The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-05-11
PASTORAL LETTER
TO THE FAITHFUL OF THE DIOCESE OF NAT
CHEZ. ...

| AZ 1AE Aiihf OF TIE D1OCE5E We NA =
u CHEZ.
4 Dearly Beloved.-Not long since gave di
rections to tho Very Rev. and Reyd. clergy o
tho Diocese Of Matches, to rccite ut Mass tn
prayers given By the Church for asking God
protection against the violence of storms.
I We have feason to be thankful that Missis
sippi has suffered comparatively little from
these viaitations, in recent years. And yet
| some Of them we have felt at different times
aud already this season quite serious damage
has been done Ia several places. Likewise W,
have reason to praise God, for the goot
health with which Hc commonly blesses on
State. And yet from time to time various 10
calities have heen grievously afflicted will
fatal diseases. ~,
| It has appeared to me suitable to invite
You all to unite your prayers with those Of
| the Chnrch-in thanking God for the merciea
he has. already shown - us and our neigh
bors land in begging His further protection
FROM visitations of storm, pestilence confagra-
ton, etc.
And use the occasion to draw your atten.
tion to some of tho special means Of protection
with which He has furnished Us land to some
of the reasons why we ought to make more
frequent and confiding use Of them.
The general means of course, ia for each one
to improve his own life, and increase his fervor
in prayer, almsdeeds and all good works. Our
heavenly Father chastises His children for
their amendment: and If He sees them al.
ready amend their lives under His holy, fear,
this often induces Hin to Withhold the ehasten-
ing rod. ga
Bat the special means wish to recommend
to you at present, is to make use often and
with lively faith, of those outwarfsigus and
material objects, which the Church encourages
among her children such as the SIeN OF THE
Cross, HOLY WATER, BLESSED CANDLES AND
PALMS, CROSSES, AGNUs DEIs, RELICS OF
SAINTS, MEDALS, HOLY IMAGES, ETC.
It's not necessary to exhort you against any
abusive application of these things, and super
stitioas ideas about them. 1t is enough to
point out what would be abusive or supersti-
tious, and you will avoid it, 1t would be nm
abuse to apply them to unla full or irrevere
or to use them in any way not
by the Church, or by the received
usage of her devout and well instructed chill
lren.
1t would be supersttious to believe that they
have any virtue, beyond what God is pleased
to give them, to exercise by occasion of
Them. Consequently it is superstitious to OK
pect any supernatural power from objects that
have no special reference to God, or to His
Sal nts such for example as the charms and
pells often used by ignorant people and by
people who make light of sacred things.
We have a simple rule for distinguish hing the !
,wo kinds of objects Those that the Church |
approves are sacred those that she rejects are |
uperstitious.
1t would be superstitious also, to believe
hat these sacred objects will always protect us |
against all calamities. This earth is &, land of |
,xile. Our Lord has marked out the Way of
he Cross for our journey through it. Neither
His friends nor His enemies can peet to pass
heir lives without large share of painful
'isitations. "Whom God loreth He chastiscth.n
Hebrews, c. xii, v. g. "He shall rule His enc
MES With rod Of iron."' Psalm ii. Wy.
But while He does not allow us to escape all
emporal evils, He furnishes US with means,
atura1 and supernatural, to avoid many of
hem, and leaves to our own wisdom, to profit
" those means OF not.
We all know some of the natural means for
harding against sickness, FIRE, lightning, etc.
nspite of all precautions, the most prudent
nen fall sick; and fre-proof houses have
urned down. Yet none the less, wise men
ontinue to mako use Of these projections be-
anse experience shows that, very often, al
hough not always, God allows them to turn
way the danger.
These natural safeguards are used by all {;
nd God in His infinite condescension makes
hem bepfit His enemies as well as they do His
riends. But besides them, He has given Gu
ernaturai aids, through which He often
rants especial protection to His children, who
ave confidence in Him, and simplicity of
cart, to use them fervently.
The most common of these. supern atural
ids is Prayer and the use of the devotional
1jects which am recommending, is an act of 8
rayer. For prayer is any lifting up of our
carts to God and outward prayer is expressed /;
OF only by words, but by actions, gestures l..
nd even looks. To kneel, to stretch ont the :
nnds, to raise the eyes, may be outward pray =
3. And so likewise, to sprinkle Holy Water,
} light q Blessed Candle, to kiss q medal
= way of expressing that we call on God or ;,