[mpressive Scene At Cathedral Site

5,000 Attend Last
" Youth Week" Ceremony
"A World Of Revolt"
Mgr. Downey
The strength and virility of the Catholic Church in Liverpool and district as demonstrated on Sunday afternoon last, when 15,000 Catholic youth, repremting all sodalities and societies, gathered on the Metropolitan Cathedral Site, rownlow Hill, for the concluding service of the Liverpool Catholic Youth Week. very evening during the previous week, at a selected church in each Deanery, idresses were delivered on various aspects of Catholic endeavour suitable to be ndertaken by youth, which attracted large congregations.
The interest taken in the week's proceedings is a clear indication that, at .ast as far as Catholic youth is concerned, a popular belief that the youth of Us country have to a great extent swung right away from all forms of religious iterest, is entirely erroneous.
Present in that great gathering were rand boys, and office boys, youths of [teen just left school, members of boys' ubs or boy scout troops, young girls om factories and offices in the uniform of in Guides bearing the distinctive ribbon ad medal of the Guild of St. Agnes or hildren of Mary.
Youths completing a secondary educeon at convents and colleges, young men id women of every circumstance, mem:rs of the Scout and Guide movements ere included; the C.Y.M.S., the Catholic acial Guild, the Catholic Evidence Guild, Le Knights of St. Columba, the Catenns, the Legion of Mary, the Catholic eachers' Association, the Catholic /omen's League and Junior League, the niversity of Liverpool Catholic Society ad the Liverpool Catholic Secondary .7hools Club, the latter organisation takig part as a corporate body for the first me in a Catholic public function.
Prior to the service the men and women irmed into two great processions outside Le cathedral precincts, and marched to the te led by the 87th Liverpool Boy Scout mop and the Holy Cross Silver Bands. The Archbishop was attended by Dean ldham, and Dean Coady (deacons), Fr. . Curry (Master of Ceremonies), and the taplains to the various societies. Solemn enediction was given by Fr. Fox, assted by Fr. N. Coghlan (deacon) and Fr. . Durand (sub-deacon). The plain chant iusic of the Benediction and hymns were miducted by Fr. Willson, O.S.B.
Telegrams to The Pope and The King
Prior to .Benediction, Fr. Fox, in giving public report to Mgr. Downey of the cek's proceedings, stated they .fiait • been ell wortli holding and. he felt had reriled in a great deal of good.
Fr. T. Turner (cathedral supervisor) anaunced that the following telegrams had :en despatched by the Archbishop; to IC Pope: " 15,000 Catholic Youth asenbled under the presidency of the rchbishop of Liverpool send loyal and :voted greetings to the Holy Father and !g the Apostolic Blessing "; to the King: 15,000 Catholic Youth assembled under Le presidency of the Archbishop of Liveraol send loyal and devoted greetings to Jur Majesty and pray God to bless and rosper your reign."
Mgr. Downey received the following ?ply on Sunday night from the King's pri2te secretary at Balmoral: " Please con?), to Catholic Youth now assembled in iverpool the King's sincere thanks for teir kind and loyal message of good ishes."
The approaches to the altar and the mctuary were lined by Scouts bearing apal, national and troop flags and during IC blessing scouts sounded a fanfare of limpets in salute.
Amongst distinguished lay-folk present, 'ere Col. Sir John Shute, M.P. (Chairman f the Liverpool Boys' Association) and 1rs. E. 'Taylor (Catholic Guide Commisoner for the Archdiocese).
Mgr. Downey's Address Mgr. Downey spoke to the young people of the importance of the epoch in which they lived-an epoch into which too much history had been crowdedand their duties as future citizens in stabilising a morally shattered and disjointed world.
I am very gratified to look upon this ast gathering of young people assembled 3und the altar on the cathedral site to take art in the final service of the " Youth Veek " which we have been celebrating iroughout the city. In the youth of toay lies the hope of the future, and never erhaps at any period of history has outh been faced with more perplexities. mu have many material advantages over 'lose who went before you; you have een born into a world which recognises S responsibilities with regard to the phytcal well-being of the rising generation, thich provides well-equipped schools, pacious playing fields and improved °using conditions, which abounds in hilanthropic institutions for the care of le orphaned, destitute or afflicted children, thich secures skilled medical aid to the ick child and safeguards the young delinuent by the provision of juvenile courts. 01 this is to the good,
Wars and Rumours of Wars But, on the other hand, you have been orn into an area of mental and spiritual armoil; into a world shocked and shat:red by the greatest cataclysm in reorded history, into a world of revolt, a torld of wars and rumours of wars; a iorld of strifes and contentions; a world ,f ruthlessness, but above all a world of estlessness.
Restlessness would seem to be the domaant characteristic of the age. Mechanical :lotion has almost annihilated space, and as brought to our unglorified bodies that
agility which is a property of the glorified life. The modern craze for speed is symptomatic of the craving for change, not merely in material environment, but in mental and moral outlook. Philosophies that reigned supreme a few decades ago are now on the scrap-heap. Scientific theories formerly regarded as indisputable dogmas have passed into oblivion. Notions of ethics which would have been considered shocking before the World War are now com placently accepted and acted upon. In fact, fashions in thought are as swiftly changing as fashions in dress. Nothing continueth in one stay. But amidst the universal flux, penetrating through the turmoil, we hear ringing in our ears the voice of the prophet of old admonishing a wayward people seeking after novelties. Be steadfast in the old ways and ye shall find rest to your souls. '
Indiscipline and Moral Laxity
Mgr. Downey pointed out the havoc wrought by the " steady growth of the spirit of indiscipline, and the tendency to substitute self-expression for self-restraint." He also stressed the importance of a sound Catholic education.
Active Catholicism
Dr. Downey addressed a few words in particular to the youth of to-day: It is incumbent on youth, in the first to acquire a sound knowledge of Christian principles and their application to the manifold problems of everyday life. Next that knowledge must be translated into action, principles must be put into practice.
The sublime truths which the Church teaches find outward expression in her liturgical and devotional functions. You arc called upon to be practical Catholics, Catholics who are regular in the obseivance of the laws of the Church, who show their appreciation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass by availing themselves of opportunities of assisting at it, who are frequent in their reception of Holy Communion and zealous in attending the services of the Church. By such practices is the soul of youth strengthened, fortified in grace, against the trials and temptations which beset it. Nothing can take the place of prayer in uniting the soul with God and the best of all prayers are those prescribed by the Church.
Each one must labour at his or her own personal sanctification. But there is strength in unity, and that is why we are anxious to encourage the various youth organisations which have ecclesiastical approval in this archdiocese. We wish to see their membership increase until they in
clude all our adolescents. It is not well for youth to be in isolation. It needs the right kind of contacts if it is to develop on sound lines. It needs assistance, guidance and the stimulus that comes from esprit de corps. In the archdiocese there are numerous Catholic societies, with spiritual, educational, social or charitable aims, which are ready and anxious to extend a warm welcome to youth.
It has been said that the dominant factors in moulding personality and character are heredity, education and environment, and it is generally conceded that faults of heredity can be corrected by education and environment. These two latter are obviously the factors which matter in the training of the young. I appeal, then, to you who, in the freshness of your youth, many of you on the threshold of adult life, are listening to me this afternoon, to avail yourselves to the full of the golden opportunities which are afforded you of grounding yourselves not only in sound secular learning, but, first and primarily, in the knowledge and love of God, amidst Christian surroundings, strengthened by the fellowship of companions, who, inspired by the same high purpose, are pursuing the same lofty ideals.