containing and independent.[1] Apart from such petty intrigues for the advancement of the Society there does not seem to be any deep undercurrent of Jesuit activity in England at the present time; in Rome, of course, every congregation and every individual intrigues religiously in the great struggle for canonical existence—under a pope whose whole soul is immersed in his diplomatic and financial schemes what else could be expected?
Besides the great orders there are innumerable minor congregations of regular or monastic priests represented in London: Oblates of Mary, Oblates of the Sacred Heart,[2] Oblates of St. Charles, Servites, Barnabites, Vincentians, Fathers of Charity, Marists, Passionists, Redemptorists, &c.; most of them are founded by modern priests who had some particular devotion on the brain and, by influence or money, succeeded in getting permission to found congrega-
- ↑ From several characteristics a parallel is not infrequently and not unhappily drawn between the Jesuits and the Jews.
- ↑ As much ingenuity is now shown in devising names for new congregations, especially of nuns, as is shown by our lady novelists in finding names for their heroines. I went some time ago to a small convent which the Duchess of Newcastle has taken under her maternal wing; noticing something new I asked the young nun who opened the door who they were. She drew a long breath and answered that they were the 'Faithful Companions of the Sacred Heart of the Mother of God Incarnate.' A young friend of mine on taking the veil adopted the name of 'Sister Mary Francis of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.' Devotion to the 'Sacred Heart of Jesus' is a recent innovation, founded on a private revelation of this century. It was, of course, based on the erroneous belief that the heart is the organ of love.
