The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-22
The American Pilgrimage.


| signed to the attention of women and chill
dren. To certain extent this pecnlarity
| of the age affects even Catholicity external
ly that is to say, it is the besetting ain OF
the age, and the Church finds more diff
cult in keeping alive the virtues which are
specially opposed to this vice than others.
Men are never too busy to give away money
if charitably inclined, but the idea of deli
berately stopping all the multifold activi-
ties of business and going OF on pilgrim
age for a couple of weeks or months, would
appear preposterous to the Same men.
1t is therefore with surprise that the
world sees revived in this age, something OF
the beautiful, glowing, generous devotion OF
former centuries, when men did not hest
tate to make serious sacrifices in visiting
the glorious shrines Of Christian herosm
1t is anoble spirit born of the highest in
spration of the Church herself. 1t giTes
equally glory to God, honor to his saints
and spiritual profit to those who follow it's
impulses. 1t takes them away temporarily
from the engrossing pursuits Of worldly
affairs to which they attach thousand
and helps them to break loose from the
fruitful tyranny which trifies and folies
are ever trying to establish over souls that
ought to be always mindful of the dignity
of their own immortality.
But what can Americans do in the way
of Pilgrimages They have themselves
no shrines of noted sanctity, and Europe
is too far off for practicable intercourse.
The question has found an answer in the
religious enterprise of our New York breth-
rem. They have set on foot a Pilgrimage
in which all Americans may visit the
shrnes of Europe through their represen-
tatives. Before God the will is taken for
the deed, where impediments prevent its
accomplishment, and when one cannot be-
come Pilgrim himself in act, he may still
be one in spirit, and receive all the fruits
of that devotion by sending another in
his place. His anxiety to see the good
work accomplished shows what he would
do if he could. All, then, who contribute
heartily and with good will towards the
sending of representative, are virtually
pilgrims themselves.
We are, therefore, glad to perceive that
steps have been taken by a number Of
gentlemen towards raising funds for de-
fraying the expenses of a representation
from this city, in the approaching Pilgrim
age In their address which we publish
to. day, approved by His Grace the Most
Rev. Archbishop, it is announced that DR..
bouncing has been invited to fill that po-
sition. Certainly no layman has been
more actively and faithfully connected with
the Catholic works of this city for some
years past than the Doctor, and we be-
lieve that no name could be suggested
which would be more acceptable than
his for the proposed mission.
AS number of persons will interest
themselves in obtaining signatures of sub
scribers, it has been determined to publish
accurate lists of subscriptions, that all
may know, without enquiring, whether
.heir contributions have been accounted for.
1t is sincerely hoped that the response
of New Orleans Catholics to this call will
be generous. A city which has 80 often
been brought prominently before the Holy
Father by its zeal and Catholic spirit,
would hardly sustain its reputation by
total silence on the present occasion. We
do not doubt that its absence would be
remarked at Rome and would, to some
extent, mar the satisfaction of our beloved
Chief Pontiff. Indeed we have no appre-
henson that there will be any failure in
obtaining funds enough to ensure the re-
presentation Of our city ont he Pilgrimage,
but it is greatly hoped that the occasion
may be taken advantage of as an opportu-
nifty for making a small Offering to our Holy
Father. He has no revenues now from the
States of the Church, and he spurns the
brides offered by usurping invader. He
needs then, not only our sympathy but our
aid, and on what occasion, more fttingly
than the present, could we recognize that
fact Let there be handsome surplus.
SPIRITED CoNTEsT.-Our public spirited
fellow citizen, P. J. Kennedy Esq. the great
levee contractor, with his usual generosity has