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


DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN: o.,
A. Inc approach Of the holy time OF
7 ant We WEN to address TO you few
T Of exhortation, and to prescribe
,Go regulations to be observed In our
i Diocese, during these forty days OF SOL
sT Faithful to the Apostolic traditions,
the Church calls upon all her children to
prepare their souls, by more teryent and
ireGuent prayer; and by works Of pen,
ance, 10 celebrate the passion and dean
Of their divine Lord. Knowing Ine
precious graces that flow from the devous
commemoration OF these sacred mysss NJ.
les OF our redemption, she strives, WIN
ali tho earnestness Of maternal auection,
to disnose her children for tho abundant
rocon,Son ~ these graccs. Let US heed
ha. ro;oo JcarIy beloved brethren, and
determine 10 spend TINS ho'y SesSo" 10
becomes her children. :, -, -
'eT ThO most important duty imposed on
.. Ill during the time Of Lent, is the OBJ
i n III Of abstinence and fasting. How
III duty Is to be discharged, Is prescrib-
ed eb BY the rules which we shall give be-
low. .uI..
inc, hayc been in all ages regarded as
among SS the most powerful means Of dis
armins the justice Of God, and securing
His mercy. Sin comes from following the
inclinations Of corrupt nature, and in
dulcing its forbidden desires. The reme-
dy Of sin and its preventive are found in
,iwarting these disorderly cravings and
retrenching even lawful pleasures. This
we are taught by the words and conduct
ol ali Gods holy servants, under both the
Old and New lay; nay more, by the
teaching and example Of our Divine Lord
Himself. This doctrine OF bodily morti-
tcation meets indeed with opposition
from those who strive to tone down the
gospel severity; to smooth the road 'of
heaven; 10 widen II beyond the bounds
set by Christ; tosubstitute the flowers OF
pleasure for the thorns OF tribulation and
suffering. Not such brethren, be your
spiri,, else you follow not in the purpled
foo, marks Of your Crucifed Head.
To deny ourselves what nature Graves;
10 perform acts Of modification and PEN
anco is not in itself pleasant. But surely
no disciple Of Christ expects to receive
the promised crown unless he denies
himself, takes up his cross daily and fol-
lows his Divine Master. See what hard.
ships the valiant soldier endures in de-
Tense OF his country's honor, or the pur.
suit Of worldly fame. Shall we, soldiers
Of Christ, show ourselves faint.hearted
and cowardly in the battle which We are
pledged TO wage agaist the enemies who
would rob us OF our immortal honors
These enemies, we arc told by the Be-
loved Disciple, are the world, the flesh
and the devil. The world spreads be,
fore US its deceptive pleasures and
enticing gaieties; the flesh with
syren.yoice, is ever begging the indul
gcnce OF the baser passions; whilst thu
devil, ms St. Peter assures us, is al
ways going about seeking whom he MAJ
deyour-neyer idle in this wicked worl
Of picturing to the sons OF men, as he die
OF old even to tho Son OF God, the fas
cinating but false attractions OF sin
Now we shall hope in vain to conquer
these enemies of our salvation, il we d.
not retrench worldly amusements, NOR
,ify our rebellious flesh, and seek, IL
PRAYER and union with God, that super
natural strength by which alone the
temper can be overcome. These arr
the victorious arms, which have Away
been used in the Christian warfare
But especially in Lent are you exhort
ed TO cast aside these worldly amuse
ments, which, though not in themselve'
sinful, are incompatible with the peni
,en,iai spirit OF the holy season, and thu
Christening feelings which the mediation
Of the Sayiour's sufierings should awaken
Nav, works positively painful, as pri
vation OF food, in kind or quality, are
strictly euioined upon all who are physi
cally able 10 perform them. Bear u
mind, brethren, that you are sinners, ant
that therefore you must do penance, els
you shall perish eternally. Such 10 tn!
express declaration Of the Son OF God
Remember, too, that you are at all time
liable to sin, and that you must therefore
curb and crush by self-denial the passion
which expose you to it. Forget not tina
your hope Of sharing in tho glory Q
Christ can safely rest on no other toun:
dation except participation Of his sui
ferings. Do not lose sight Of. the principle
laid down by our Divine Lord-that tn
kingdom Of heaven suffereth violence
and that the yiolent-that is, they witt
do violence to their natural inclinations
carry it of. These things remember
dear brethren, and you will comply with
out murmuring with the salutary com
mands Of Gods Holy Church. Rattle
should the sincere Christian regre
any real ability TO observe the Lentei
fast, and be anxious to compensate, Il
some other practicable manner Tor the dis
pensation from the general law Of th
Church. But there ia one species OF fast
ing which all-weak or strong-young 0
old-can and must practice. Whateye
sacrifice has to be made, sin and the occt
sions OF sin must be avoided. For thoS
who have long INDUCED m any crimina
habit, or exposed themselves to the dan
ger Of falling into sin, it may requir
strong efforts and repeated violence !
the pTomptings Of passion, in order to e.
feet a thorough and permanent amend
ment, But these must remember that II
the generous struggleto correct their evl
ways, and in their resistance OF tempta
ton, they are not fighting alone and sin
gle handed. Thousands of the brethre
throughout the Christian world are SUP
plicating from God, strength and victor
upon them, and upon all who, like then
are striving in real earnest to free them
selves from the tyranny Of sin. oh tina
our words, dear brethren could reach III
ears and hearts Of every sinner, and IN
duCc him in these days Of Gods mercyt
seek forgiveness and amendment 10 Life
II the poor sinner will only try to avoi
sin and to be a better Christian, how 500
will he cease to fear the difficulties he no.
apprehends, and begin to love the yer
practices which now seem so painful an
repugnant, r Is, !,
You, dearly beloved brethren, who wi
hearkcn to the Church's voice, and pei
form the prescribed works OF mortitc'
ton, must not fail in your Christian dut
towards those who, this Lent, as perhaE
Tor many Lents, will go on intheir SIM!
ways-treasuring up for themselves wrat
against the, day OF wrath. You mul
pray for them, and entreat God in IN
mercy not to cut them of in their sin
Your PRAYERS NAV accomplish what on