"GodGrantUsPeace"
LIMERICKCATHOLICSGIVELEADTOTHEIRBRETHREN.
OnSunday,February25th,Limerick wasthesceneofagreatandmostsignificantreligiousdemonstration-asolemnprofessionoffidelitytothe Churchandmanifestationofdevotion totheIrishHierarchy. MembersoftheArch-Confraternity oftheHolyFamilyattachedtothe RedemptoristChurch,numberingover 7.000,marchedwithbands,throughthe city,andpresentedanaddresstoMost Rev.Dr.Hallinan. Theaddressemphasisedthat,nomatterwhatpoliticaldiffarencesmayexistamongthealemben.theyareunitedintheirdetermilatientoregardas theVoiceofGodtheteachin4.;-ofthe Bishops. HisLordship,;nrsply,saidtheyhad cometomakereparationfortheinjuriesandinsultstotheFaithcausedby the.disseminationoffalseprinciples andgroundlessallegations.
Tracingthecourseofeventssince thesigningoftheTreaty,Dr.Hallinan showedthattherewasnoepiscopalinterference,muchlessdictation,inpolitics.Eventshadjustifiedtheprudent andcautiousattitudeoftheBishops.
CityStreetsCrowded.
Theoccasionwassolemnisedina trulyreligioussense,removedaltoget' herfrompoliticalaspects.ThemembersoftheConfraternity,accompanied bythecitybands,marchedthrough thestreetstoSt.John'sCathedral, wherethepresentationoftheaddress tookplace. Over7,000menandboysmarched. headedbyFatherRobinson.C.SS.R., SpiritualDirectoroftheConfraternity, andformerlyoftheArchdioceseof Perth.ThePrefects.withtheirshields,presentedamostedifyingsight.Theprocessiontook40minutestopassagiven point.Thewholeroutewaslinedwith people,whocamefromoutlyingdistrictstoseetheimposingspectacle. Scrollscarriedintheprocessionbore theinscriptions:
"Godgrantuspeace." "TheBishopsteachingthevoiceof God." "GodBlessthePopeandIrishBishops."
AnumberoftheCivicGuardinuniform.formingasectionoftheConfraternity,madeastrikingdisplay.The Cathedral,notbeingspaciousenough toaccommodatethevastthrong,his Lordshipreceivedtheaddress,which wasreadbyMr.ThomasDuggan,from aspeciallypreparedplatformerectedat St.John'sSquare. Sacredmusicwasplayedbythe bandsandhymnssung.TheBishop, inanopencat,accompaniedtheprocessiononthereturnjourney,andimpartedtheBenedictionattheRedemptoristChurch. TheAddress. Theaddressstatedthemembersof theLimerickBranchoftheArch-Confraternityfeltthat"thepresentstate ofaffairsinIrelandcallsforapublic professionofourfidelitytotheteachingauthorityofOurHolyMotherthe Church.Itistogiveexpressionto thisconvictionthatweholdthisgreat religiousdemonstrationto-day.
givenpermissionforthereligiousprocessionwhenhelearnedthatitwas non-sectionalandhadnopoliticalmotiveorobject.HethankedthemembersoftheConfraternityforproclaim. ingtheirloyaltytohimaschiefpastorofthediocese,and,throughhim,to hisbrothersintheIrishEpiscopacy, and,throughthem.totheChurchof whichtheyaretheaccreditedrepresentativesinIreland.
Themembershadcomeinthemidst ofthesurroundingsorrowstomake inthefaceofthatoldCatholicland andofthewholeworldpublicprofessionoftheirCatholicFaithandof theirundyingloyaltytotheirBishops asthesuccessorsoftheApostles,their divinelyappointedteachersinfaith andmorals.
Theyhadcometomakereparation fortheinsultsandinjuriestothe Faithandreligiouslifeofthecountry causedbythedisseminationoffalse principlesandgroundlessallegationsregardingthemotivesandactionsof theirBishopsonrecentoccasions,and. continuedhisLordship."tosaythat youdissociateyourselvesfrom
SuchUnworthyand'On-CatholicConduct; furhaditnotbeenstatedthatthe Bishopsforgotthemselves,thatthey actedfrompartybiasratherthanfrom spiritualzeal-andthat,outsteppingthe propersphereoftheiractivity,they hadplayedthepartratherofpolitical partisansthanofpastorsofthepeople?"Theseallegationswereunfounded.andunjust.
