The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-02-27
yyETES PASTORAL or BISHOP Gross
OF SAVANNAH.

Isaynnuah Cross. Feb. 1a.l /
From Bishop Grosss Pastor>i letter OF
the 10Th met, We take the following ex-
tract: !
The holy season Of Lent is at hand, when
orr Holy Mother, the Church, calls upon
her children, all over the world, to devote
themselves to works of pepauce.
The nfiniteiy holy and just God cannot
nuffsr ain to pass unpublished. He who says
that "He will demaud 40 account even for
m idle word" will not fail to visit on sim
mars their crimes and excesses. But when
the hand of God is even upiifted to strike,
the PRAYER of the contrite heart, and the
Deniteutial exercises of the BUNDLED soul,
5sye always turned away the Divine anger.
When Nineveh was about to be destroyed
for it's sins, it's destructian was averted by
she peuance of its inhabitants. When even
the wicked Achab did pepance, God merci-
fully spared him the punisbment about to
be inflicted. Hence, every messenger from
God haa preached penauce to the people.
ST. John the Baptist commanded the
nultitudes to do penance. st. Peter, in
the opening sermon of his apostolic career,
gives the advice: "Do penance."
The great messengers from God to all
.pecpIee, in oil ages, ia the Catholic Church.
Hence, she speaks the salutary language so
familiar to the mouths OF all those sent by
God she, too, tells the world to do pen
AnCs While they who come to the people
without any mission from God. use Ian
guage ,bat panders to the corrupt inclina
lions and vices OF the people, achieving
she hard doctrines of bodily modification
and penance. She with fearless charity
and caudor, reproaches the II ations for their
wickedness, tells them their sins, and Gx-
horts them to do penance. Surely our age
needs such lessons. Countless demagogue 8
hatter the people. The increase of sin all
over our country, the great and daily
growing depravity of morals are acknnwl.
edged by ali. Were a Jonah or st. John
the Baptist to arise, Ee would fnd the
same vices and the came shocking crimes
in our modern society as those which drew
upon the ancients the chastisements of a
Divine juetice. But the Church, the bride
of Christ, and greater than prophet or pre-
cursor, tells society in bold, firm, and uu-
mistak able language, of its errors, its faults,
and its sins. She breaches to this sinful
sge the great necessity of penance. Many
will not listen to her charitable warnings
"For Inen have loved darkness more tn Al
light" She scannot expect TO be better
treated than have been all the messenger
Of God to this bad world, 1.-THE world
shall hate yop- and persecRte you," was the
prophecy of her spouse, Jesus Christ. But
woe to rs, five, like the world, turn &
deaf ear~to the exhortations of our holy
Church. She now tells us to repent of ouI
- sins and do penance for them. The anger
Of God is enkindcd by our many and grle
yous sins, and che urges MS, her children
10 wholesome penauce. Let US listen t.
he fearful voice of this Divine messenger
Who cannot deceive us. Let Us commence
she Leaf in her spirit.
How. therefore, should Lent be oO
served
We should, above al! things. excite :
true, deep and heart felt sorrow for oul
sins, accompanied with firm purpose O
amendment. Without sorrow there can bt
no forgiveness OF sin and the fasting anC
other BODILY penances, should he only til,
natural fruit and outcome of Il heart hum
bled before God, and srieving over it,
sins.
The rules and regulations regarding tn.
ms, and abstinence, which we append t
this circular, should he carefully observed
revereucing with tilial obedience the vuic,
of the holy Church, her devout children ar,
accustomed to refrain from worldly enter
sainmeuts during this season of penauce
The Church, moreover, during Lent, hold
apin O particular manner to our attention
the bitter passion aud death of Our Lor,
Jesus. Devout Catholics, should, therefor
carefully unite their fasts and other penan
ces with the many fats and with the fear
full sutferings to which our beloved Savior
submitted his innocent body for our SAKE
The Church regards the season of Lent as
time more particularly devoted to praye
Many, therefore, have the devout custoI
of assisting every day during Lent at til
Holy Mass. To those who have tho OF
portuulry, we earnestly commend this dali
assistance, AS the very highest act of rel
giop. Others, again, are careful to assen
o!e every evening ali their family for I'll
aevout recitation of the rosary and othi
holy prayers. The united prayer of an Ell
hire family has an especial power wit
Him who has said: "Where two or thrt
assembled in my name, 1 am in the
midst"
In the spirit, therefore, of the hol
Church, let ne, combining true sorrow fl
Our sins with earnest, fervent prayer an
bodily peuAuces, and We will, during tn
aevout season, receive Gods mercy an
Snestimable blessings and favors.
TIE First SMoKER.-Everr one know