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IN FAR-AWAY Valparaiso, in Chile, an 81 year
old priest will tomorrow (Saturday) celebrate the golden jubilee of the beginning of the Work of the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart. A work begun at the command of a,Saint Fifty years ago tomorrow. night, Fr. Mateo knelt in the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart at Paray-le-Monial, where Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary and wrote the official prayers for the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart as King of the Family.
It was the birthday of the Enthronement; the day on which Fr. Mateo set out on a " Pauline " journey which was to last 40 years and during which he would spread the devotion to the corners of the earth-to South America, Europe, to the Far East, the United States and Canada.
Many who heard Fr. Mateo in England and Scotland in 1920 and 1923/4 still speak of his tremendous zeal and enthusiasm.
Edward Mateo CrawleyBoevey y Murga, the third of 11 children, was born in Peru in 1875. His father, Sir Carlos Crawley-Boevey, was English, born in London, and his mother was a Peruvian.
THE PICTURE
The family moved to Chile where Edward at the age of nine became a pupil at the College of the Sacred Hearts Fathers (Piepus). He entered the novitiate in 1892 and took the name Mateo. He was ordained in 1898.
As a young priest Fr. Mateo showed great interest in the very bad deChristianized social conditions of his people.
" Make the Kingship of Christ recognised and loved," he said. "Bring the whole family : father. mother, children nearer to Christ, the Saviour."
The discovery of the original Sacred Heart picture, used by Garcia Moreno for the consecration of Equador to the Sacred Heart inspired him further towards preparation for his apostolate.
He had the picture installed in the ball of the college and it made such an impression that his dreams went further towards establishing the reign of Christ in the home and through the home in society.
An audience with the Holy Father, Pope (now Saint) Pius X, started Fr. Mateo on his journeyings. " We not only allow," said the Pope, " but We command you to devote your whole life to this work of social salvation."
IN EUROPE
It was then that Fr. Mateo went to Paray-le-Monial, cornposed the Enthronement ceremony, and started to tour the world.
After six years touring in South America he spent 21 years preaching in Europe, five years in the Far East-China, Manchuria, Indo-China, Korea, India, Malaya, Ceylon, Hawaii; then four years in the United States and three years in Canada.
Then came the most difficult period of his life, nine years con fined to hospital in Canada. Years during which, when he was able, he wrote books and pamphlets on the Mass and the Rosary.
But last year he was able to go " home " to Valparaiso where he began his apostolate.
In England many priests encourage the work in their parishes and many thousands of homes have the picture of the Sacred Heart prominently displayed in their living rooms.
From 1917 to 1955 the centre in England was at the Convent of the Sacred Hearts at Weymouth. But in June last year the late Cardinal Griffin opened the new National Centre at 372 Uxbridge Road, London W.5 under the presidency of Fr. Paul van Aarle, SS.CC.
Said the Cardinal : "1 feel that nothing but good can come from the opening of this centre, and if we can get the Sacred Heart enthroned in all our Catholic families, it will bring peace and happiness to everyone concerned."
The Convent of the Sacred Hearts at Weymouth remains the centre for the British Commonwealth and is the diocesan centre for Plymouth. Another centre has been opened for the Northampton diocese at Damian House, 23 High Street, Great Missenden, Bucks.