The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-02-19
THE WHEELING FEBRUARYa ISL

reunion around the throne Of God. II
already you practice, Christian parents,
be- sure 10 preserve it faithfully; il not
there Is no Better time to inaugurate 1t
than at the beginning OF this Lent. What.
ever be the hinderance to Its Observance
In the morning, nothing but want OF good
will and feryor In Gods service can pre-.
vent your saying night prayers in com.
mon, With many there Is certain tru.
~ Catholic custom which we cannot too
strongly commend-as saying together
every night before retiring, the sweet
prayer to our Lady-the Rosary. This
and similar practices Of piety draw down
untold blessings 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 Lenten season, redouble
your ferver in the service OF the good
God, and merit thereby His richest
fayors.
To fasting and prayer, you should unite
alms-deeds and works Of charity 10 the
poor. At time when Almighty God
shows so much mercy and liberulity to
us, we should open our hearts in mercy
and kindness to our fellow men. l need
not dwell on the Scriptural authorities
that enforce this duty. II is not proof OF
its utility or necessity which you require,
but d warmthof Christian charity, which
will make your hearts go out in sympa-
thy for the distressed. There Is hardly q
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 sodoing, you are minister
ing to Him, and securing for yourselves
the reward of services rendered person
ally to Him. Did He deign to come on
earth in human, form, and stretch forth
His human hand for succor, would You
turn deaf ear to His petition' No, as
snredly not. See Him then in the bent
form OF the aged beggar, or beneath the
tattered gatb Of the helpless cripple, or
on the rude pallet OF the sick and dying
poor. "Amen, l say to you, as long. as
you did it to one Of these my least breth-
rem, you did 1t to me-" Matt. XIV, 409
"Make to yourselves friends Of the
Mammon Of iniquity; that when you
shall fail, they may receive you into
everlasting dwellings" o. 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-
licves world Of bodily suffering. Now,
you may all, dear brethren, become &C
tive apostles in bringing souls to the
knowledge Of faith and the way OF saliva
ton, .....i
There exists in the Church society
for tho diffusion Of faith, which, though
modern in its origin, is spread all over
the world, and is doing immense service
in the cause OF religion. It is the main
support OF missionaries in every land.
Thousands OF dollars are furnished by
it every year for the poorer missions in
our own country. This diocese, since
It's formation twenty-five years ago, has
received an annual subsidy. This year
the sum is quite small, because the reve-
nues OF the society have fallen of, owing
to the persecution against the Church.
Il is time that we should show our
good will at least, and OF our resources
contribute something to society which
is doing SO much good, and which has
been our own kind benefactor. Many are
the indulgences with which the Holy See
has enriched its members, and adesire to
participate in these rich treasures Of the
Church must be strong motive for in
ducing all who are able to become menu
bers. And yet, see how little Is required :
The only conditions are the contribution
OF one cent week, and the daily reelta:
ton Of one Our Father and one Hail
Mary, with the inyocation-"5aint Fran
els Xavier, pray for u.s."
We are aware Of the difficulties attend
ing the regular establishment Of the So
ciety in small parishes, for want Of per-
sons TO collect faithfully the triaing con-
tributions. We propose, therefore, to
adopt the plan Of yearly collection to be
taken up IN every church and mission
station, on the first Sunday in July, or as
soon after as each pastor will find 1t con-
yenient. Those who are able, may con-
tribute the full amount-52 cents-or
more rs they are disposed; whilst others
can make smaller offerings. When the
amount collected has been forwarded TO
the Chancellor Of the Diocese, he will re.
nit to the clergymen sending 1t, once
every two months, as many copies OF the
Annals af the Propagation of the faith as
the sum collected entities the congrega.
ton to-that is, one copy Tor every i've
dollars and twenty cents collected. These
Annals will be circulated among the mem
bers Of the congregation, and will be
found to contain many very interesting
descriptions OF Catholic missions through
out the world. We sincerely hope thai
both the Reverend Clergy and thu
faithful win intesest themselves in q mat
ter so worthy OF their jealous support.
We also take this occasion, dearly be
loved brethren, Of officially announcing Il
you the extension by the Holy Father o
The Plenary Indulgence Of the Jubilee
In virtue Of the authority granted to vi
BY an Apostolic Indult dated January
"a, 1875, we extend the time Of the Jubi
leo in our diocese to the end Of this pres
emit year, 1876, and We give to the Rever
eud Clergy all the privileges for commu'
ting the visits to the churches, or redu
cling their number, which weI before
granted in our Pastoral Letter Of Jun'
"a, 1875. a
II then any still remain unblest b!
these rich spiritual treasures offered L
them, on so easy terms, we beg them nj
longer to despise or neglect the proferet
mercies. The prolongation Of the Jubilee
Year Is. new and striking evidence o
the maternal solicitude with which tn
Church, scourged though she herself is b,
the rod Of affection, is filled towards al
her children. May none be found 81
careless and hardened as TO refuse to re
spond to this her maternal affection. -
In view Of the continued persecution
/ against the Church in so many lands
there rests upon us all, beloved brethren
a sacred duty Of pleading every day 70
her deliyerance from the powers Of wick
edness which everywhere oppresses her
For this end, the Reverend Clergy, dis
continuing the collect Pro Papa, will here
|, | ftor ao1 IN all MnsRea In which the Ru