Referringtothepowerandinfluence oftheclergyinIreland,theBishop saiditgrewoutofthecircumstances ofthecountryalmostasnaturallyas theauthorityoftheparentoverhis offspring.TheresultofthepersecutionunderthePenalLawswasthat therehadsprungupanintimatebond ofunionbetweentheIrishpriestsand theirpeople. Theinfluenceoftheclergyhadbeen employedinvindicatingandwinning therights-religious,political.andeducational-oftheirpeople. Nodoubtindividualcasesoccurred whenthisinfluencewasexercisedinall imprudentorintemperateway.It wouldbeamiracleifitwereotherwise. TherewasaJudasamong.theApostles. Butspeakinggenerally,theirinfluence servedIreland.HencetheywerevilifiedbyIreland'senemies.
TheBishop'sPrudence.
"Letme."proceededDr.Hallinan, "drawyourattentiontocertainevents andfacts.OnDecember6,1921,the TreatybetweentheBritishandIrish plenipotentiarieswassigned,andon thenextdayMr.deValera,inapublic pronouncement.statedthatsomeofhis Cabinetweredissatisfiedwithsomeof thetermsoftheTreaty.lielaid downtwosoundprinciples-first,that thequestioncouldbesolvedinaconstitutionalway:and,secondly,thatthe Armyhadnothingtosaytoit.
"WeassureyourLordshipthatno matterwhatpoliticaldifferencesmay Existamongstusweareunitedas CatholicsinourdeterminationtoregardasTheVoiceofGodHimself theteachingofourBishopsonmattersottaithandmoralconduct. ueregretthatinthepresenttroubledstateofourcountrythereare somewhospeakandactasifthey wouldpurposelyestrangetheflock tromtheirpastors.Theycriticisethe moralteachingofourBishops,and theyseemtonayenomoreregardfor religiousconvictionsthanforpolitical opinions.But,myLord,.themenof theConfraternityarenotofthattype. Farfromit. "Weloveourholyfaith,received fromGodthroughourApostle.St.Patrick.Ourancestorsheldfasttoit throughcenturiesofsufferingand handeditdowntousasourrichestinheritance.Wearedeterminedtopreserveitandtopassitonuntarnished tothosewhocomeafterus.Faithof ourfathers,holyfaith,wewillbetrue totheetilldeath.'Inmattersof religionweshallneverfollow ThelizampleofMartinLuther, owbeguidedbyInslalseprinciple,1 pi',atejuogment.Ratnersnailwe takeourstandwiththoseforwhom St.yaerspokewhenhesaid,'Lord,to whomShadwegutThoubastthe wordsofeternallife.'
'OurLordrimpartedthesewordsof eternallitetoIllsApostlesandtheir successors,andHecommandedthe laithlultoregardtheirteachingasHis own.'liethathearsyou.'saidHe, 'hearsMe.'Hethatdespisesyou,despisesMe.' "Toyou,myLord,andtoallourBishops,wearetolookfunlightandguidanceinallmattersappertainingto faithandmorals.andwe,astrueCatholics,areeverready,likelittlechildren,toacceptandobserveyourreligiousteachingineverydetail.
"AsConfraternitymenwearedeeplyindebtedtoyourLordshipandyour predecessors,thesaintlyDr.Butler, andourbelovedDr.O'Dwyer,forthe greatinterestalwaystakeninour spiritualwelfare.Toalesserdegree weareindebtedtoalltheotherBishopsofIreland.especiallytothosewho honouredusbytheirpresenceonthe occasionofourgoldenjubileecelebrations.
"Toyouandtothemweofferthis addressasanexpressionofoutunswervingloyaltytotheChurch'steachingandofourpersonalrespectand venerationforyourselves;andwhat wearenowexpressingbywordswe expressedthismorningindeeds,when tothenumberof6,000menand1,500 boyswereceivedHolyCommunionfor yourLordship'sintentions. "MayOurDivineLordbepleasedto acceptthisspiritualofferingasapeace offeringunbehalfofourbelovedcountry,andmaylieinreturnbestowupon usHispricelessblessingsofpeace, unityandcharity."
