The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-02-14
saaynIna Star and Catholic Messenger.
60 opIrANs. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY II. ls'a'
PASTORAL LETTER
oYruE RIGHT REV. ANTHONY DOMINIC fGi
IICER U. ID BISHOP OF SAN ANTONIO.

Rev and Dear Brethren of the Clergy ana LEA"
dren of the laity: :. |
Having been appointed, without any merit
nf on,s Inv His Holiness, Plus the NINTH hrs'
p;.hon Of the newly established See oil San
An,onio and having been duly consecrated on
.hs 9Th of December last-Feast Of the lmma-
.ntate Convention of the B. V. NJ with the |
.or5ioI consent of our Beloved Brother in the
ppisoopate, Right Rev. John Quinlan ID. d., IN
his Cathedral Church of Mobie-by the VEN |
erable METROPOLITAN, n. J. Perche, Archbishop
If .he Eccl,siastical Province of New Orleans, |
va thought it our duty to come, without any
unnecessary delay, and assume the resronslbih-
ties of our office.
rb. grand ovation which you, clergy and
lai,v of the different congregations OF San
Antonio, SO generously gave us, was truly
cheering and consoling to our heart 1t was
on the one hand, n snblime profession OF the
"Faih that is in you," and on the other, token
of love and affection for your new Bishop VINO
came to you "as one sent" and duly commits
stoned by the vicegerent of Christ, Plus the
Ninth, the Infallible Pontiff of Gods Church
ON earth, to rule in his name and by his autho-
rity. this DO, ton Of the Lords Vineyard.
It il not without certain fear and trem-
Bling" that We have come to you as your
Bl2hOp, Tor we are wen u" die VI tho CIV N-AS
heavy RESPONSIBILITIES attached to the sacred
Office.
we were chosen, not withdrawing our I'M
worthiness, and sent to you with the proao
and solemn commission, once given by the
Saviour of the world to the Apostles 500 teach
all nations"-" Eehold, am with go" all days, 10
he end Of the world."
Ry virtue Of our office, we are to teach you
Abe truths and doctrines of Gods tnfattibfe
Church-that Church which He bnilt npon the
Rock and against which lie pledged His sacred
word that the gates Of hell should never pre-
vail.
Itisuow eighteen hundred years and more
sIncn the establishment OF this grand old
Church and although Kings, aud Emrerors
and Nations have couspir"d to destroy her, yet,
glory be to God! she is to-day AS fresh as n
blooming bride She has gloriou>ly trsnmrhed
over her prosecutors aud enemies. She viii
continue to survive and fulfil her divine mis-
sion the salvation of souls, in spite of the ma
elinations of the evil one, as long as there are
kouls TO be saved. God has said little gates
of hell shall never prevail against her
With the assistance of Heaven the co-opera
lion Of our Jealous brethren of the Clergy, the
NOUS PRAYERS of our faithful Religious and the
GDCllltY anu EOOu Will Oh Tue VIC uope
Tor success in our Episco, ate, that God may be
glori6ed, and His Church honored in the Do
ctse Of San Antonio.
As thr holy season of Lent is fast approach
ing, we feel it our duty, beloved children of
The Diocese, to address you few words of in
slIucton on this important subject.
In the language of the Apostle of election
"Bthold, no,r is he Gcccptdblc time is tie day
Of satrGtlon' ed Cor. C. L, V. 2)-the Church of
God, like tender mother, ever solicitous for
the salvation of her children invites them at
Ahls holy time, 20 sincere repentance, and ad-
rouishes them to return to the Lord their God
in She sincerity OF their hearts, that they may
ind mercy and grace through Jesus Christ.
On the first day of Lent our heads are mar k
Cd with blessed ashes, to give us to understand
what is inevitably to be tho end of MS all, and
10 excite us to diseugage our hearts from the
hove Of the world, aud to be always guarded
against tho fatal consequence Of an unprovided
death.
Let u.s. beloved children in Christ, enter into
tAe spirit of the Church. and spend the forty
days of lent in holy exercises and penitentiat
works; lot us endeavor to cxp;ate the sins we
ADye committed in the course of the year, aud
ofer some reparation to God for our past trans
gTesSions. Let us seek the Lord while lie may
he found and call upon Him while he is near
SlsAias 50, V. ~. LET us DO converted to Hin,
IN fasting, weeping and mourning" says the
Prophet Joel.
It is the indispensable duty of a Christian to
Head penitential life at all times, but partcu.
laIly during the holy season Of Lent, because
this is the most acceptable time in the who'll
year for doing penance.
II is at this holy time, in a special manner
that our efforts may more easily he crowned
with success than ut any other, because Goo
We've His children upon earth united in pray
ans and applications, calling upon Him in III,
language of the Prophet Joel "SPare, o Lord
spare Thy people"
There is nothing more clearly established, o.
more forcibly inculcated in the Divine Scrip
tnres, than the stern necessity of penance.
The FIRST and most positive law that wa
given to man was that of fasting and abstinence
GSur First Parents were commanded to abstain
from eating the fruit of certain tree that grew
in the earthly Paradise. Eating the forbidden