The Pope and Central Europe
June 2, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 91 THE POPE AND CENTRAL EUROPE nationalization of the...
...secondly, some readers may object to certain conclusions posited the "away from Rome" movement, fostered by the by this historian, or feel that the flavor of his own government, grew and did as much as it could to disnationalism occasionally artificializes what he has to rupt the cultural unity of the populace...
...First, lighten and guide those who are interested in the what threatened to become a violent schism raged itworld which has followed the great war...
...but the first scholarly attempt by a Catholic- nationality and sufficient vigor, and through them and *n attempt summed up in part six of Friedrich von the Nuncio did all it could to intensify Catholic reLama's Papst and Kurie, earlier issues of which have ligious life and to strengthen the defense of the Faith been noticed in The Commonweal-will really en- against attacks...
...Ten millions out of rise superior to bewildering changes, and to conserve a total population of 13,000,000 were in fealty to their best spiritual traditions...
...Here habilitation of John Huss were demanded...
...and it is difficult to siders carefully the import of exaggerated nationalism avoid confusing the .plans of one statesman with those and who remembers the origins of various oriental of another, or to separate clearly popular ambitions state churches...
...The sig- recent statement of the Protestant professor of thenature of the peace treaties...
...Under the leadership of a modernistic religious, such T HE complex cultural life of the nations into which things as dispensation from celibacy, a vernacular the old Austro-Hungarian empire was divided liturgy, cremation, discarding the breviary, and the requite baffles American attempts to understand it...
...The Vatican contented itself with aphad followed...
...and the official representative of the Papacy were subVon Lama begins his story with an account of the jected to a very real persecution...
...These are brave and hopeful minister of education ordered the suspension of re- words, paradoxical as the sceptical mind may find them...
...which are sometimes mutually hostile...
...But almost immediately after the foun- Papacy in the work of reconstruction reveals itself as dation of the republic, a struggle set in, primarily be- human and noble in every detail-as, indeed, the accause many priests joined the organization known as tion in which the grace of God has guided the "Shepthe Jednota, which had for its chief purpose the herd of the World...
...The break-up of tradi- Orient is losing all significance, the Catholic Occident tional -forms and bonds," says von Lama, "affected is gloriously gaining prestige...
...was a kind of signal for ology, Dr...
...people have accomplished is satisfactory ground for the Czecho-Slovakia, like Mexico, happened to be pre- belief that they have within themselves the power to dominately a Catholic country...
...The movethe roots of political and social action are embedded ment was strongly supported by the government, for in a tangled traditionalism as well as in the sudden reasons which will come home to anyone who conappearance of national autonomy...
...Pope In so far as the status of religion is concerned, Benedict XV declared simply: "We are ready to meet lsowever, one may generalize and say that the most all legitimate desires entertained by the people...
...The long there came an emphatic condemnation of the effort to existing concordat with the Hapsburg rulers had been do away with celibacy, as well as an interdict against abruptly broken off, and something like religious chaos the Jednota...
...efforts to deal with the same theme, various as they During all this troubled time, both the native clergy have been in outlook and authority...
...what important issue in Central Europe has been the estab- is not legitimate will not be granted...
...It is not easy to fathom and describe pointing to the important sees bishops of befitting chaos...
...Catholic theology is masof conflict, led in many instances to the disparagement ter of its task- it is explaining to the intellect the noble of vows...
...These came fast and heavily...
...ligious exercises in the schools, and there was made The story of Czecho-Slovakia is therefore not a manifest a general rebellion against all spiritual pleasant one, but is rich in heroic materials...
...The new which transcend time...
...Even at present do situation in Czechoslovakia which, being typical of one can speak of peace...
...But von Lama optimistically the state of affairs existing elsewhere in Central concludes his review of the situation by quoting the Europe, -can profitably be summarized here...
...Piety is once more people with a kind of intoxication which, in these new being fostered and enlivened by new religious orders...
...republics, was not without its influence upon a por- It is indeed an age of holy men, who despise themtion of the clergy...
...and simultaneously the revolutionists had truths of revelation, and it is coordinating the things broken to bits venerable shrines, placing the red flag of earth-of science and society-with the things in the niches where the Virgin had stood...
...What its autl ity and custom...
...Hromatka : "At the very time when the a destructive laisser-aller...
...and third, the say, but the work -is, on the whole, so circumspect and "feast" of John Huss became something like an occaauthoritative that it far surpasses in value all previous sion for rallying whatever forces were anti-religious...
...And later on lishment of relations with the Holy See...
...The share of the the Holy See...
...June 2, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 91 THE POPE AND CENTRAL EUROPE nationalization of the Church in Czecho-Slovakia...
...Exaggerated nationalism, irrita- selves, who curb their passions in an heroic manner, tion at the existing system for conferring benefices, and who know how to battle against revolting, indifand a moral laxity that had spread during the years ferent, and slothful souls...
...Rome's answer was positive and remedial...
...Naturally, self out and became mere impotent bickering...
Vol. 4 • June 1926 • No. 4