InsultstotheFaith.
MostRev.Dr.Hallinanwhowasreceivedwithupliftedhands,saidhehad
'Ameetingcathe',auwassummonedfortiecember19,totusetissthe matterandusetheconstitutional metnodofsolvingit.Itwasevident tnattnedivisionoftheCabinetwas beingteltandwasspreadingall tnrougnthecountry,anu,at.-curuingly. aspecialmeetinguitheBishopswas summonedandheldinDublinonDecember13,thedaybetoretheDail meeting. "Herewasapoliticalissueofthe firstimportancetothecountry.SurelyiftheBishopsweremerepoliticians wieldingenormousinfluencewiththeir flocksnowis.thetimeandtheopportunitytotaketheirsideandusetheir influence.Butwhatdidtheydo?
"Recognisingthatatthisstageit waspurelyapoliticalquestion,and thatindividuallyandcollectivelyholdingverydecisiveviewsonthematter. theyneitherpassedaresolutionnorissuedanypronouncement. "Asimplestatementofthreeparagraphsfromthatmeetingappeared nextmorninginthePress.Thefirst wasatributetothepatriotismand honestyofpurposeofthemembersof theDail;thenoneofconfidencethatin thecomingdeliberationsmembers wouldbesuretoconsultforthebest interestsofthecountryand TheWishesofthePeople; and,filially,askingtheclergythroughoutthecountrytootterMassandthe laitytojoinwiththeminpersevering prayertoimploretheDivineblessing onthesedeliberations.
"Now,asyouwillsee,therewasno episcopalinterference,muchlessdictationinpolitics.
"Ihavereasontoknowthatmany peopleinthecountryweredisappointedbeacusetheBishopsdidnotinterfereorgivetheirviewsinthematter. butsubsequenteventshave,Ithink, fullyjustifiedtheprudent,cautiousactionoftheBishops.
"ThenextmeetingoftheHierarchy washeldonApril26.Meantimetwo eventsoffar-reachingimportancehad happened.First,afterlongandimpassioneddebatesintheDail,the Treatywasratifiedbyamajorityof themembers,aProvisionalGovernmentwasformed,andthereandthen theProvisionalGovernmentbecame thelegitimatecivilauthorityinthe country."Theothereventwastheseizingof somepublicbuildingsinDublinbya smallsectionofthearmy.andthesettingupofaMilitaryCounciltogovern thecountryindefianceof,andinoppositionto,thecivilauthorityoftheDail andtheProvisionalGovernment.In consequenceofthisactionupand downthroughthecountrytherewasa successionofoutragesonlifeandproperty,andofsocialdisorganisation headingforanarchy.
isalegitimatequestion
of
Nationaldiscussionanddebate. OnthisbigquestioneveryIrishman isentitledtohisownopinion,subject,ofcourse,totruthandresponsibilitytoGod.Wetoo,holdvery definiteanddecidedviewsuponthat importantissue. "'Butwedunotobtrudethemon anybody.Likethegreatbulkof theNation,wethinkthebestand wisestcourseforIrelandistoaccept theTreaty,andmakethemostof thefreedomitundoubtedlybringsfreedomforthefirsttimein700 years.' "ButtheyaddthatthisisaNational questiontobesettledbytheNational will,ascertainedbyelectioncarriedout intheordinaryconstitutionalway.Here.withtheTreatyandthepolitical question,neitherinsubstancenorform istheieanytraceoftheEpiscopaldictation.Theygavetheiropinionwith theverymodestwords'wethink.'
"When,however,theycometodeal withmoralquestions,thereisachange intheirlanguage.Nowtheydidnot merelygivetheiropinion;theyare speakingastheDivinelyauthorisedexponentsoffaithandmoralsovertheir peopleinclearandmeasuredwords whentheycondemnprincipleswhich werebeingpropagatedasbeinginfun"damentalconflictwithGod'slawand socialmorality,suchastheclaimthat asectionofthearmythoughtitright todeclareitselfindependentofthe civilGovernmentofthecountry.
