Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1856-01-05
I" Indulgences."

In the N. Y. Freeman's Journal (Papal or
gan, we observe circular letter from James,
Bishop of Newark Shy favor Of the Apostolic
See" which is important as containing dehni-
ton of the late dogmatic decision of the Roman
Church as to the immaculate conception aud
and also significant, as to the 'lndulgences'
granted by proper obedience to this new arti-
Gle of faith. We copy certain portions of this
letter, as by it our readers can gather very full
ideas as to the papal meaning of terms much
misunderstood.
After referring to the PRONUNCIATION year
since of sthe doctrine, that the blessed Virgin
Mary, at the first instant of her conception, by
q singular grace and privilege of the omnipo-
tent God, and in virtue of the merits of Jesus
Christ, the Saviour of mankind, was preserved
immaculate from all stain of original sin, had
been revealed by God," and therefore, should
firmly and constantly be believed by all the
faithful the letter proceeds:
"By the immaculate Conception of the Bless
ed 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 of its
creation, free from all stain of original sin. In
other words, that the soul of the Blessed Vir-
gin was created in a state of grace, and sancti-
fed by the Holy Ghost, at the moment Of its
union with her body. 1t is in this sense that
the Conception of the Blessed Virgin is said to
be immaculate, as distinguishing it from that of
the rest of the children Of Adam, who are all
conceived with the stain of their fathers sin up
on them, called for this reason original sin, and
in consequence are deprived of sanctifylng
grace, which is restored to them by baptism
St. John the Baptist, the precursor of our Lord
was as we all know, sanctifed in his mother s
womb, and consequently was born into this
world free from the stain of original sin, and on
this account the Church celebrates the festival
of his Nativity; but st. John was conceived in
original sin.
These facts my beloved brethren, will enable
you to understand clearly the peculiar privilege
of the Blessed Virgin in this matter. The soul
of the Blessed Virgin was created pure; the
soul of St. John the Baptist was pure in his mo-
theirs womb, and our souls are made pure by
baptism. We are cleansed from original sin by
baptism-St. John was delivered from it by be-
ing sanctiied in the womb-the Blessed Virgin
was always preserved from it. Now, this doc
trine, although the Church has not seen fit to
define until this late day, has always been i'm
plicitly believed by all faithful Christians, and
is contained in and flows from those great doc
trines in regard to our Blessed Lord, and his
Holy Mother, which have always been maintain
ed and taught by the Catholic Church. The
Articles of Faith, properly so called, are GER
tain great first truths revealed by God, in which
are contained a number of other secondary
truths as the germ, or even the entire plant,
is contained in the seed.
1t is the Office of the Church, the faithful
guardian and the infallble interpreter Of this
divine revelation, assisted and guided as she
always is by the Holy Spirit, according to the
exgencies of different times and circumstances,
to define as articles of Catholic faith, those sec
ondary truths which are contained in the de-
post of revelation"
The letter proceeds to state that the Divine
Maternity of the Virgin was made dogma o.
faith in the year 431; her perpetual yirginity
afterwards, under Pope Siricius; her sancity
free from the slightest vena SIM in the sixteenth
century; and that fourth perogative has now
been declared viz: her preservation from origin
al sin.
The following are two of the concluding par
agraphs of this letter:
"Nothing is more remarkable, as connected
with the revival Of piety in our days, than the
increased devotion of all good Christians to-
wards the Blessed Mother of God The defni-
ton of her Immaculate Conception has already
added new fervor to this ilial love, and will nc
doubt tend to draw down additional blessings
from God upon u.s. and upon the Church. You
will therefore, dearly beloved brethren, join your
devotion to those with which the universal
Church has received the dogmatic decision Of
this important truth. You will make an ezplicd
Act of Faith in it, as truth revealed by God,
and defined by the infallible authority Of his
Church. You will rejoice in meditating upon
the '.great things" which God has done for his
Blessed Mother-at this new jewel added to her
crown of Glory. "For," to use the words Of
the Sovereign Pontiff, &c nothing is to be feared
and nothing is to be despaired Of under her gui'
dance, under her auspices, under her favor, un'
der her protection, who bearing towards us a
maternal affection, and taken up with the bust
ness of our salvation, is solicitous for the whole
human race, and appointed by God the Queer
of Heaven and Earth, and exalted above all the
choirs of angles, and orders of Saints, standing
at the right hand of the only begotten Son Jesus
Christ our Lord, intercedes most powerfully, and
obtains what she asks and cannot be refus.
ed"
"To all who assist devoutedly at the religious
exercises on any of these three days, the Holy
Father grants partial indulgence of seven
years aud as many times forty days; and O
plenary indulgence to those who attend during
the Tridunum, confess their sins with humility
and contrition, receive the Holy Communion
and on the last of three days, offer prayers to
God, according to the intention Of his Holiness
These indulgences may be applied, by way o.
suffrage to the souls in Purgatory."
r IsT OF LETTERS remaining in the Postofict
IL at Thibodaux, La, Jan. !, 1856.
Adam Cltus Holard Emile Naqun Ursn
Anna steamer Hancock Nicolas Louis
Haydel Noel NicolasJO :
BaudoinS Hays Nathan
Barritleau Miss Q Prince
Basset Edward johnson F ~ i. Prince
Bejean Theophle JUDGE Mime 8 Pertuit L
Brown Mr. PhillipsL
IRiIne q