The weekly American banner. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1855-18??, 1855-12-28
"INDULGENcHEs."

"INDULGENCIES."
In the N. Y. Freeman's Journal (Papal or
GAM we observe circular letter from I James,
Bishop of Newark :sby favor of the Apostolic !,
See." which is important as containing def
milton of the late dogmatic decision of the Ro- !
man Church as to the immaculate conception
and also significant as to the 'indugencies' gran
ted by aproper obedience to the new article of
faith. We copy certain portions Of this letter.
as by it our readers can gather very fullideas as
to the papal meaning of terms much misunder-
stood.
After referring to the PRONUNCIATION year
since oftsthe doctrine, that hezbtessed Tirgin
Nary atsfle first instant Of conception, By a
singular grace and priuelege Of the imnopoteat
God. and in uirtue the merits Of Jesus Christ
the Saviour Of mankind, was pressed immaculate
from all stain Of original s,n, had been recealed
BY God" and therefore, should firmly and con-
stanty be believed BY all the faithful: the letter
proceeds: -
by the Immaculate Conception of the Bles-
sed Virgin Mary, you are to understand, then, in
accordance with this decree. that the soul of the
mother Of God, by special grace of God, and
in consideration of the merits of Jesus Christ,
was preserved from the moment ofiis creation,
free from abstain of original sri.sF In other
words that the soul Of the Blessed Virgin was
created in state of grace, and sanctifed by the
Holy Ghost, at the moment oft union with her
body. IL is In this ense that the Conception
Of the BIes>ed Virgin s said to be imnaculate
IS dslio3u s f<1 8 l|l6k of the rest Of the
lthe stain of their fathers y al called
for this reason original sin, d gnsequence
are deprived of satisfying grace, which is restor-
ed to them by baptism. ST. John the Baptist,
the precursor of our Lord, was, as we all know,
sanctifed in his mothers womb, and consequent
ly was born into the world free from the stain
of original sin, aud on this account the Church
celebra es the festival of his Nativity; but st.
John was concerned in original sin.
These facts, my beloved brethren, will ena-
bic you to understand clearly the peculiar priv
elege of the Blessed Virssin Ia this matter; the
soul of the Blessed Virgin was created pure. the
soul of st. John the Baptist was pure in his
mothers womb, and our souls are made pure by
baptism. We are cieaased from original sin by
baptism st John was dettuered from it by be-
ing sancti6ed in the womb-the Blessed Virgin
was al vays preserved from it. Now, this doc
trine aithoug the Church has not seen lit to de-
fine until this late day, has also been implicitly
believed by all faithful christians, and is con-
tanned IN and flows great doctrines in regard to
our blessed Lord and his Holy Mother, whciI
have always oeen maintained and taught by tn
Catholic Church. The Articles offath proper
ly so called, are certain great first truths reveal
ed by God, in which are contained number OF
other secondary truths; as germ, or even the
II. - 81, 4
1t is the office of the Church, the faithful guar
dian aud the infallible interpreter of this divine
revelation, assisted and guided as she always il
by the Holy Spirit according to the exgences
ofdifferent times and circumstances to define Al
articles of Catholic faith, those secondary truth:
which are contained in the deposit of reyela
!, ton"
! The letter proceeds to state thatthe divin,
Maternity Of the Virgin was m ade dogma o
faith in ne year AL; her perpetual virginity at
fterwards, under Pope Siricius; her sanctity fre
from the slightest veniel sin, II. the sixteentl
century; and that fourth perogatiye has nov
been declared, VIZ; her preservation from origi
inal sin. : 4
The following are two Of the concluding puz
agraphs Of this letter:
"Nothing is more remarkahle as connects
with the revival of piety, in our days, that tn
! intreased devotion Of all good Christians toward
the Blessed Mother Of God. The definition 0
j her Immaculate Conception has already adde
new fervor to this ilial love and will no doub
tend TO draw down additional blessings of Go
upon US, and upon his Church. Y ouswill there
i FORE dearly beloved brethren, joins our devotio