"Thearmyasawhole,muchlessa portionofit,hasnosuchmoralright. Thearmy,bythenatureofitsinstitution.istheservant,notthemaster,of thecivilauthority. "Thecontraryprinciplewouldbea usurpationofthepeople'sright.and wouldbesubversiveofcivilliberty.In theOctoberPastoraltheBishopsdeal againwiththeseimmoralprinciples, andinburningwordstheydescribeand denouncetheirdisastrousconsequences:Assassination,thecampaignof plunderandincendiarismthegenera; demoralisation,especiallyoftheyoung: andthecampaignofasectionagains, theBishops,whosepastoralvoicethey wouldsilencebycalumnyandintimidation.IndealingwiththistheB:s. hopssay:"'Ourpeoplewillobservethatinall thisthereis NoQuestionofMerePolitics, butoneofwhatismorallyrightor wrong,accordingtotheDivinelaw,in certainprinciplesandin'acertainseries ofacts,whhercarriedoutforpoliticalpurposeiorotherwise.' "Ikreletmedirectyourattentionto thetenderpaternalfeelingwhichanimatedyourBishopsinthisclear, stronglanguageofcondemnationand censure: "'Itmay,perhaps,besaidthatin thisourteachingwewouudthe strongfeelingsofmanyofourpeople.Thatweknow,andthethought isagonytous,butwemustteachthe truthinthisgreatcrisisnomatter whattheconsequences.Weissue thisPastoralLetterinthegravest senseofourresponsibility,mindfulof thechargelaiduponusbyOurDixMeMastertopreachHisdoctrine andsafeguardthissacredruleof Faithandmoralsatanycost.We must.inthewordsofSt.Peter, "ObeyGodratherthanman."' "Ithoughtitright,"addedhisLordship,"toplacebeforeyouinsomedetailtheactionsandmotivesofyour Bishopsinthiscrisisofourcountry. Youwillseethereinafulljustification ofourown'action.Youwillsee,I believe,thatyourpresentspiritual shepherdsintheEpiscopacyarenot unworthyoftheirpredecessors,andarc preparedtofacenotonlyunjustcritii ismand'calumny,butevenimprison meatanddeath,ifneedbe,ratherthan failintheirdutytotheirflock,or1., traytheirtrust."
trueNationalhonestyurahighmural code. TheGovernmentsetupbythemajorityofthepeoplewas,tieproceeded, theNationalGovernment,andthelaws ofthatGovernmentwerethelawsthey wereboundtoobey. TheseweretheteachingsofHoly Church.andnolayprophetsorfalse priestscouldupsetit.Theycould,he added,havenosecondhandfaith.
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Song,called"HUSH,"writtenbyThomasLeBreton.lateDriver 112th.HowitzerBattery,A.I.F. GENERALLENDINGLIBRARY.
Furlong's-TheNewFirm
LATESHINE'S,
."Thiswasthestateofthingswhen theBishopsmetinApril,1922. At thatmeetingthereweretwoissuesbeforethem--onepolitical,theother moral.TheTreatythoughpassedby amajorityoftheDail,hadnotyet beensubmittedtothejudgmentofthe country.Therewaswhattookplace "Alittlelater.theissue. TreatyorNoTreaty, wastobedecidedbythepeople.This wasapoliticalissue.Markagainhow cautiouslyandwithwhatreservethe Bishopstouchedonthispointinthe
TRUENATIONALHONESTY, PreachingatthecloseofaRetreat formenatSt.Andrew's.Westland Row.FatherGilmartin,CM.,saidhe wassureitwastheearnestwishof everyIrishheart110matterwhatchangestheyhadinthecountry'ssocial. political,oreconomicconditions,there shouldbenosunderingoftheties which'boundtheIrishpeopletothe idealofFaithandFatherland. Eachofthemcouldcontributeto wardsthatidealbylivinguptothe faithoftheChurchofChrist.Ajust manlivedbythatfaith,aspreachedby theBishopsandpastorsoftheChurch; andnotthefaithasinterpretedbyhis ownprivatejudgment.Onlybyregulatingtheirlivesaccordingtothe teachingsofthatfaithcouldtheyhave