ד'

CALENDAR OF FEASTS AND DIRECTORY.

JUNE.

8. SUNDAY. 4th after Pentecost. St. William, B.C. d. white. V. (2ud.) of the Feast to the Chapter; then (1st) of the following, com. of St. William, Sunday; and SS. Primus, &c. M.M. red.

9. Mon. St. John Nepomucen, M. d. (16th May); com. of S.S. Primus, &c. M.M. red (Shr. St. Pius 5th, P.C. d. white).

10. Tues. St. Margaret, Wid. sem.; 2nd Pr. A cunclis. white.

11. Wed. St. Barnabas, Ap. gr. d.; Cr. Pref. of App. red. 12. Thurs. St. John à Facundo, C. d. white.

13. Frid. St. Anthony of Padua, C. d. white. Abst.

14. Sat. St. Basil, B.C.D. d.; Cr. white.

CHURCH OF HIGHAM-FERRERS, Higham-Ferrers, in Northamptonshire, is an ancient town on the banks of the Nen, about sixty-five miles from London. It is called. Higham in Doomsday Book, and took its second name from the Earls Ferrers, who were its lords. Very curious Roman antiquities have been found here. The church is ancient, and was built about the year 1300. It has a double nave, north and south aisles, choir, and several chapels; together with a tower and a six-corurred spire, rising to 170 feet, and holding six bells. One of the doors is carved, and is much admired. The north chapel contains some armour, including John of Gaunt's breast-plate. The choir contains a screcu and some carved seats. Higham-Ferrers is about twenty miles from Fortheringhay,—the scene of the long imprisonluent and the murder of Mary Queen of Scots, under the mockery of legal form.

OUR Crimeau correspondent writes to say, that a monuinent is to be erected on Catheart's-hill, near Sebastopol, to the memory of the Catholic chaplains (connected with the British army), who have died in the Crimea.

RECEIVED. C. Law. Josephilip. - Osakoi. Wm. O'Keeffe.-W. S. D.-The report of the excellent National Provident Benefit Society The Poem on May.-Sonucts by the Rev. James A. Stothert. - Claire Maitland.-Address to Limerick Young Men's Society, by the Rev. 11. O'Ferral.

KENTISH-TOWN MISSION.-On Sunday, 25th May, two sermons were preached by Jesuit Fathers, at the temporary chapel, in Fortess-terrace, on behalf of this most interesting mission, 'and on the same day the Exposition of the Most Holy Sacrament commenced. The good pastor, Father Swift, leaves nothing undone which could advance the spiritual benefit of those who are entrusted to his charge. Few know the incessant labour and mental anxiety which are entailed upon a clergyman who is appointed to conduct a mission alone. No more really important service could be rendered to the cause of Catholicity in England, than to strengthen the hands of the reverend gentleman named above in his laborious efforts. The offerings of the faithful are to be sent to the Rev. Robert Swift, 3, Willow-terrace, Kentish-town, ucar London.

The present volume of the Lamp will end with the number dated 28th June, which number will contain a title-page and Index. The Jew of Verona" will, at the same time, be concluded. Those who wish to commence subscribing to the Lamp, with the new volume, will please forward their orders without delay. The increasing circulation of the Lamp has caused many numbers to go ont of print, and it is desirable to make such arrangements in time as may prevent disappointment, especially as several new and attractive features will be sedulously provided for our readers.-- JAMES Burke,

The Lamp.

THE CHURCH.

PASTORAL LETTER.

NICHOLAS, by the Divine Mercy, of the Holy Roman Church of the Title of St. Pudentiana Cardinal Priest, and Archbishop of Westminster. To our dearly beloved Children in Christ, the Faithful of the said Diocese. Health and Benediction in the Lord.

According to one anuual custom, we address you, dearly beloved in Christ, on behalf of the collection made every Trinity Sunday in our diocese, for the building and enlarging of churches and chapels. It is indeed difficult, year after year, to vary the form of an appeal so simple, to your charity and zeal.

