ROME THE GAINER | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 24, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 21.

ROME THE GAINER.

"The war in the English Church against Ritualism," says the Catholic Mirror, "had the effect of filling the churches in which 'Romish' practises are followed, during holy week and Easter." As the result the High Churches are more determined than ever to hold to their Catholic rites. "Not a few of the churches held the service of tenebræ . Veneration of the Cross and the Stations was also followed, and more confessions were heard in ritualistic temples than ever before." One of the worst features of the matter is that the so-called "Evangelicals" in the English Church are endeavoring to suppress Ritualism through legal means; that is, they are trying to suppress Roman Catholicism in the church by Catholic weapons. One clergyman has well remarked, "Nothing tends so much to popularize an unpopular party as to give it just cause for crying 'persecution.'" The Catholic Mirror correspondent also notes the following:—

"An event took place on this day week, which may well be called memorable in the annals of London Catholicism. For the first time since the so-called Reformation, the Most Blessed Sacrament was carried in solemn procession through the streets to those unable through sickness or infirmity to make their Easter communion in the church. After the 7 o'clock Mass at St. Peter's, the Italian Church at Hatton Garden, the Rev. Father Cristoforo, P. S. M., left the church, carrying the Most Holy Sacrament under the canopy and preceded by cross-bearer, acolytes, the Confraternity of the Most Holy Sacrament in their scarlet and white habits, bearing lighted torches, and incense and bell-bearers. Following behind came the congregation with lighted tapers, the large proportion of men being particularly noticeable. Proceeding by the Clerkenwell road, several houses in the Italian quarter were visited, the people kneeling in the roadway reciting the Litany of Our Lady for the sick person during the administration. Everywhere the procession was received with signs of the most intense devotion."