The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1874-12-27
PASTORAL LETTER OF BISHOP MANUoY.

PASTORAL LETTER OF BISHOP MHHuCIs
Doa MIC. by The grace of God aud the favor of the
Apostolic See Bishop of Du'men, IN partibus inf
deliu' and Vicar Apo. .tol'o of Brownsville Texas,
to the Clergy and Faithful OF our vicaiiate greet
ing:
Dearly beloved brethren of the Clergy and
children of the iaity 1t has pleased our Holy
Father, Plus TX, to charge us, though un-
worthy, with Episcopal care over the newly
erected Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville.
Knowing whose servant we are, of a God Man
who came down from Heaven for oUr saliva
tion, that in our human nature He might make
atopement by the Cross for the sins of men,
ia the laver of His Sacred Blood washing away
the handwriting of condemnation that was
against them for the offence of their first
parent, and the multiplied offences of them
selves; and feeling that "the disciple is not
above the Master" we bave, with willing
heart, assumed the responsibility with the
honors of the Episcopate, that no one might
say, that one who had for SO many years exer-
cised the sacred ministry in the name of the
Lord Jesus (beipg made with Him partaker
in that Priesthood which is forever, according
to the order of Melchisadec,) now, when the
trials of the redeemiug Cross are multiplied,
aud the sacrifices required of him augmented,
shrnks, with faint heart, before the proposed
perfection of the oblation. We know, indeed
brethren beloved, the nature OF the burden we
assume greater one than our human strength
could bear-but "kuowing in whom we have
trusted" we nave with confidence advanced to
the Holy Mount of God, to His Sacred Altar
and there received the sacred uuction of the
Holy Spirit, with the imposition of hands, by
which we have been constituted yoor Bishop
placing our trust entirely u Him that called
us through the voice Of His Vicar, and who
has promised to sustain, with His most power
full hand from Heaven, them that in His pane
go forth 20 battle with the principalities and
powers of this world OF darkness, that the
Spirit of Wickedness may be overcome, aud in
its stead the Empire of the Redeemer may be
established
Trusting, therefore, to The promises of the
God Man, who said $50 into the world and
preach the Gospel to every creature" "Behold
am with You all days, even to the consumms-
tion of tie world" and commencing ourselves
and our Vicariate to the intercession of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, we shall, dearly beloved
brethren of the Clergy aud beloved children of
the laity. as coon as conveniept-which we
hope Will be in four or e We weeks-enter upon
the dnries o. our charge personally. Mean
while We have constituted our well-beloved
brother of the Episcopate, Right Rev. C. NJ.
Dubuis, Bishop of Galveston, administrator
over our Apostolic Vicariate until our advent
among you; and it has pleased US to confide to
Very Rev. F. Vanderberghe, Superior of the
Oblates of Mary Immaculate, in our Vjcariate,
certain faculties delegated to us by the Holy
See, for the more efeotual administration of
said Vicariate, to use the same for himself and
the Priests of his Order, who are co-laborers
with him in the district of country over which
we have episcopal jurisdiction, viz the region
between the Rio Nueces and the Rio Grande
The secular priests, in good standing, who
have up to the present time exercised the ordi-
nary functions of the ministry under the jnris-
diction of our well beloved brother, Right
Rev. C. NJ. Dubuis, Bishop of Galveston, we
continue in the same faculties, and for such as
they cannot exercise without the dispensing
power they will apply to said Bishop of Gal
weston, our administrator, until our advent to
| the Vicariate is made known to them.
We have thought it fitting, dearly beloved
brethern of the Clergy and beloved children of
the laity, to address you these few words on
the present occasion, and when we come
among you we shall address you more fully on
matters touching tho spiritual interests of oce
and ALL and especially will we address the
laity on their duties to God, to their pastors
to their neighbors and to themselves.
Given in Mobile, the 14th of Decemb.-, 1874
DOMINIC MASUcY,
Vicar Apostolic of Brownsville.
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.