Pope's Present

From the day he took office, Pope John XXIII made clear that he was not going to change the warm, outgoing nature that had made him a beloved Patriarch of Venice. Last week one more story was added to the lore of the man who is already one of the best-loved Popes of modern times. He has given away his breviary--and to an Anglican. The recipient: Canon Donald Rea. vicar of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Eye, Suffolk, and chairman of the Anglican Confraternity of Unity, founded in 1926 "to restore communion with the Holy See."

Writing in the latest issue of the confraternity's journal. Reunion, Anglican Rea said that during a private audience last June the Pope noticed that the Anglican was carrying a breviary--a compilation of daily prayers and psalms in Latin that are obligatory for Roman Catholic priests. "That book of his looks a bit old," said John to his interpreter. "Mine is not so new. but it's newer than his. I will give it to him."

Next day the four volumes of the Pope's breviary arrived, with the markers where the Pope had finished his office on the feast of the Sacred Heart, and containing John's family memorial cards, including one for his father. On the cover of the black volumes were the arms of the Cardinal Patriarch of Venice: the breviary was bought in 1956.

Canon Rea also quoted Pope John on the delicate subject of church unity. "In working for reunion," he said, "it is necessary1) to be very meek and humble, 2) to be patient and know how to wait God's hour, and 3) to insist on positive arguments, leaving aside for the moment those elements on which we differ, and to avoid discussions that may offend against the virtue of charity."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.