Fr. D Arcy tells peace congress
"THE world today is in a great crisis, and perhaps the time has come when, In all humility, we may hope that grace and a sign from God may be given," Fr. Martin D'Arcy, S.J., said last week. He was in Florence, addressing the International Congress for Peace and Christian Civilisation.
After the first World War, be said, there were many who thought the world was ripe for a return to hrist. Instead, there came even ereater 1,;1,1471'.
In the last century, when the "intelligentsia" considered Christianity a mere relic of the past. complete glleCC'Sti and prosperity in human affairs was promised. Time has shown a less permanent and extensive success than this.
Now, in the succeeding century, many arc turning once again to the despised faith in Christ, seeking protection against the tremendous evils that threaten the world.
Final trium• h
Fr. D'Arcy was sure that the theme of the Florence congress responds to a onkel-sat yearning in the intellectual world today, though 50 or (10 vears ago the same world would have ridiculed it.
The history of Christianity. he said. shows that God acts differently from man's expectations. But He always brings triumph from disaster. Instead of restoring "the glory of Israel." Our Blessed Lord was crucified and all seemed lost. But the glory of the Resurrection followed, achieving complete victory and triumph.
Fr, D'Arcy said he prefers to regard the present crisis as a coming,
an advent and a preparation, and thinks we are about to see the advent of a new culture and a new civilisation built in the light of revelation.
We must not. however, expect that this would be without its cross. To attain it we must labour to cast away all that is barbaric inside and outside ourselves.
Delegates to the congress attended celebrations of the Feast of St. John the Baptist, patron of Florence. They were present in the cathedral for Solemn High Mass, at which the Archbishop of Florence, Cardinal dalla Costa, presided, and at the ancient Florentine ceremonial of presenting candles at the shrine of St. John the Baptist in the Baptist ry.
New Zealand's fear —if Vietnam falls
Archbishop James Liston of Auckland. speaking this week at the annual dinner of the Oliver Plunket union in Dun Laoghaire. Dublin, said that New Zealanders live in a state of fear sometimes rising to alarm when they think of the threat to Indo
hina and what will happen if it falls.
The burden would, in that event, fall upon New Zealand and Australia, which had been built largely by the labour of the Irish people. What was threatening them was not just a distortion of the truth but a real evil.