toward
that freedom of expression
which is a prerequisite of
all deeper theological know
ledge and insight.
The decree on seminary
training makes this very de
sire the motivation for a re
examination ultimately aiming
at a new style of priestly
life based on genuine biblical
concepts and more effectively
adapted to present day re
quirements.
Perhaps the widest of the
new horizons is opened by the
decree on non-Christian re
ligions. Emphasis so far has
been laid on its last chapter
dealing with the Jewish people
plea, which constitutes a vi
gorous and gratifying condem
nation of anti-Semitism.
No less important, how
ever, is the attitude express
ed here for the first time to
ward Buddhism and Hinduism.
“Nothing that is holy and true
in these religions,” says the
decree, “is rejected by the
Catholic Church.” The Old
Testament heritage of Islam
common to Moslems and
Christians alike is charitably
acknowledged.
Thus an approach is made
to those of other faiths which
again appeares as a conse
quence of that new concept
of the Church as the univer
sal community of God’s peo
ple embracing all humanity
and built on freedom and to
lerance.
An opening is being accom
plished by all these conciliar
decisions—an opening to the
world in all respects, which
means a willingness to re
place the attitude of monolo
gue prevalent today by one
paving the way for a true dia
logue with all men of good
will. Pope Paul has set this
as the goal of his pontificate.-
VATICAN CITY (NC)—Pope
Paul VI has issued an aposto
lic exhortation on the ecu
menical council, urging all
Catholics to “beg for a new
Pentecost” that will renew
the Church and the modern
world.
The pontiff spoke of the role
of the bishops, priests, Reli
gious and laity in the post-
conciliar revival. He directed
every parish and Religious
community in the Catholic
Church to hold a triduum of
solemn prayer during the no
vena to the Immaculate Con
ception ending Dec. 7 so that
the Catholic world will be
united in prayer at the con
clusion of the council.
In the document, dated Nov.
4 and published two days later
in the Vatican City newspaper
L’Osservatore Romano, Pope
Paul said the council Fathers
will return to their dioceses
from “a long and fruitful la
bor, taking with them the legi
timate satisfaction of having
prepared providential instru
ments for the true renewal
of the Church, for the union of
Christians and for the pacifi
cation and elevation of the
temporal order.”
He urged catholics to thank
God for the help He has given
to the council.
“Indeed,” the Pope said,
“if we consider the immense
mass of work finished by the
council so far, we are asto
nished to note the numerous
points of doctrine exposed by
the extradordinary magis-
terium of the Church, and the
wise disciplinary measures
which, in faithful continuation
with ecclesiastical tradition,
are opening broad horizons
for the Church’s action, and
which doubtless will be ex
ceedingly salutary for the good
of souls.”
Pope Paul called attention to
the impression the council has
made on world public opinion,
enabling the Church to begin
a dialogue with the world.
He cautioned against allow
ing the momentum of the coun
cil’s achievements to lag.
“That might happen if, when
the council's time for discus
sions and decisions ceases,
the apostolic efforts of the
sacred pastors should weaken
and their attention to the re
sponsibilities incumbent upon
them in the post-conciliar
period should flag,” he said.
“In fact the fortunes of the
council will depend not upon
the multiplicity of rules but
upon the seriousness and com
mitment in putting the de
cisions coming from it into
practice in the years to come.
Above all, that requires the
preparation of the minds of
the faithful to receive the
new norms; prodding the in
ertia oi liiost: who are re
luctant to adapt themselves
to the new course; restraining
on the other hand the intem
perance of others who indulge
too many persons; initiatives
that may harm the healthy
renewal already undertaken;
keeping the changes within
authoritatively prescribed
bounds; inculcating in all per
sons the spirit of trust toward
pastors and a full obedience
that is the expression of true
love of the Church and a sure
guarantee of unity and suc
cess.”
December 8 has been set
as the official closing date
of the Second Vatican Coun
cil. Dec. 7 will be the date
of the final plenary meeting
at which all remaining docu
ments before the council will
be formally voted on and pro
mulgated by Pope Paul VI.
PAPAL GREETINGS
Catholic Youth
Groups Praised
VATICAN CITY (NC)—-Pope
Paul VI has lauded organiza
tions to serve Catholic young
people.
In a message to U. S. teen
agers, the Pope said: “In
modern times, organization is
a necessity in order to com
plete and fulfill your training.
“It provides you with a
group of good friends. It en
ables you to be apostles in
your own state in life and
throughout all society.”
The Pope’s remarks were
made in a message sent to the
eighth national convention of
the National catholic Youth
Organization (CYO) Federa
tion, held in Chicago.
The message, to be pre-
6,000 delegates to
the convention being held Nov.
11 to 14, was published Nov. 8
in English in L’Osservatore
Romano, Vatican City daily
newspaper.
The Pope personally re
corded the message on tape
i
for the convention. It is to
be played at a convention ban
quet.
The Pope assured the youths
of his “trust and confidence”
in them, although he noted it
is “often said that youth to
day is not as good as youth
in past years and even that
youth represents danger to
good social tradition and mo
ral custom.”
“But we are quite sure,”
he continued, “that such cri
ticism and such fear are not
directed at you because you
are Catholic youth.”
“In other words, you are
a source of spiritual and moral
energy. You possess Christ
ian and human values which
can make of you strong, ge
nerous free men from whom
society has nothing to fear,
but everything to hope for,”
he said.
The Pope urged the teena
gers to prayer. “Weurgeyou
to pray, to pray always, to
pray well,” he said.
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