uN-trry OCTAVE
‘C.H: Reporter
CRIBS and images of Our Lady, now seen frequently in the greater Anglican cathedrals. include at St. Paul's, London, the life-size rose-tinted statue of Our Lady with Child and cradle. set up this year just inside the northwest entrance.
This statue is the work of losephina de Vasconcellos, an English non-Catholic artist of Anglee-Brazilian parentage, who executed the work in terrossa, a material harder and more satisfying than terracotta, which it somewhat resembles.
A young girl, features familiarly English, the attitude of the Blessed Virgin conveys the idea of saurificial love: she does not hug. or cling to. the Holy Child: she is ready to give Him up. Any mother must," says Nliss de Vasconeellos, • if her kme be real and not possessive. That is the meaning of the unclinging attitude."
New chance
THIS interesting and welcome venture on the part of the authorities at St. PauEs in familiarising visitors and their congregations in older Catholic traditions, is further illustrated in the plan for a new chancel in the Cathedral to replace the one destroyed during the war, and to be opened by the Queen this coming summer.
The altar-piece, built on Catholic lines, is sui mounted by a stately baldacchino, in keeping with the Baroque style of the church itself.
Josephine de Vasconcellos' work is admired by Fr. Martin D'Arcy, Si., who has seen her at work on a more than life-size sculpture of Our Lord Crucified, the head and body leaning forward in a manner reminiscent of Deli's famous Crucifixion painting, now hanging in Glasgow.
On the cross-beam of the nine feet wooden cross are sculptored hold wings to symbolise the Holy Spirit, while the triangle of the Trinity appears carved behind the head of Christ.
Another striking Madonna being completed by the artist, and destined for a Nottingham Anglican church, is a life-size model of Our Lady in Egypt, drawing water from a well. The Child sits on her shoulder, gracefully balancing a water-pot on His head. The return of so many Anglican churches to the veneration of Our Lady and the Saints is a heartening development which prepares us each year for renewed interest in the Church Unity Octave in the month of January.
Cardinal 'retires'
Cardinal Copello, Archbishop of Buenos Aires. is regarded as permanently retired from all administrative functions in his dioceses, states a B.U.P. message . from Vatican City. The Cardinal. who is 78 next month, and suffering from ill-health. remains as Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Mother Superior dies in crash
Mother Winifred, Superior of the Convent of the Religious of Christian Instruction. Effingham Hill, Dorking, died last week as the result of a car accident. Two other religious of the Convent travelling in the same car were also injured.
Mother Winifred. who had been Superior for six years. was attached to the Convent for the greater part of her life. and would have celebrated the golden jubilee of her profession in 1958.