The Vatican Radio station has Inaugurated a new transmission to Mgr. Paul Morella, Apostolic Delegate to Japan, for the Vatican Information Offices thug helping to obtain information on war prisoners.
The Swiss bishops, together with the Swiss Catholic National Association and the Swiss Catholic Women's Association, have appealed to Swiss Catholics to use May more than ever as a month devoted to peace prayers. The appeal stales; " Willingness to sacrifice in the increasing demands and shortages of every-day life is one of the means by which our nation should eall upon the protection of the Almighty for our country, so that it may he preserved as an island of peace, as a home of virtuous spirit, as merciful helper for Europe and able to fulfil its high mission amid the large nations of Europe." Sunday, May 2, was appointed as a day of preyer for the youth of the belligerent countries and of the occupied territories.
Of 240 priests now dolma full-tiarie chaplain duty with the Australian Armed Forces, thirteen are reported missing in action or prisoners of war. Tales of heroism of Catholic chaplains have come from Africa; Malaya arid New Guinea.
?VW. Mutsaerts, Bishop of Boisiedne (Holland), has approved of a new prayer for peace, containing the following: " May also those expelled. or fled from their country, or wandering like strangers in a foreign land, or imprisoned, or otherwise hit by suffering and distress raging in the war, find Ileaven's solace and mercy."
Archbishop Bertram of Breslau has issued a pastoral on the seventh centenary of the death of St. Hedwig. The Archbishop says that St. Hedwig and her husband, Duke Henry I of Silesia, through their systematic colonisation and Christianisation, initiated the period of well-being which continued in Silesia throughout the 13th century.
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Twenty Swiss missionaries have fulled to obtain visas to set out for their missions, Most of them were for Asia and Oceania, and will in all probability have to wait until the end of the war. Last year eleven Swiss missionaries succeeded in reaching their missions-mostly in different parts of Africa.
On May 18 the Congregation of Rites held the first of the discussions on the miracles proposed for the beatification of the Venerable Mary Teresa Sonbis ran. foundress of the Order tsf Marie Auxiliatrice.
On Wednesday of last week the Pope spent 4+ hours among the thousands that came to greet him in public audience, crowding several halls of the Vatican, and including 700 newlymarried couples. Last week he also received the Polish Ambassador in private audience.