The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-08-16
Aid to the Pope.

ton on this subject from one of the most
influential priests of the city. Our corre-
spondent rather inclines to attribute the
much greater success of the work among
the French to the more effective efforts of
the paper which addresses itself to that
population. The supcriorzeal of the Pro-
pagateur Catholique, and the incontcstable
superiority of it's distinguished editor,
though cheerfully admitted, can hardly
account for the marked difference alluded
to and for some of the special facts cited.
Thus. our correspondent could not find
the table of contributions for the week, and
supposes that it was crowded into some
obscure corner, among other rubbish, when,
in fact, it was not published at all. There
,cere no contributions to publish. The table
of contributions, when published, is always
placed in a most prominent position ON the
editorial page. We are always glad to give
prominence to this noble work of charity
and piety, which, to the best of our ability,
we have urged as not only highly merito-
| rious, but the most important, tho most
urgent, the most sacred of all. We have
| utterly failed, it is true, to express, in
| electrical language, the zeal which we felt !;
we do not pretend to have spoken with
that tempestuous eloauence which scatters
it's own flames upon all surrounding objects
in one general and irrepressible confiagra
| ton but we do claim to have always pub
lishcd the contributions in conspicuous
place.
The other fact, however, stated by our
eminent correspondent, is not so easily ac
counted for. Why should the French and
Creole population contribute to this noble
cause so much more generously than those
who speak Englishf 1t is not because
there is more wealth among them, for they
have suffered far more by the war than
most of onr readers. AS population, they
have been comparatively ruined. The
principal agency that we have heard of in
arousing the interest manifested by them
is the activity of the very reverend editor
of the Propagateur Catalogue, not 80 much
in his editorial as in his priestly capacity.
He has preached, prayed, implored, encour-
aged; he has enlisted young boys and girls,
priests and nuns-every available agency
to push on tho work with zeal.
1t must be remarked, too, that the
parishes containing that population are
older and more completely organized.
Their churches, their asylums, their school
| houses arc already built. They have no
pressing parochial wants to urge before the
people. They have time to breathe. Our
parishes have so many local necessities, so
many undertakings, as yet incomplete,
that they are inclined to let their charity
1>or
are good and there is a local interest con-
nected with them; why should we look
abroad to find objects of our aid 7 We are
all running nice little race of improve
ment and progress among ourselves ) il
would not do to fall behind in that, even
though the head of the Church should Ian
guish in untold difficulties.
The fact is our people are lacking, not
in generosity, but in a proper understand
, ing of the question. We all say: " believe
in the Holy Catholic Church. but many
l practically interpret that to mean Their
own little neighborlIood church of brick
s and mortar, with the congregation and
clergy thereto annexed.
,, This journal has reminded such persons
that their duties to their own local church
g and clergy bear no comparison with theil
: obligations to the Universal! ChmrcI! and to
f its head pastor, the Pope, whenever he is
a obliged or chooses to call on them. Yes
we have proclaimed this, but our words
have fallen dead and fruitless The people
s must be told these things and impressed
:. with their truth on higher authority than
ours. One priest evoked the Crusadcs
ten thousand newspapers could never have
done it.
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