The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-18

mands of Gods Holy Church, Rattle
should the sincere Christian regre
any real ability to observe the Lenter
fast, and be anxious TO compensate II
some other practicable manner for thu
dispeusation from the general law of thu
Church. But there is one species of fast.
ing which all-weak or strong-youne
or old-can and must practice. What
ever sacrifice has to be made, sin anc
the occasions of sin must be avoided
1 For those who have long INDUCED in any
criminal habit, or exposed themselves tc
the danger of falling into sin, it may re-
quire strong efforts and repeated violence
10 the promptings of passion, in order to
effect a thorough and permanent amend.
ment. But these must remember that in
the generous struggle TO correct their
evil ways, and in their resistance of temp
tation, they are not fighting alone and
single handed. Thousands of the breth.
rem throughout the Christian world are
duplicating from God, strength and VIC
tory upon them, and upon all who, like
them, are striving in real earnest to FIRE e
themselves from the tyranny of sin. Oh!
that our words, dear brethren could reach
the ears and hearts of every sinner, and
induce him, in these days of Gods mercy
to seek forgiveness and amendment OF
hfel If the poor sinner will only try
to avoid sin and to be better Christian,
how soon will ! 0 cease tofear the difficulti' s
he now apprehends, and begin to love
the very practices which now seem so
psinful and repusnant.
You, dearly beloved brethren, who will
hearken to the Church's voice, and per-
form the prescribed works of mortifca-
ton, must not fail in your Christian duty
towards those who. this Lent, as perhaps
for many Lents, will go on in their sinful
notwithstanding up for themselves
wrath against the day of wrath. You
must pray for them, and entreat God in
| His mercy not TO cut them of IN their
sins. Your prayers may accomplish
what our paternal exhortations have
failed to affect-thelr conversion and
change of life.
Like fasting, prayer; both public and
private, has always been more strictly
enioined in Lent than at any other time.
We advise and wherever it can be done,
we ordain that twice week public SER
vices be held at such hours as the Rev.
clergy may judge most convenient.
These exercises will consist of instruc-
tions. prayers and the Benediction of the
Blessed Sacrament, which may be given
three times week. But among all dc
votional exercises, we recommend the
Wa C1uciS, or Stations of the Cross, as
best suited to the spirit of this penlten-
tial season; and, wherever it Is possible,
pastors will have this devotion every
Friday in Lent.
To all the public exercises, but particu-
l4rly to the Holy Sacrifice of tae Mass,
we most earnestly exhort you, dear
children of the laity, to be present as
often as you will have it in your power.
/ Be determined, from the very commence
ment of Lent, to allow no trivial obstacle
much less culpable negligence or sloth,
to keep you from the discharge of this, so
important and edifying duty.
At home, too, dear brethren, there must
reign spirit of prayer and piety. In
but too few families is found the beauti-
full practice of saying the daily prayers
in common. Yet what more lovely
spectacle than to see the whole family
thus united around the domestic altar!
Nothing stamps religion more deeply In
the hearts of children, or keeps 1t warmer
in the hearts of parents, than this dall
reunion around the throne of God. If
already you practice, Christian parents,
be sure to preserve it faithfully; IL not
there is no better time to inaugurate 1t
than at the beginning of this Lent,
Whatever be the hinderance to its OBJ
servance in the morning, nothing but
want of good will and fervor IN God
service can prevent your saying night
prayers in common. With many there
is n certain truly Catholic Gus
tom which we cannot too strongy com
mend-as saying together every night
before retiring, the sweet prayer to our
Lady-the Rosary. This and similar
practices of piety draw down untold bIes-
sings on those who observe them, and
there is no family that should not seek to
share in these blessings. May you all,
dear brethren, during these weeks Of the
Lenton season, redouble your ferver in
the service of the good God, and merit
thereby His richest favors.
To fasting and prayer, you should unite
slms-dceds and works of charity to the
poor. At Il time when Almighty God
shows so much mercy and hberality to
US. we should open our hearts in mercy
and kindness to our fellow men. | need
not dwell on the Scrptural authorities
that enforce this duty 1t is not proof OF
its utility or necessity which You require,
but a warmth Of Christian charity, which
Will make your hearts 90 out in sympathy
for the distressed There Is hardly u
community, no matter how small, In
which there are not objects deserving OF
your Christian compassion and charity.
Minister to their wants, dear brethren,
be these wants spiritual or corporal; and
YOU have the word Of our dear Lord
Jesus. that, in 50 doing, you are MIN
istering to Him, and securing for your
selves the reward of services rendered
personally to Him. Did lie deign to
come on earth in human FORM and
stretch forth His human hand for succor,
would YOU turn Il deaf ear TO Ills petit
ton ? No. assuredly not. See Him then
in the bent form of the aged beggar, or
beneath the tattered garb of the help
less cripple, or on the ruce pallet of the
sick and dying poor. amen, l say to
YOU, as long as you aid 1t to one these
INV least brethren, you did 1t to me -
Matt XVI, 40.
"Make to yourselves friends OF the
mammon of iniquity; that when You
shall fail, they may receive you into
everlasting dwellings" L. xvi. 81
But as the soul is more precious than
the body, so too are spiritual works OF
mercy more excellent than corporal good
works. He who saves 'one soul gives
greater glory to God, than he who re-
Reves a world of bodily suffering. Now,
YOU NAV all, dear brethren, become ac-
tive apostles IN bringing souls to the
knowledge of faith and the way of SAL
walton.
There exists IN the Church a society
for the diffusion of faith, which, though