The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-14
A PASTORAL LETTER
OF HIS GRACE THE RIGHT REV. BISHOP OF
NATCHEz.

tno worry hev. and Rev Clergy, and to che Faithful
Laity Of the Diocese-Health and Blessing
The Vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ calls
on us to unite with all our brethren
throughout the world-in an especial act
of earnest duplication for Gods mercy on
mankind.
In an Allocution delivered on the 2sth of
July last, He granted Plenary Indul-
gence, applicable to the Souls in Purgatory,
to be gained once, on tho day which shall
DO appointed in each diocese, by it's Ordi-
nary.
| The conditions for gaining it, are to re-
ceive devoutly tho Sacraments of Penance
and Holy Communion and to pray piously
for the wants of the Church.
| The occasion of His granting this Indul-
| gence is, that new enactment of persecu-
ton and sacsilegc, in the city of Rome ITSELF
has been decreed by the Parliament and
sanctioned by the King. 1t is law to
suppress Religious Houses, and to put &C.
clesiastical property up for sale. The So
vereign Pontiff denounces this as an
tmpIous crime, contrary to the law of G cd
and to the natural rights of man. He de-
clares to all who have proposed or approved
this law, and to all who may in any man
! ner participate in it, that by the very fact
OF their doing SO, they are ex- COMMUNE
Gated: that they have incurred the most
terrible vengeance of God; and that they
are living in open danger of eternal damn.
alton.
Meantime, while wrongs are thus heaped
on wrongs against sacred persons and
things while tho prosecutors Of the Churcl,
are concertiDg their plans and Joining their
forces against the Church-our Holy Father
says there is nothing left for him, but more
earnestly to Zee for succor to tho One who
is rich in mercy, and who never abandons
His servants in time of trouble.
Let us strive then, He says, to hasten
the long wished for season of mercy. Let
US all-throughout the entire world-cn-
deavor to do pious violence to our God
Let the Prelates arouse the Priests, and
the Priests cry aloud to their people and
let us all cast ourselves before the Affairs
and with heads bowed down cry out: =
'Coine, Lord, come, make no DELAY. Snare
Thy people. Pardon the eril aoings of TIM
jock. Behold our desolation. 1t is not for
ourjusfi6cations that sce pour out oxr pray
ors before Thy face but for tile multitude Of
Thy tender mersies. Stir up Thy neiqht, and
como. Saew Thy face, and ace shall be
saved"
And although conscious of our own m
Worthiness,-our Holy Father says, let Us
not be afraid to come with confidence to
the throne of grace. Let us beg Code ia
Vor through the intercession of all the !
heavenly court. Lot Us beg this favor es-
pecially through the Holy Apostles, and |
through the most ehaste spouse of the Mo- |
Their of God: let us beg it above all, |
through the Virgin Immaculate, whose
prayers with Her Son, have certain |
power of command.
But first He says, let us diligently apply
ourselves to cleanse our condolences from
dead works: because " the eyes of the Lord
are upon the just and His ears are opeaed
TO their prayers"
Now, to obey these injunction of the Yical
Of Jesus Christ,-we hereby designate as
Inc day for gaining the above Indulgence
in the Diocese of Natchez-Sunday, the
9th day of October, being the Solemnity of
the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Vir-
gin Mary.
This festival itself Is calculated to ami
mate our confidence. 1t was established
precisely in commemoration of Gods won
herful answer to the prayers of His people
when He enabled a very small Christian
deet to destroy mighty Turkish arma-
nent, prepared for overrunning and de-
'olating all Christian Europe.
This extraordinary victory of Lepanto,
vas gained A. d. 1871, on the first Sunday
ot October while the faithful in Rome
md elsewhers were fervently reciting the ,
the protection of the little !
'and of their heroic defenders. In thanks |
giving for our Holy Mothers protection of i
Ter children, and as . monument TO re- a
mind US always what power the devotion t
# the Rosary has with Her Divine Son. il
his feast under the title of the Most Holy v
rosary was definitely established in the il
ear l573.-Thus We will this year cele- b