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Nazareth, N. C., Friday, October 18,1957
My dear Brethren:
« ’•
Mission Sunday
Appeal
In recent years the blight of Communism has closed certain
countries to the missionary activity of the Church founded by Christ,
the Church to which alone He gave the command, “To teach all na
tions.” The vast expanse of China with its hundreds of millions of
souls for whom Our Savior shed His redeeming Blood immediately
comes to mind. No longer can priests and sisters who have dedicated
their lives to the foreign missions enter China and the rest of the
one-fourth of the globe controlled by the Communists. Nevertheless,
there is no shortage of work to be done in other areas of the world
to which these missionary priests and sisters now turn their atten
tion. India, Japan, Africa, the Arctic regions, and even parts of
South America will present a challenge, perhaps for centuries tp come.
It may appear to some that the Church has suffered setbacks
through the seemingly diabolical advance of Communism. But-such
so-called setbacks have been an old story to the Catholic Church for
nineteen hundred years. The eventual victory of the Church through
peaceful means has been a constant fulfillment of the promise that
“the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” The Mystical Body
of Christ has never been without victories even in what seemed to be
its darkest hours. The salvation of each soul entering eternity
is another victory for the Church. The cruel persecution di
rected against the Church behind the Iron and Bamboo curtains
has not been able to prevent these victories. As in the days of the
Roman persecutions of ancient times, so today “the blood of Mar
tyrs is the seed of Saints.”
The Catholic Church will one day have its victory over Satan’s
latest ally, Communism. All Catholics of today are asked to share,
in that eventual victory. We are not to be merely spectators but
participants in the battle against the forces of evil. Soldiers on the
battlefield are not asked to contribute what they think they can
spare toward the victory. They are asked to make great sacrifices.
Each year, on the third Sunday of October, we have Mission
Sunday. A special collection is taken up in each parish. The pro
ceeds are sent to Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, the National Director of the
Society for the Propagation of the Faith. He gives the contributions
of America to the Holy Father who distributes them to his missionary
priests and sisters. In the special collection at all the Masses on
Sunday, October 20, we do not ask you merely to be generous. We
ask you to make a sacrifice.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Bishop of Raleigh
RUSS RIVEN PLUMPS FOR CCD STUDY
CLURS TO PUT RELIGION IN DAY'S WORK
SCRANTON — Russ Biven of
Wilmington, North Carolina, spoke
at the Scranton, Pa., Confrater
nity of Christian Doctrine Con
ference on Discussion Clubs as the
one simple answer to the layman’s
need for deeper understanding of
his religion.
Mr. Biven pointed out the all
too obvious timidity of most lay
men in the area of religious dis
cussion. Notwithstanding 8, 12,
and even 16 years of Catholic ed
ucation, so riiany Catholics appear
inadequate in doctrinal and moral
issues, not to mention knowing the
Catholic stand on social problems.
To the question of “What’s the
answer?” Mr. Biven said: .
“The answer to this question
may be found in the Discussion
way for busy men in a busy world.
Club of the CCD, which is an easy
The discussion method provokes
thought and promotes clear expres
sion, frequently uncovers latent
talent for leadership, and develops
talent which is already recognized.
How do Discussion Clubs put
religion to work? First of all, they
give'to the individual member a
new meaning to his Faith and
make him a particularly respon
sive instrument in the hands of
God working through His Church.
Discussion Clubs put religion to
work in the community. They a
rouse in the layman a realization
of the value of group activity and
show that we are more effective
when we work with others. Dis
cussion Clubs put religion to work
in the home.
They point out the responsibility
of parents in the upbringing of
their children and instill in Catho
lic parents the full impact of the
important mission it is their privi
lege and duty to perform in pre
paring the charges God has given
them for future citizenship in heav
en. Discussion Clubs put religion
to work in the market place.
They inculcate in Catholics a
clear understanding of Christian
life and a practical knowledge of
conditions in the modern world.
