The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-12-26
Christmas Offerings.

Order, who never went into a foreign land,
never probably saw q heatben, never
preached q sermon, and yet converted many
| thousands of idolaters. He never got
within o couple of Thousands Of miles OF
| those same idolaters, himself, and had no
intercourse of any kind with them, yet 1t
was revealed that their conversions were
due to him. And how In the shade ana
| silence of his cell he labored, not "itn
them, but for them. Day and nigoe' on
| his knees or at his work, in the sanctuary
| OF in the street, his soul was prostrated DC
fore the throne of God interceding for
them. Missionaries went among them, the
bI.asipp of God accompanied their words
and their works, that blessing wrought
anew the ever wonderful miracle oil turning
hearts of flint into hearts Of hesh paipisa-
ting with grace, and the influence that won
that blessing was traced TO the lowiy
brother in his cloister.
In this sense, then, we can all be mission
aries. If we caunot all devote our active
life TO the work of the priesthood, We can
aid materially in that work by our co oper-
alton. If we have not the gift of prayer
|
the power of contributing to the support OF
a body of clergy at home or abroad whose
,abors shall be fruitful of salvation to thou
sands. Every body has something to spare
as the poverty stricken wido" commemo-
rated in the Bible managed to spare her
mite. Who is there that does not occa-
sionalIy indulge in some little qualification
that might be dispensed with without any
injury to bimselff Yes; all have the
means of contributing something to the
cause of equipping the grand army OF Truth
the priesthood. In this country, where
there are comparatively no vocations among
the wealthy, our Bishops are obliged to
maintain ecclesiastical seminaries at their
own expense, and the means must, OF
eourse. be furnished by their t1ocks.
Numbers of exemplary and talented young
men are in those institutions bending all
their energies to the task Of fitting them
sa,ves for the sacred work of saving souls,
vet with no pecunisry resources of their
own, They must be fed and clothed du-
ring their period of study, or abandon
their holy aspirations. Yet upon their
nsrseyerapce depends, to great extent,
the hope of our people for spiritual gui
dance and ministration in the Eear future.
1t is certain, as regards this Archdiocese
particularly, that ourveneraole Archbishop
, cannot possibly carry such burden OF Dis
3 own proper strength. The faithful must
give aim the means or he must close bis
i seminarv. But will God look with favor
:, IN any man, for himself or family, who in
= dnlges in extravagant habits or useless ex'
e nenditures, while his Bishop is closing his
seminary and drying up the source OF a fu
ture clergyf If We have any faith at.
il ought to warn US against so fatal al
:. error. God can support his seminarle'
ritbon. the aid of men, but he prefers Il
>. seeL, that aid and rely on it. He will no
.. he unmiudful of either refusal or compli
,y ance on the part of those to whom he ap
es plies. He certainly does apply to US all TO
aid on this occasion. The necessities 9
no the Seminary show this beyond doubt
as fur he cannot leave it destitute of suppor
to without thereby inviting assistance for il
While we give, His eye is upon Us
W knows how much we can give and he WI
- certainly see how much we do give IL
. a only of his own bounty to us %o"' AA0 "'
,lv back a small contribution for Himself. h
Dts needs it not, but like mother who Del
ing her little one for taste of the good thipl
of she herself has just given it, He mere
ch. wishes to test the extent of our hoerail
and enjoy the proof of our love.
Ed The work to be aided is the one reare
hty the heart of our venerable prelate and mo
o0. intimately bound up than any other vi
90 the future of religion in our community.
ia useless to look further to spend mon
batter. Let all of us without except
to make birth day present this day to
efS Lord for the support of His own espec
All bousehold. Even one cent is enough
81 make a Christmas gift, and, if the best Il
can be done, will be as highly fruit
The of blessing to both giver and receiver
the the bank-note the contribution OF VIII