The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-07-19
MORNING STAR AND CATHOLIC MESSENGER.
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY, JULY 10, 1869.
DOMESTIC CATHOLIC INTELLIGENCE.

Holy ENfher.-Venerable Brethren of the
Clergy: Dearly Beloved of the Faithful, of
the Diocese of Natchez:
Our Holy Father, Pope Plus IX has in
vitcd all his children throughout the world
to unite in offering especial prayers for his
assistance against the malice of his enemies.
He wishes that everywhere there be pub
lie devotions for three Successive days for
that object. He grants plenary indul-
gence to those who assist at these devotiOns,
with proper dispositions, on all the three
days, and during that time approach
worthiiy to the sacraments of penance and
the Blessed Eucharist. He grants an indul-
gence of seven years and seven forty-days
to those who, being duly contrite for their
sins, attend the devotions any day of the
iridium, praying, of course, for his welfare.
The time allotted for these devotions and
indulgences expires October 18th. We
days and to make use of the devotions
most suitable to the circumstances of their
hOcks.
We recommend that the faithful assist at
mass on those days, and that the exercises
of the iridium embrace, when practicable,
the benetliction of the Blessed Sacrament,
either with the Ostensory or the Ciberium-
an instruction on the duty OF the faithful
toward the Holy Fnther-and either the
beads or the Litany of the Saints, or the
psalm, Hare mercy on me, u GO1,' or five
times or Father and Hail Mary.
AT the same time we desire that collec-
ton be taken up, in whatever way the pas
tor judges most expedient, for the temporal
wants of our Holy Father. This is not
giving an aims, but simply paying a por-
ton Of our just debts. He employs a large
number of persons for the administration Of
the Church, that is, for the spiritual bust
ness of us Catholics; and We are bound in
justice to contribute to the paying of the.
expenses, just as we are bound to pay our
taxes to the civil government.
Even in our poverty letuS show orr sense
of justice and gratitude by contributing ac-
cording to our means. Few are SO poor
but they can give at least dime and if
we deprive ourselves of some qualification
to give little more, God will not suffer
himself to he outdone in generosity. AS we
show ourselves big-hearted toward our
Father on earth, our Father who is in heaven
will pour out more abundant1y on us our
daily bread for both soul and body.
1t has been q great consolation to us to
receive recently from the children of the
Catholic school at Vicksburg the equivalent
of hundred dollars in gold, which they
had gathered-poor as they are-to-be Of
fered for one years support of one of those
the defense Of the Holy Father, and their
breasts to be his shield. Too young and
too distant to fight for him themselves,
they wish to share in the glory and the
merit of this sacred struggle by having one
who may be considered their representa-
tive.
We desire that to the other devotions of
the iridium be added the psalm, De Pro-
funds, or other prayers for the repose of
the souls of those who have died in defend
ing the Vicar of our Lord, and that on the
second day, if possible, mass be offered for
the same intention.
The cause of our Holy Father, dearly be-
loved, is our own cause. He is the Vicar of
Jesus Christ on earth, and his enemies,
while protesting sometimes to attack only
his temporal dominion, at other times avow
their hatred of his spiritual office and of
the whole institution of Gods priesthood,
with His sacramento and His holy Church.
The hatred of many goes still farther. They
of society, to break up the family by des-
troying the sanctity of the marriage tie,
and abolshing both the authority and the
obligations of parents; and to set aside all
institutions of God which check them from
following their passions and forcing their
own theories of morals on their fellow men.
1t is against these Vaccinations that the
Holy See is protecting us, and, therefore,
our prayers and contributions offered for
its defense are really serving ourselves as
well as the Pope.
The preservation of his temporal domia-
ion is our interest, even more than his.
Were he thrown into prison, as many holy
Popes have been before, he could be happy
in suffering for God and sanctifyiDg his
soul but the Catholic world would be un-
with the Vicar of our Lord. We could not
receive those instructions on our duties,
and that guidance in our discipline, for
which God appointed ST. Peter and his sue
cessors, when He commissioned him to feed
His sheep and His lambs Est. John, xxi, Is,
I7,) and confirm his brethren in the faith.
(St. Luke xxi, 3D.
And if the Pope's temporal dominion
were taken away, if he were not civil SOW
ereign, but simply q bishop under the do
minion of another government, it would
depend on the pleasure of that government
whether he would be allowed to teach and
rule the Church in all things that he judges
necessary for us. And it requires no very
deep knowledge of human nature and Of
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