Few cities in the world present a character so peculiar as the one which mainly constitutes our diocese, and this circumstance renders it diflicult for us to frame a language that shall appear appropriate throughout it. It is an accumulation of cities, or towns, or hamlets, rather than one consistent whole. A city where reside, during this portion of the year, the rich and noble from all parts of the empire; auether where centre its vast commercial wealth and prosperity; a middle region, where the business of every-day life, and the legal transactions of the kingdom, occupy thousands; a daily spreading and stretching growth in every direction of stately dwellings on one side, of villages for the poor in others, gaining ou, and occupying, the meadows and green lanes in which the last generation sported and walked, till suburbs as vast as the cities have surrounded them, and hemned them in-such is the ground of which, and over which, we have to scatter the seed of our pastoral word.

For, in the first place, it is yearly happening that a district springs up and becomes densely peopled where before was only a thin and scattered population. The few Catholics among it were amply provided for in the next mission, by whose priest they were attended. But the increase of numbers now requires a new foundation, a decent chapel, a residence for a priest, a school, and then a maintenance, however slender, for priest and teacher.

This, dearly beloved, is no fanciful picture of our ever-growing wants. The two missions of Clerkenwell and Islington arose within the limits of a mission in the city by the spread of population towards the north, and the formation of new suburban districts. This took place under the administration of our venerated predecessor, Bishop Griffiths. Two priests had to be stationed at each. Within the last few years two new inissions arose from the first of these, requiring three additional priests, making five where two sufficed before. Then lately it has been found necessary to subdivide the second of the districts mentioned. A new and flourishing mission has been started in Kingsland, conducted by two Fathers of Charity, and a large building has been obtained, which in a few days will begin to be transformed into a most becoming temporary chapel, with ample schools. And already this new mission is preparing the way for further extension by the purchase of schools at some little distance. And in another direction a new station is commenced in Holloway, an offshoot also of Islington. Thus five priests now labour where two were lately deemed sufficient; and, taking both places together, we have this result, that where a few years ago two new chapels were opened, served by four priests, there are now six churches or chapels, and ten priests. Add to this, the neighbouring and recent missions of Hackney and Walthamstow, both serving parts of the same newly-created districts, and you have an aggregate of eight chapels and twelve priests, required to serve one new suburb of north London.

case.

Let us,

Were the new Catholic inhabitants of these districts rich, there might be comparatively little difficulty in meeting these overgrown demands. But exactly the reverse is the A very small number only belong to the class that lives without labour. Industrious families that inhabit the outskirts for the sake of health, tradesmen, often with large families, and domestics of rich people, together with masses of poor, make up chiefly these new congregations. How are they to be provided for? How are their children to be educated? In some measure, at least, by the charity of the rich. But what we have already said applies only to a part of one of our difficulties; for we spoke of the ground for which, and on which, we have to sow the seeds of charity. then, observe, upon the latter point, that the anomalous construction of society in this capital makes it difficult to create a common and united interest for the relief of our spiritual distress. Other large cities have some bond of unity, one municipality, one religion, one generai system of public charity, one Religious Order of charity diffused throughout. But here there is no sympathy, no tie between the parts. What does the square in Western London know of poor Spitalfields, except its orris-weavers and its silks? What does Belgravia care about the City, beyond its corn-market or its Stock Exchange? Who in a villa, on the beautiful banks of the Thames, inquires into the welfare of Mile-end, situated though it be on the polluted waters of the same stream?

And yet, dearly-beloved children in Christ, it is to these desolate regions that we must refer the stranger, to show him that this city is not neglecting its duty to God. To places far distant from the abodes of the wealthy, to quarters less known to many of them than the streets and suburbs of Paris, but now more familiar to the Catholic of every rank, who, in due season, explores them, to find the place where his Lord is lovingly exposed to adoration among his poor; thither we have more than once couducted or directed the friend who wished to see what provision was being made for the increasing wants of our people; for, in addition to those whom we have described as forming new congregations, where a fresh township arises, it must not be forgotten that in every part of this city, but particularly in its eastern portion, there are settled, from old tines, multitudes of the very poorest classes, whose mumbers may indeed increase, but whose condition can but little improve.

