The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-12-07
,u.uo.ou omeoxo 11e Poydras street, Of Camp
PASTORAL LETTER

PASTORAL LETTER
OF THE ARCHBISHOP AND BISHOPS OF THE PROV
NICE OF NEW YORK, TO THE CLERGY AND
LAITY OF THEIR CHARGE.
Of the Iaity: 0
Wishing to have part with our brethren of
shs .ns TO
the many spiritual privileges and dressings
which it brings with it, we have resolved, with
the Divine assistance to th Eu,
religious houses, charitable and educational
institutions, collectively and singly, to the
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus And we nave
| of the immaculate Conception, the great pa;
| tronal festival of the Church in these United
States, as the day on which this solemn ac' Oh
conservation shall take place.
We feel sure that you will welcome TINS
announcement with sincerest pleasure. Fer
in the gloomy and perillous times np1n whi nDt,
source Of strength and courage is hailed
with joy: This better light and vi nope Ss
i given to you in the efdcacious and beautiful
devotion to the Sacred Heart which it is the
object of this act of conservation to promote.
! There ia a moral darkness overspreading the
| earth, The light of Divine Faith, the only
true light to guide our footsteps, has become
| obscured. In some places it is burning dimiy,
in others it is wholly or well-nigh exiting asnea.
| Yet. men are seen to 9" love the darkness rather
tbon the light. for their ways are evil" They
have risen in open revolt against Goo ana
Hia dominion over the minds of individuals
: and of nations. The most essential truths OF
His revelation are rejected; the hottest mys'
of His Iegioh are az
Irrelipion Indifferent ism, unbelief, with thelI
:. attendant train of evils, abound on every side
t As consequence or rather as %sas s1nrsne
Pastor is held in bondage. Her oisnops Sne
- priests, in certain portions of Europe, are Tor
10 hidden the exercise of their rightful Jorisaie
:. tion and authority over the members OF Incl
IL nnyn fIock some are prescribed and e1iled
y religious communities are despoiled OF tnel
OF property, driven from their homes, made snplee
- to indienities and hardsbipS the most cruel ant
uniust: even the faithful laity are not spared
Of AItboueh we, in our free and favored country
TT re happily protected from extreme trials sue
- ma these still, as children of the church, W
y are members of one body in Christ and whe
Id one member suffers, all the members suite
i'll with it. Our sympathies, therefore, go 90
~ strongly and warmly to our struggling au
VI afl,ci.d brethren in other lands. Our pray 81
are TOR them rs we'll as with them. Az t.
mr. gethsr we lift up our voices, saying, 10
at long, Lord how io ssG;il We fesr not, we
hit hot desmond. We "know in whom we hay
gel trusted" We know His promises; We D .1Ie
nd His word 81 am with you all days" Ups
~ this this rock 1 have built Ny Church, and Il
no gates of hell shall never prevail againt . II
,m Even now the voice of the Same Divine Me
nd ter, ever present IN his Cnurcn, 10 sPe" S
comfort and encouragement; telling tnt
rth whittier they shall go for help and protecto'
of how best in the long protraoted struSgle tn
- NAV obtain courage to endure, and siren gym
"O overcome. If you hear not these Words
still may learn their import from the pract.s
response that is given to them. Lo"k anu
Won aud what DO you behold Almost eVel
where you see bishops and priests, reilSiu
all men and women, holy servants OF God, deno
~A-' believers both of high and low degree conn
the lions of prayer, in pilgrimages, and all, as
St. moved by one common impulse, Fastening
pny have recourse for succor and Protection 10
- compassionate Heart of Jesus. There I'll
iuU coDfdently hope to find a sure asylum,
tai refuge from every danger There, also is
hat never.fniling fountain of infinite love
'uO' and blessing. Let MS hasten, then, to
eize Same divine Heart and We too shall or
ight waters with joy from tho fountains of the
sion viour." ., :. +ho r,ot;vs VII
prompts ne to ordain tho solemn act OF cor
the Grafton in which yOu are invited to take p
the In order that you may 90 thus me mort ~"'
sac forehand by good confession and oy oe y,
ain reception of Holy Communion on the 81
fo9tiyal day itself self tbIs %ou Should Join in
erSl act as . public profession OF your taitn, .,
ople cially in all the great myster1eo OF reoemP'
boon which have their most e1psssJsi 10y IN
we'll "a their living source ana cente' IN
), on sSorable Heart of the God Man the
made fiosb, and dwelling among u.s."
onty will offer it. besides as On aG isS %I
L~ eaorileges aud imPieties, t5e ln1neIeaO 70
for Tnbelief. which 20 grievously afhict ana wo
ound this divine Heart tender f apa nosW
Au0o staudinE the ingrstitude and welcomes
as is But above all, you viii seek to ConS s
men, $500 ~; You win take His for your M
aD ~ sC-iIi aiuSy it. lessons. end teaeS ne