The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-12-24
11srnlng Star and Catholic Messenger.
Naw tRi EANs. SUNDAY. DECEMBER "a. 1871.
= An Appe., to til. Catholics Of America.
sr. JosEpH's FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY
OF THE SACRED HEART.

ApU84l
sr. JosEPH's FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY
OF THE SACRED HEART.
with your kind permission, VIII make
use of tho columns Of your excellent jour.
nal to Law before your numerous readers
the object Of Catholic interest which has
brought me to your country. The story is
hr;efiy told; and shall be mistaken if it
does not commend itself, as soon as known,
to the great heart OF thls rge-mihoeu
American people.
There are two considerations to be borne
in mind the one general, the other par
ticular. With regard to the first, it may De
sufficient to say that, according to stats
ticians, three out of every four INHABITANTS
of this globe of ours are still In utter ig-
norance of the Divine claims. and even of
the name of our Blessed Redeemer. This
reflection, constantly In ones MIND; that
hundreds of millions of our fellow creatures
have no other preparation for Judgment
and eternity than miserable ne spent IN
IL simply impossible that We should sit
still inactive and needless of their doom.
Even those who do not profess the Faith,
and hold but q fragmentary Christianity,
are SO stirred by this thought that all their
scots have their Foreign Missionary Boards
for which, however, they have no Divine
vocation. In England alone, during the
past year, their income for this purpose ex-
ceeded fS06, 600; and in America the sum
collected has been proportionate, while in
missionary activity the American Protest.
il the Catholic Church alone which has
received from its Divine Founder Divine
mission to preach the Gospel, and 1T is the
Catholic Church alone which is blessed
with success. Never can she withdraw her
self from the force of this Divine injunction
n, Sro1r eN ia
duty laid upon all, upon the younger
Churches as we'll as upon the Older, upon
the laity, according to their means, as well
10 upon the clergy. OF late years the great
missionary nations have been the purely
Catholic countries. But it is historically
fairly kindled within o nation, possessed
of real vitality and of the vigor Of
youth, than, by q Divine law of its own, it
seeks 70 communicate itself and penetrate
into the darkness which is at the greatest
distance. 1t was 30 with Palestine, when
it was 50 with Rome before Italy was her
self converted it was so with Ireland, with
England, and with other countries before
their own conversion to the faith had been
completed. The same law Of Catholic faith
and zeal is repeating itself to-day among
tho Catholics Of the English speaking ma
tions.
An association has been formed, composed
of mem bers of the clergy and of the laity,
called /" st. Joseph's Society of the Sacred
Heart for Foreign Missions" Its object is
to utilize the numerous vacations which are
for Foreign Missions, chiefly to the heather
and to the races which have been left in
most neglect.
Tho origin of this Society is singular,
and, it is not too much to say, traceable to
. Divine inspiration. This 10 alluded to in
H-NN- r. l-Ak 49, 81
late Cardinal Wiseman addressed to me in
1868, and which was published ut the time.
His Eminence said:
"You will remember that, when, some
years ago, you first communicated to me
your earnest and long entertained desire to
establish in England an Institution for the
education of priests, to labor for the con-
version of infidel nations, you found me
ready, not only to approve of your inten-
tions, but to CO. operate with you in carry
81 informed you that many years ago,
when on the eve of receiving Episcopal
Conservation, one who has since obtained
the title Of Venerable Servant of God in
the Church, in remarkable terms urged me
to labor for the formation of a College in
England for that very purpose. The desire
of seeing this carried out never passed out
of my mind but had seen NO means of
attempting its commencement till your
me to open q way to the fulflment OF my
hopes. Hence you appeared almost sur
priced at the willing and ready encourage
ment which you received from me.
"Trecord these preliminaries in order
that those whose assistance you may re-
quire fp following out your proposed plan
may know that 1t is not one wholly devised
by you, and acceeded to me from personal
kindness, or from over eager zeal but that,
20 far as time for mature consideration
goes, 1t is an old and often meditated idea,
suggested, or even pressed on me, by q
higher and holier mind than yours mine."
The whole plan of the work, and of this
Society, has, from the commencement, been
laid on the broadcast basis. 1t is Catholic,
not o mere national undertaking. In proof
of this, may again quote from the letter
of the iamented Cardinal: sour Saviour"
(wrote the CardinaI "gave to his Church
. stringent and perpetual charge, 90 and
teach all nations.' She can never withdraw
herself from the urgency of this Apostolic
Commission so long rs there is single
hoe tn6