Homage to Rome.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6825, 16 October 1900, Page 4

Homage to Rome.

THE aRE AT PILGRIMAGE TO THE

BEE OF PETER.

The present year is, as everybody knows, a " Holy "Year" in the Riman Catholic Church; The whole of that great body, by a universal act of religion is consecrating the close of one century and the beginning of the next.

The celebrations, though of a most comprehensive character, are not without precedent ; the Catholic Church being avowedly one of " all time" and '• all nations," has more than once auspiciously marked the transition fivru one century to the other. During the present year Peter's Pence is being collected in every diocese io be presented to the Pope on ihe Feast of Epiphany, 1901, and every diocese will either send lo the National Committee for presentation the Peter's Pence collected or notify to it the amount so collected. In this way the committee will be able to submit a public record of the totil subscribed.

Undoubtedly, theprincipal thing will be the p.reat itinerary to Home. It is firmly expected that every Roman Catholic family in England and Ireland will he personally represented on this occasion. In England the organisation, controlled by the National Committee, luis the direct personal co-operation of Cardinal Vaughan, who represents the clergy, and tha Du'se of Norfolk, who, as uremier Catholic peer of the realm, will head the laity.

In Ireland the pilgrimage to the Eternal City is being organised by Father King, of Inchicore, Dublin : and up lo the pre.sent no fewer than 600 nf the clergy and 50,000 of the laity in Ireland have enrolled their names in the Pilgrimage Association.

'Iwo loyal addresses, which will be presented to the Pope—one from the clergy by Cardinal Yaughnn, the other from the laity by the Duke of Norfolk —are receiving signatures on all sides. Many of the pilgrims have arranged to visit the Paris Exhibition en route.

Nor will the pilgrimage to Koine close the special significance of the Holy Year.

The various acts of sacred homage are. to bo crowned and confirmed by an act of public reparation and consecration, which will be made before the Blessed Sacrament exposed, either during the hour of transition from the present century into the next or at bucli suitable period as the Ordinary in each diocese may determine.

A national memorial of this consecration 111 be erected in the new Metropolitan Cathedral.