Now, it is in the midst of these poor dwellings, far away from the sympathies of the rich, that have arisen, and are advancing towards completion, churches not unworthy of the name for dimensions and simple unadorned comeliness. Since last we addressed you in the cause of this charity, we have had the satisfaction of opening the first of these, or rather its nave and aisles, for a large portion of it is not yet completed. The occasion was sufficiently important to induce our venerable and dear brother, the Bishop of Amiens, to come over, with several of his clergy, and assist at our function, to our great joy and edification. When we remember how, a few years ago, there was not even an humble chapel there; how a miserable school was made to serve for oue during the space of several years, while a numerous and edifying congregation was formed; how to this has succeeded a spacious and really beautiful church, frequented by thousands of faithful poor; how six priests are now actively engaged, besides a body of brothers, where so lately there was not one priest stationed, we cannot but raise our hearts in fervent gratitude to our good God for the great consolation here afforded us, and for the many blessings poured out upon a most dear portion of our flock.

But further consolation yet awaits us; for in the same district of the city two large and very beautiful churches are drawing fast to completion, and will be ready for opening, we trust, in the course of this year. Again and again we have recommended to your charity in our Pastoral Letters, issued on each Trinity Sunday,-again and again they have been made receivers of the small grauts which this collection has enabled our "Council of Temporal Administration to make. For this we are deeply thankful to Him who has inspired the charity of many thus to concur. But we owe a duty of public expression of our gratitude to that truly Catholic work of charity, the Association for the Propagation of the Faith, which, having its root in France, has spread its branches over the whole world, for the double purpose of gathering the little dew which falls upon them, and shedding the copious fruits which it bears in the most distant regions of the earth. Most liberally has this noble society come to our aid; indeed, we know not what we should have done without it. We therefore gladly seize this opportunity of again commending it to your generous support, and exhorting all that can afford its trifling contribution to associate themselves to it.

But we must not overlook the extraordinary exertions made by the local congregations in every instance. It would be invidious to single out one,-all have done their best, and all deserve our public acknowledgment and praise. Nor, again, must it be attributed to any cause save want of time, if we do not mention many other works, completed or in progress, ' connected with the topic of this Pastoral. We might, for instance, inform you more fully of the recent consecration and opening of a new church at Romford; of the roofing in of a large aud stately one at Bayswater; of the erection of schools and chapel at Bunhill-row; of the establishment of our reformatory school, already at work at Hammersmith; of the purchase of a most eligible house for the commencement of the first hospital in England under Sisters of Charity; and of the preparation for several other most useful undertakings, to which it would be premature as yet to allude. To the last two works-the reformatory and the hospital,-steps are being taken to direct public Catholic attention, in a more detailed and specific manner.

God forbid that we should allude to these various works in a spirit of boasting or human complacency. It is only in gratitude to Him, and for encouragement to you, that we presume to mention them. From Him has come the first holy thonght of those who have planned or proposed them; from Him, often unexpectedly the means by which they have been commenced and carried forward; to Ilim alone we look for their accomplishment and their fruit. Well we know that unless the Lord Our God build up the house and guard our

city, in vain you labour and in vain we watch. Neither active exertion nor Pastoral vigilance will aught avail. Past success, prescut labour, and future hope, belong alone to His grace and mercy who alone can give increase.

But to return to our first thought: how difficult it is, dearly. beloved in Christ, how perplexing to hold one common lanto such distinct and often widely-sundered portions of guage the same flock. If we speak of the destitution of our congregations, of the want of schools, churches, and priests in Loudon, how cold and needless may this sound to the rich who are in want of none of those things, and who have no opportunity of seeing their want elsewhere? If we exhort to generous and abundant almsdeeds, how sorely must such words afflict the poor, who have little to give, and exert themselves nobly? If we raise the tone of our address, and treat of higher matters, we become unintelligible to our little ones; if we descend to their level and speak to these, we are insipid to the more wise. If we inculcate the duties of the rich, we are unprofitable to the destitute and afflicted; if we dwell on the spiritual blessings of poverty and sorrow, we may scem to grieve and reproach, rather than instruct, the prosperous.