They make the Catholic strong in
the knowledge of his religion and
fearless in the application of the
truth of his religion in the con
duct of his business and his rela
tionship with his fellow men.
Let us all pray that this whole
some movement will continue to
grow for Gor and for country.”
Mr. Biven has just return
ed from two weeks in
Europe where he attended the
Congress of Lay Apostles in Rome
as an official U. S. delegate of the
Confraternity of Christian Doc
trine.
L'OSSERVATORE SAYS
HOLY SEE DOES NOT
OPPOSE SATELLITE
VATICAN CITY (NC)—L’Os
servatore Romano, Vatican City
daily, has published a front-page
article noting that the Holy See is
not opposed to the development
of earth satellites.
The editorial was occasioned by
a number of newspaper comments
on an article in L’Osservatore del
la Domenica, a weekly paper pub
lished in Vatican City, which de
scribed the Soviet satellite as an
instrument leading to greater pow
ers of warlike destruction.
L’Osservatore Romano com
mented, if one wanted to find the
Vatican’s opinion on the satellite
launching it could be found in a
speech which His Holiness Pope
Pius XII made in September 1956,
to the Seventh Congress of the In
ternational Federation of Astro
nautics.
At that time the Pope was
speaking on research leading to
the conquest of interplanetary
space and said:
“You must be aware, gentlemen,
that a plan of such magnitude in
volves intellectual and moral con
siderations which cannot be over
looked, involving a certain con
cept of the world and of its final
ity.
The Lord Who has given the
heart of man the desire for knowl
edge did not intend to put a limi
tation on these efforts when He
said “Fill the earth and subdue
it.”
“He entrusted to man and offer
ed to the human mind the whole
of creation so that man might bet
ter understand ever more fully the
greatness of the infinity of its Cre
ator . . . This common interest of
the whole of humanity for the
peaceful conquest of the universe
must help to make men constantly
more conscious of the meaning of
community and of solidarity, so
that all may feel to a greater ex
tent that they form part of the
great family of God, of being sons
of the same Father. . . .
“The most daring explorations
of space will only help to intro
duce among men new ferments of
division unless this progress pro
ceeds on an equal footing inspired
by a more conscientious moral
meditation on its dedication to the
higher interests of humanity.”
Raleigh NCCLA Deanery
Will Meet October 20
DURHAM — It was announced
this week that the Raleigh Dean
ery of the North Carolina Cath
olic Laymen’s Association will meet
here on Sunday, October 20 com
mencing at 3 p.m. This meeting
will be held at the Immaculate
Conception auditorium, Durham
with Father Charles J. O’Connor
as the host pastor.
Invitations to the priests and
laity of the parishes in this dean
ery have been issued and a size
able representation is expected to
attend. The meeting will also mark
the election of new officers who
will assume a responsible position
in the framework of the Laymen’s
Association for the next two years.
The Mission Helpers of the Sa
cred Heart of Charlotte are ex
pected to attend and address the
gathering. Dr. Walter Kulash, State
President of the NCCLA will speak
on “The Laymen’s Role in the
NCCLA.” Father Francis A. Mc
Carthy of Southern Pines and Fa
ther James E. McSweeney of
Washington, N. C., are expected to
attend.
christ the king — oct 27,
5 MILLION CATHOLIC U. S. YOUTH
WILL RENEW LOYALTY PLEDGE
Annual Observance o.f Catholic Youth Week is again sched
uled for the week beginning with Sunday, October 27, Feast of
Christ the King. This year the theme for Catholic Youth Week
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October 27 • November 3
4MI0NAI COUNCH 0* CAINOUC TOWIf ■rMMIMOTOH 4 4 4
Queen's Visit
Recalls Title
Defensor Fidei
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12—The
full title used in the official intro
duction of Queen Elizabeth of
England during her U. S. visit
(October 16-21) includes the term,
“Defender of the Faith.”
