The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-03-26


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Morning Star and Catholic Messenger
nv oSIsHTs, S6SS1T. HAnOH -, is1i.
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The Kisiss II The Pres. fe. ,,ay
The press is a Catholic institution. A
Catholic invented it. Catholics hrcs printed
books both in Europe and America. Ca
tholics printed the hrst daily paper. A Co
tholic city was the oirtn.p place OF ; sIe "rs'
Pope Nicholas latter, dated 1455, 10 the
the first publication having date: seven
teen years before Lutherss rebellion, over
900 cities in Europe had printing presses
At the Council of Lateran Pope Leu a. |
declared printing invented io OF o snr HOW HOW
Faith, and for the advancemens Oh AI4W !
edpe.n But the enemies OF CatnoAcity
have seized this powerful weapo.
present all English literature ~ ."in'eu
with anti Catholic pre3uoice. ca ts,d - ,n ~
intentionally. History, poetry, fiction ana
even school books serve to inJure the
Church. Scarcely o book or paper is printed
without some unjust sneer at the Catnohc
religion. These are often believed without
little injury to the Church. The press 10
our dangerous foe. It keeps alive Pro
testant calumnies. It prevents conversions
to the Church. Above all, the daily and
weekly newspapers spread the poison NO
party is exempt from this charge. Day
after day both republican ana dsmoc craaa
journals publish the most glar1ng 1a1se-
hoods about the Catholic Church. She has
not one friend among the daily papers.
They do not care for the truth ABOUT our
religion. One instance among tnousano
is the Pope's Infalhbility. Cntao th;s d a~
ma. # has occupied the attention of the
civilized world for more than year. Yet
these papers still print the gr0ssest faise-
hoods abont the doctrine. WHAT an IN
nry to religion! These absurd statements
go to every part ; OF our 4h.m oo" Their inn
portance is readily seen when we look at
the figures which tell their circulation
New York Daily Tribune, SC, 600 Herald
$4,000, Sun, over 1OO, 600; Lesile,s Illus
sSsted lsGoGo W Wssi Saas
LEDGER $3.50 A paper is usually read
fore. reaches 1000 readers. This i'm
mense power is daily used against our re-
igion. Who can tell its influence Half
a million different persons read every false
hood they print about the Catholic Church.
Rnt let us take up our open enemies, the
sectarian publications, and see what they
are about. The Baptist publication society
prints yearly 1000 volumes, and 2OO, COO, 600
pages. The Methodist book concern, S0oo
volumes, 1000 different tracts, and over
500, OOO, 600 pages for its Sunday schools.
The PRESBYTERIAN periodicals. circulate g.
600, 600 yearly. 100000 books and tracts
are issued by Unitariens. The Boston
Tract Society sends out annually l,3oO,OOO
pages it's New York rival SOU, OUu Voinmes.
what deluge of heresy! The Church
must be divine that can triumph over the
oroto n MISREPRESENTATION,
They act on Voltaires maxim Keep on
living. some of it is sure to stick" And
What are we doing to antidote their poi
SOM Let us see what part our Catholic
literature takes in this great activity OF the
press. Truth ought not to be silent when
falsehood is bold and defiant. But unfor-
tuuately the extent of our work is soon
told. We have one magazine, four or five
smaller monthlies, and, perhaps, twelve
weekly papers. Only one or two tof these
have circulation of 10000. What con
trast to the SUMS daily circulation OF loo,-
600 copies, and the Ledger's weekly cir
culation Of 375, 600 copies! To our sorrow
we must admit that between slx ana seven
millions of Catholics support scarcely
twenty weekly and monthly publications,
and are without single dairy paper! NOR
do we read Catholic books. Except prayer
books, very few works do more than pay
the cost of printing, while some are actual
ly loss to their publishers. Their eX-
perieuce has taught them TO refuse TO pup
Iish many books which, if they could find
readers, would be most profitable to oul
readers. Our fault is wo-fold: we read the
current novels and journals of the day VIZ
seldom read Catholic publications. Now
don't touch pitch! It'sa duty of conscience
to refuse to purchase or read anything tina
may injure our souls, such as those week.
papers which have articles OF illustration
casting ridicule upon the Church. PopIla
novels are equally dangerous. They in
spire NO good thoughts, they say nothin
profitable. Let us, then, throw them asid
for ever. If it be a sacridce,. make it f
the love of God. And let us buy Cathol
books, which SOW good thoughts in OF
hearts. They will Increase piety. This
strengthen our faith. Good books oft
save souls. If You cannot buy expense
books, at least you can purchase libra
of cheap publications for very modera
sum. Catholic books Of tsstion, amusemei
travel and devotion, cQAs only from Csc.
al. Will books ever be cheaper than thi
IL 25 cents too much for an entertaini
work Many dollars are spent on fri!