Prince Rainier the 'autocrat'

THERE IS much else of interest in Sam White's book, which is a collection of his despatches from Paris for a period of over thirty years.
He is not very complimentary about Prince Rainier of Monaco who, says White, on his return from America in 1956 (having fallen in love with Grace Kelly), put aside his smiles to become once more "the unapproachable, unpredictable autocrat his ministers and advisers know so well. He had scarcely unpacked when he quarrelled with his only really close adviser — his American chaplain, Fr Tucker, who has figured so prominently in his romance with Miss Kelly."
White evidently got on well with Fr Tucker and is very fair whenever he mentions highranking Catholic figures. But he may not have known all of the trauma in the life of Cardinal Danielou whose death in suspicious circumstances in 1975 the journalist mentions in one of his despatches.
He described Danielou as "France's leading Jesuit and politically a man of the Right. He had many enemies in the Church, especially among the Left-inclined Dominicans."
This does not tell the whole story which should include the fact that Danielou, before becoming a Cardinal, had been notably progressive in his outlook. Pressures put on him later are said to have caused him great tension and strain, with the result that his last years were unhappy and bedevilled by uncharacteristic attitudes and behaviour. This, if people remember the circumstances of his death, would explain quite a lot.
Attraction of Mass at a price
FOR SOME years now there has been a small Folk Group leading the singing at the 12.15 Mass at St Thomas More's church, Swiss Cottage. Two years ago, they decided to experiment with a Christmas Carol service with readings by some of the parishioners.
Modified rapture! The singers and readers nearly outnumbered the congregation, so all sat in the pews to make it look better. But the Group's organiser, Christina Toner, was not discouraged. She arranged another such service last year and many more were present.
This year Christina decided to be more ambitious, if not even a trifle crafty. She was confident that attendance would improve if an entrance fee of 50p were charged — all proceeds to the Crusade of Rescue. The Group would he enlarged and singers and readers would be stationed around the attar.
Rapture unmodified! More than 200 people came and the sale of tickets realised £115.00. But that was far from being all. On the way out, one of the congregation slipped an envelope into the hands of one of the organisers. It contained an anonymous donation for £1,000 for the Crusade of Rescue.
What plans for Christmas, 1984?