Her complete title reads: Eliza
beth the Second, by the Grace of
God of the United Kingdom, Cana
da of her Other Realms and Ter
ritories Queen, Head of the Com
monwealth, Defender of the
Faith.”
The derivation of the royal
title, “Defender of the Faith” is
of peculiar interest to all Chris
tians. Paradoxically as it may
seem, it was originally granted by
Pope Leo X to King Henry VIII,
in October, 1521, in reward for a
book he published attacking Mar
tin Luther and his teachings.
Entitled the “Assertio Septem
Sacramentorum,” or “Defense of
the Seven Sacraments,” the vol
ume so pleased the reigning pon
tiff, Pope Leo X, that he granted,
in full Consistory, on October 26,
1521 the title of Fidei Defensor
to England’s Henry VIII. The pa
pal bull (original now in the Brit
ish Museum) conferring the title
did not arrive in Britain until af
ter Pope Leo X died. At Henry’s
request Pope Clement VII, on
March 5, 1523, confirmed the grant
of the title.
There is nothing in the wording
of either bull to indicate that the
title was to be in perpetuity or to
be handed down to Henry’s heirs
(Continued on Page 8)
is summed up in the slogan
“Healthier, Holier, Happier.”
Young men and women of North
Carolina will join with millions
throughout the United States as
they assist in the triumphant lit
urgy of the Mass of Christ the
King, and march to the Banquet
Table of the Lord. United, with
unbroken ranks, some four thou
sand boys and girls of the Raleigh
Diocese next Sunday will “go in
to the altar of God, to God Who
giveth joy to their youth.”
Besides reception of the Sacra
ments in a body, the Catholic
youth of the nation will dramatize
their solidarity and their common
goals by putting on programs and
discussions which will point up
the challenge to youth of the prob
lems of our day. The shaping of
the future world is in the hands of
the youth of today. It is for Cath
olic young men and women to un
derstand the meaning of their
Faith in meeting and answering
the gigantic problems of the chang
ing world we live in.
Pope Pius XII, many Cardi
nals and Bishops in the United
States fully bless and back the
CYW observance.
President Eisenhower gave his
full endorsement to Catholic
Youth Week with this statement:
“The , seventh annual observance
of National Catholic Youth Week
presents an opportunity to streng
then the faith and work of all par
ticipants. The service of God and
neighbor leads to the fulfillment
of your theme: Healthier, Holier,
Happier citizens.”
Throughout the Diocese of Ra
leigh each parish has also been as
signed a special week for daily
Mass and Communion. Beginning
on the Feast of the Kingship of
Christ, some parish in the dio
cese will each week be honoring
Christ the King through the Im
maculate Heart of Mary, Queen of
all youth. This chain of daily
adoration will carry on until Pen
tecost, May 25, 1958, Feast of the
Holy Spirit and the Church Mili
tant.
Information on the proper ob
servance of Christ the King Feast
and Catholic Youth Week has gone
out from the Youth Department of
the North Carolina Catholic Lay
men’s Association. Additional de
tails on suggested program can be
had by writing to YOUTH DEPT.,
NCCLA, 412 South Franklin
Street, Rocky Mount, N. C.
Miss Barbara McNulty
Winston Salem Senior
Wins Poetry Prize
WINSTON-SALEM — Barbara
McNulty, 17, a senior at Villa Ma
rie-Anna Academy, recently won
second place in the national poe
try contest sponsored by the Cath
olic Daughters of America.
“The Searcher” was the title of
her poem. All poems entered in
the competition had a religious
theme. Barbara’s entry was spon
sored by Court Santa Maria 1700,
Winston-Salem unit of the Catho
lic Daughters.
Mrs. Richard F. Scherer, Grand
Regent of Court Santa Maria, pre
sented a $50 check to Barbara in
recognition of her achievement.
She is the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. F. C. McNulty of 1119 Mar
tin St., Winston-Salem.