The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-03-13
A Labor of Love.

We have heard some intimation that the
Catholic ladies of our city, who, God bless
them, are always so ready to undertake
and so suggestive of every thing good
have preached among themselves proiec,
which, when formally announced, must e..
cite great interest in the heart of eyer,
child OF the Church in this diocese, and re.
fleet great credit upon them for the kini
forethought which gave rise to it,
Our revered Vicar General, the Very
lev. Able Perche, is about to be elevated
to the Episcopal Chair. That elevation
Will necessarily be attended with certain
expenses that cannot bc avoided. There is
peculiar costume required in connection
with the Office of bishop, which is net re-
quired of ordinary priests, and long estab-
ilshed custom, good taste, and that entire
absence of parsimony in everything rela-
ting to the worship of God, for which the
children of the Church have always been
distinguished, requires that that costume
should correspond with the dignity of the
Office and the rank it holds in the Church.
But the good Catholic ladies of our city
know, indeed we all know, that the Very
Rev. Able Perche is poor, without money
or means to purchase the costume prescrib-
ed to the official dignity to which he has
been already, or is about to be elevated
He has never studied the art of making
money, nor has he ever devoted either his
time or his talents to it's acquisition. What
ever money has come to his hands during
the many years of his life devoted to the
ministry, has been spent in the interests of
the Church, in one way or another. He is
more than poor, he is in debt. In his zeal
and anxiety for the spiritual welfare of the
French speaking portion of our population
he established lie Propagateur, and devo-
ted the means within his reach, as we'll as
his time and his talents to its maintenance
and support. But printing a paper is cost
1y, and, too often, from the thoughtless-
ness, and neglect of its subscribers, a paper
that ought to be able to maintain and sup
port itself is allowed to fall into debt. lie
Propdgatenr is not the only paper whose
energy and capacity for doing good have
been crippled by the neglect of those who
profess to be it's friends. The Very Rev
Able is not in debt for any personal want
OF his own. Whatever he owes originated
in his devotion to the spiritual interests of
his children, and is more properly debt of
theirs than of his But, still, he is most
anxious that the debt incurred by the es-
tnblishmcnt of that journal shall be paid,
SO that when his time comes, that time
which sooner or later comes to ALL he NAV |
be able to leave it as valuable bequest to
the diocese. Fiat journal, during the many |
years of its existence under his able direc- |
ton has been Q useful instrument in
and purifying the religious
sentiments and confirming te faith of it's
leaders, particularly among the French
speaking citizens of the diocese, and he de-
Tres with all his heart that it may continue
% exist and to be in the future what it has
'een in the past.
Now those dear, good ladies referred to
lbove, fully acquainted with all these cir
from their high generation for
he character of the Very Rev. Able who
las lived SO long among them, their filial
lexotion to him whom they have so long
ooked upon as their spiritual father, and
heir profound respect for the high office to
which he is to be elevated, have determined
hat he, whom God has endowed internally
With all the qualities and graces necessary
o render him worthy of that office, shall
re supplied with all that may be consider
d necessary externally to corresp ond with
is dignity.
We have not yet heard of any particular
node in WHICH they propose to accomplish
What they have undertaken, but we feel
lready assured of their entire success, be-
ause we feel satisfied there is not a Catho-
ic in the diocese, man, woman or child
apable of understanding, that will not
My feel it a duty, but embrace it as a glad
of showing their respect for
me whom we all venerate and love, and
re proud to receive as our Father. w.
Tkn1