In one thing, however, blessed be God, there is no distinction between classes, or districts, or persons among you who listen to our words; and one title we can give you in common, and one exhortation we can address to you all. You are all equally children of the same Mother-the one Church of God. You listen to the same voice of teaching-you follow the same guidance-you observe the same law. One divine faith unites you by an indissoluble bond in one body, one spirit, one hope of your calling, one charity of your hearts.

Yes, in unshaken belief in the holy and undivided Trinity, in the mystery which the Church proclaims and honours this day, you are firmly joined, cemented, inseparably combined into a holy living temple of the Most Holy Living God. Among you, with you, in you He dwells-through this heavenly faith, which you hold in communion with His Catholic Church. Rich or poor, strong or weak, wise or foolish, there is none in her mind or in her heart--all to her are rich who hold the treasures of present grace and the inheritance of future bliss; all are strong who, unshaken by the blasts of contradictory opinions and of worldly temptations, keep steadily on their course, in faith and in virtue, towards the one haven of eternal peace; all are wise who, however different in earthly learning, are equal in the knowledge of God and the simple and sublime science of revealed truth. Wherefore, dearly-beloved children in Jesus Christ, keep hold of this saving faith once delivered to the saints, and let no new fancies of modern learning divert you from the simple belief which you have held from childhood in the holy mysteries of your faith. Be docile to the teaching of your Church, in whom the Son of God abides teaching, whom the Holy Spirit ever guides into all truth.

In honour, therefore, of the Blessed Trinity, we affectionately exhort and invite you to contribute on its feast towards the sacred fund annually collected for erecting churches in its name and for its worship.

According to custoin, we make known at the end of this our pastoral the application of last year's collection, which amounted to 3117. 15s. 7d.

And may the blessing of God, Oue in Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Given in Westminster, and appointed to be read on Trinity Sunday in all churches and chapels of our diocese, this thirteenth day of May, in the year of Our Lord, 1856. F. Can. Searle, Sec. N. CARD. WISEMAN.

Ancient Ireland and St. Patrick. By M. A. O'BRENNAN, Esq. LL.D. President Collegiate Institution, 57, Boltonstreet, Dublin.

THE learned and patriotic anthor of this volume is well known to the readers of the Lamp, whose columns have frequently been adorned with reports of his eloquent lectures, and with extracts from the interesting work before us. Dr. O'Brennan has given an honourable example to those Irishmen who spend all their mental power on the literary treasures of other lands, and neglect to work that native mine which contains such sterling ore. There is in these pages a vast fund of historical information, and a bold and manly assertion of the rights of Ireland.

The work contains, Bishop O'Conuell's Dirge, with translation and notes, full of interest; Colouies of Ireland: the true route of the Gadelians from Scythia; Britaon-Maol, the ancestor of the Britons; St. Patrick's Birth-place, ou incontrovertible authority, containing sketches of eminent Irish saints; St. Patrick's Life, by St. Ficcb; his Life by St. Seachnall, with translation and notes, approved of by the illustrious Archbishop of Tuam; Sketches of the illustrious Men of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries-their struggles for liberty; the eloquent metrical translation of the Dirge, by the Rev. Charles J. O'Connor; and a large quantity of other most interesting matter. We are glad to see that this book has been a good deal quoted in lectures on Ireland, in England and Scotland. The author has made Ireland his debtor by proving the truth of her claim to ancient literary renown; and his book ought to be a most welcome addition to the library of the scholar of any country. It is of very moderate price; and this is no small recommendation. We subjoin an extract, though we have placed some passages before our readers on former occasions:

ST. PATRICK'S BIRTHPLACE

A writes on the words "Vico Tabernie" (used respecting St. Patrick's birthplace), has asserted that no such language occurs, as connected with Belgic Gaul, in the days of the Romans, and thence he infers that Bononia was in Italy, because the cognomen "Taberniæ was used by St. Patrick in his "Confessions: " and it is further alleged that the term was not applicable to any part of Gaul in which the Romans ruled, inasmuch as Taberna was a tent. There never was greater nonsense urged to sustain a false position than this, for what are camps or Castra, but Tabernæ or tents. Surely, as no one in his senses will state that Castra were houses, it must follow they were Tabernæ; and, as a consequence, though that exact word may not have been used by any Roman writer when treating of the Roman expeditions in Belgic Gaul, there is no reason why a town which sprung up where the Roman encampment was, would not be called Tabernia, or Taberna. Moreover, it is not requisite, to prove our position, to have recourse to a weak shift, and say that the Belgic Taberna was so called after Tarvana, a Roman officer. What writes Lemprière? We introduce him here, not to prove the existence of Terounna alone, but to exhibit the folly of those who say that Taberniæ was a name peculiar to Italy.

These are Lemprière's words: "Tabernae Rhenanæ, a town of Germany, on the Rhine, now Rhim Zabern. Tabernæ Riguæ, now Bern Castel, on the Moselle: Tabernae Triboccorum, a town of Alsace, now Saverne." In this passage we have an & and ≈ substituted for t.

It is pitiable that men with eyes to read will not consult authorities before they hazard opinions. If the persons who assumed to prove that St. Patrick was an Italian looked over

their classics they would not have made themselves so ridiculous in endeavouring to maintain a false position, and upon false data. We are quite aware that there is a Bononia in Cisalpine Gaul, part of the modern Italy; but facts and circumstances are in the way of its being the birthplace of our Patron Saint. Now, as to the statement that the word Taberna does not appear in Romau writers when speaking of Northern Gaul, we have made out the following passage in the "Annals of Tacitus," book ii. cap. 14, “adit eastrorum vias, adsistit tabernaculis," he approaches the avenues of the camp, he remains beside the tents. We quote these words simply to show the temerity of hazarding an opinion without consulting authors. If it be objected that the quotation has not reference to the cucampinent in the Morini, our answer is, that the system of eucamping must be the same on the west of the Rhine as ou the east in Belgic Gaul, and that a part of Germany was included in the former country in Casar's time. We have also to observe, that Taberua and Tabernaculum, having reference to Castra, are of the same signification, though Tabernaculum, in strict philology, nucaus a small teut. The Jewish tents, which must have been very large, were called Tabernacula, Tabernacles.

Hence we thus argue. When a question is raised as to the identity of a certain town, reason suggests that when facts, circumstances, and a generally accepted opinion are in favour of a given one, we are bound to arrive at the logical conclusion, that such a town is that meant; but, in the present case, the three things are plainly for Bononia (Cellice, Bonaven), Taberniæ, in the Morini: therefore, it must have been the birthplace of St. Patrick. The river or rivers are there; the Taberna, or Castra, were there; the ruins of Terrouane, according to Lemprière, and the Le Brue are there; and a general, nay, an almost universal, opinion on the point exists.

But, before we proceed to the argument deducible from St. Patrick's confessions as to his birthplace, let us say, that Tours could not by any means be where he was taken captive. For it lay to the west, and when the Irish were pursuing the Romans to the Alps their ronte lay rather to the east.

We find the original of the following words in the Leabhar Breae (Lhowar Bhrack), Speckled Book, at Seachnall's hynm, "Patrick's Captivity." "They Irish invaders happened to come on a party of the Britous of Erclnade. A party of the Britons met them the pirates at that time in Armorica tha litoralis. They killed Potitus's son, Calpurn, Patrick's father, and they captured Patrick and his two sisters." Nothing can be clearer than that the Britous and the Eccluade, alluded to in the above quotation, belonged to Gaul. The conjecture that they belonged to Scotland is most ridiculous. What would have brought a Scotch family to so distant a land: Moreover, the Irish at that time were aiding the Scotch Britous to repel the Romans, and in doing so they captured Patrick in his native land, as the "Speckled Book shows. We shall return to this part of the subject at another tine.

