The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-03-02
CATHOLIC JUBILEE.
LETTER FROM BIsHoPG1BBoNs
Conditions for Gaining the Indulgence-Ap-
preaching 51ission By the Rcdemptorist
Fathers-The Wholesome Influence
Of United Prayer, &c.

At St. Peters Cathedral Sunday, at all the
masses, pastoral letter was read from Right
Rev. Bishop Gibbons, in which be announces
officially the Jubilee proclaimed by the Holy
Father for this year. 1875, and offers words
Of eXnortatioD suggested by the event.
The letter, after eXplaining the nature of
indulgences.- partial and plenary-says q
Jubilee is the most ample form Of plenary
indulgence, which is granted by the Soyer-
eign Pon,if to the universal Church every
| twenty. fifth year, and also upon certain eX-
| traOrdinary occasions.
| The conditions 10 be observed by the faith.
full Of the diocese in order TO partake Of the
| blessings Of the Jubilee are prescribed as fol.
lows:
| "Tbe faithful are required to confess their
| sins with true contrition Of heart, and to re-
ceive devoutly the Holy Communion.
Children, who have not yet been admit.
| ted to their first communion, may gain the
indulgence by approaching the Sacrament Of
penance with worthy dispositions, and by
| complying, as far as practicable, with the
other conditions prescribed.
| "ThoSe who reside 10 Richmond should
visit once day for fifteen days the cathe-
dial, ST. Mary's and st. Patrick's churches.
The faitbtH outside of Richmond should
make fifteen visits to their parochial church.
| These visits may be made on fifteen consecu-
| tive days, or at intervals.
! "Persous suffering from corporal infrmi.
ties or impeded by other causes, and also
children under ten years, are dispensed from
the obligation Of making the above-named
visits, but by way of commutatlon they shall
read at home once day for fifteen days the
Stations Of the Cross, or recite any other for
mula of prayers which the pastor may sug.
gcst.
| "On the occasion of those visits the faith.
| full, as the Holy Father directs, will pray for
| the prosperity Of the Church and of the'ApOs-
| tolic See for the eXtrpation of error and the
conversion Of all who have strayed away,
and for the peace and unity Of the whole
Christian people,
II recommend that to your prayers you
| unite aim, giving, for prayer with fasting
and aims is better than to lay up treasures
| Of .old,' as the Holy Scripture declares to
uS.
"Boxes to receive the offerings Of the
| faithful 10 Richmond will be erected in the
| three churches above named, and the amount
contributed will be hluded TO the Superior
of ST. Josephs Fcmae Orphan Asy lum in
| this city.
lie Cic'SS OtIlSiuC Vi ltiSuuiOuu W
| make such appropriations Of the aims de-.
| posted in their churches rs their plety ana
| discretion will suggest.
"The Indulgence of the Jubilee can be
gained at any time during the current year.
| "But as the Redemptorist Fathers, ut my
invitaAon. have kindly consented to give a
| course of missions throughout the diocese Of
| Richmond and the vicariuIe OF North Caro-
| lima, commencing their apostolic labors in
| Richmond, Immediately after Easter, ear
nesly eujoin upon the faithful of each par
ish to avail themselves Of the time Of the
mission as being. tue most opportune for
complying with the conditions Of the Jubi.
lee."
| The Bishop deyotes much space to the i'm
portunce of united prayer; the value it pos
Sesses, and the Influence it eXerts. In regard
| to united prayer IN families, he says:
| United psayer in its simplest form is
found in family devotions. Nothing is bet
ter calculated TO promote healthy piety than
morning and night, service, in which all the
members of the household participate.
Fathers and mothers, when you assemble TO-.
nether at these exercises Of religion, sur
rounded by your children. and pray with one
heart for each others We'flre. you may rest
assured that our Lord is IN the midst OF you.
| You are sensible of His presence, if not
| with your bodily senses, at least with the eye
of faith. The peace of God dvels in such
a family.
"Sometmes, it is true, il may be difficult,
| if not impossible, for all the members 10
| unite together in morning prayer. The father
NAV be compelled TO attend early to his daily
occupations, and the mother to her domestic
atfIirs. But family nght.praycr is not liza
| bic to the same in eruption; and, besides,
being Il fitting close to the actions Of the day,
1lIhe practice of this evening exercise is clIcu-
Tied 10 foster domestic habits which are the
fruitful source Of health and happiness TO so
many households"
| He also cXhortS the members of the various
religious and benevolent societies 10 begin
and conclude their meetings by prayer, in
order TO avert indiscretionS into which they
sometimes may be led iu their discussions.
In concluding his letter the Bishop prays
with the apostle "that Christ may dwell by
faith in your hearts; that, being rooted and
founded in charity, you may be able to COM
preherd with all the saints the
charity of Christ, which surpasseth all
knowledge, that you may be filled unto all
the fullness of God. Now to Him who is
able to do all things more abundantly than
we uSslTe Dc Stoly III tHe SuuICH,
and in Christ Jesus unto all generation, world
without end. Amen" (Eph. ill.,
The pastoral letter was also read in the
other Catholic churches of Richmond on Sun.
day, and is to be read in the ditierert
churches OF this diocese and the ycariate o
North Carolina on the first Sunday after its
reception, and also in the missions attached
on their first visit to them.
|