Lingard makes particular mention of the snowy heights of the Morini, of which Gesoriacum, or Bouonia Tapurna (Bouaven) was the fortress, and Taberna the cicitas, or corporate capital. Hence, as we would say Howth (if it were a fortress), Dublin, so St. Patrick, Bonocen Toberniæ. Nor does the use of for alter the matter, because it was already shown that there has been a literal substitution in other tongues. Moreover, retustas, que consumit ferrum lapidemque may have given us for . But to reader morc intelligible the addition Taberaie; if au Irishman be on the Continent, and a Frenchman, who was never in Ireland, asks him to what town he belongs, he will give him the name of the most remarkable place in his country; thus a man of Kingstown will say,--"I am from Kingstown, Dublin." This was precisely what our saint did.

Eustachius, a learned writer of the seventh century;

Probus, a faithful historian; Baxter, and other respectable historians, all agree in this view of Bononia and Tarvenna. Dr. Lanigan comments elaborately and learnedly on the subject in the first volume of the "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland." However, he is so hypercritical that we had to pursue our own path. Those of our readers who wish to read extensively and critically about the places can gratify themselves by having recourse to Lanigan, whom we shall call the malleum or mallet of lying, slanderous, aud mercenary Ledwidge, who cousidered nothing too base, too wicked, or too abominable, to deny the existence and blaspheme the religion of the Blessed Patrick.

¦ St. Patrick's family, were men of estates. In order to be elected a decuria, a man should be possessed of 100 000 sistestii, or 7817, 58, of our money (a large amount at that early age). These resembled our cavalry officers. The second class of decuriones were rather civil officers, as our deputy lieutenants of counties-hence the name de curia ;" and were members of provincial senates, or legislative assemblies, ¦ -See Lemprière and Kennett's "Romau Antiquities."

When it is borne in mind that the equites, who were com manded, ten each, or the third of a troop--by one of the first class of decuriones, were themselves all men of rank, as may be ascertained by the census of Servins Tullius, in Livy, and that the second presided in the provinces, the reader can infer what influence St. Patrick's family possessed. Why he stated that he sold his nobility was this: --Constantine. to prevent any order discharging more offices thau one, lest ¦ that office would not be fulfilled to the advantage of the state, decreed that any laie becoming a clergyman forfeited his inheritance. However, the very fact of Patrick saying that he sold it, proves that an exception was made in favour of his father, who was a deacon, and a decurio at the same time. Even here is an instance of the influence of his family, an exception having been made in favour of Calpurnius, and of Potitus, the grandfather. Here again is a most probable reason for the family being in Belgie Gaul, viz. their civil as well as spiritual influence.

Now we would ask the advocates for making Kilpatrick our saint's birth-place, who ever heard of the title Decurio as a Scotch or English one. What writer ou Scoteh or English topography has ever used the name Tabernie, › which St. Patrick applied to the town of his birth, whereas we ucet Castra or Caster attached to many places. The very absence of Taberniæ from the works of their old topographers is an indirect evidence that Scotland has no claim to the honour of being St. Patrick's native soil, though we would love him equally as well it he even were. But facts are against the hypothesis; history is opposed to it, tradition contradicts it, and the concurrent testimonics of the best writers disprove it.

There is one other passage in the “Coufessions,” which might seem to require an explanation. He said that he wished, after paying a visit to his friends in Britain (Britany), to visit the Gauls. Here it may be objected. that if Britany was in France, how cau this saying of the apostle be reconciled? Very easily. But that the reader may the more clearly understand the phrase, we shall give a quotation from Cæsar :---" The river Garonne is the boundary between the Aquitani and the Gauls. The Marne and the Seine between the Goals and the Belgians." Here the Belge and Gauls are set down by Cesar in his first book as different peoples, though sometimes for brevity he applies the name Galli (which himself says was the Rowan appellation for the Celta), to all Gaul: ipsorum fingra Cella, nostre Galli appellantur. In their own tongue their ame is Celts, in ours (Roman) Goals. llence it is quite plain why St. Patrick used the phrase "and thence to the Gauls." For he was aware that his countrymen considered the Celts, or the south, and south-eastern people, called "Galli” -- the Roman term-entirely as distinct from the Armoric Britons.