The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-02-11
PASTORAL AND MANDATORY LETTER
MOST REV. ARCHBISHOP OF NEW ORLEANS
FOR THE LENT OF 1877.
oFTBB

s bishop of New Orleans, Assistant at the Ponthca
Throne, Roman Count Grand Cross of the Order o
, the Holy SepuIchre etc.
To the Clergy Fai thful of Health
Benediction in Christ our Lord.
BELOVED Felletc Laborers and Tery Dear Breth
= ren-In addressing you, as the holy days o.
Lent draw near, and for the fret time after 8
long absence, yo would like to speak that Ian
guage alone Of the heart to which we have
accustomed you, and which would be more ia
, accordance with our habitual dispositions. We
would like to recall to you what you already
know how much we have suffered in being so
long far away from you, although resigned to
that prolonged absence solely on account OF
you. We would remind you with what happi-
ness we felt ourselves once more among those
| we love and by whom we are snTe to be loved (;
| we might easily ex patiate and linger on that
subject and IN giving utterauce to our feelings,
our atfeotionate language would prove as gra-
trying to to you. But the circumstances
in the midst of which we find ourselves, very
dear brethren, compel US, in speaking to you,
to descend to such bare realities as are not in
| keeping with our inclin atoms, and to pecuEiary
| considerations to which we have always been
averse.
| Notwithstanding our labor and our endeav-
| ors, we did only imperfectly succeed in attain
come to the aid of the Diocese And during our
absence, our unfortunate aud beloved Louisiana
was bent under such pressure that the distress
which was already weighing SO heavily upon
great portion of the population, has become
almost general, and necessarily made it's evil
i'll 1uence felt in the condition of tho Diocese;
and if, side, God has vouchsafed to
grant Us great spiritual consolation, in making
US witness tie zeal Ct your pastors and the
docility of a large number OF pious faithful, on
the other hand, our Lord has permitted that
we should be deeply affii cted by the temporal
and financial condition of the Diocese, which is
chiefly owing to the hard times and the 10 isery
which weighs upon our whole population.
This condition of things, 80 painful to us,
very dear brethren, if protracted, would be
humiliating for you, for every Catholic must
feel interested in the welfare and honor of the
Diocese.
Therefore, as were arrived i'll
your midst, we thought of taking proper steps
to get ont of that condition, and the success
is easy and certain, if you be but willing to
give us your hearty cooperation. And indeed
we have right to expect this much from your
good will, we who may say before God, and in
the face of the population amidst whom we
the abundant resources we could command in
better times we're never made use of by us, but
to enhance the spiritual and temporal welfare
o. our brethren, without any distin ton what
ever of nation, race origin.
The first step we have taken has been to en-
trust with the management of the financial
affairs OF the Diocese q priest who, by his in
tellectual endowments, his prudence and his
discretion, heightened by his experience in
business, besides other qualities calculated to
win consideration and inspire respect, has
gained the esteem of every one. In comforting
Very Rev. Joseph Marie Millet, attached to
our Cathedral, the title of Vicar General, we
kave wholly entrusted him with the financial
administration of the Diocese and that choice
which has been greeted with applause by
all the priests, cannot fail to create conf
dence among the faithful and our entire popu-
lation.
Moreover, we are sure of the concurrence of
all the priests, and although great number of
them be in q condition bordering on poverty,
which they nobly endure, set all shall strive to
help US, as far as possible, in reaching the end
we have in view.
AS to what regards personally, very dear
brethren, We need not say that we impose on |
ourselves the strictest economy, for we did |
always refrain from all useless expenses, and |
our mode of living is as sparing as that of any
of our priests. But we have assumed as duty |
the most painful sacrifice and deprived our- |
selves of the greatest happiness afforded by |
riches, the happiness of giving. without free |
ing ourselves entirely from the obligation that
is dearest to a bishops soul, namely, aims
giving We have been compelled, even on that |
point, to restrain ourselves and we bave too |
often to compress within ourselves and check |
the impulse of our heart which would prompt
us to stretch helpful hand to those who
suffer, and open our arms and purse to those
who are in need.
But all our efforts, combined with those of
our priests, would not be sufficient very dear
brethren, we're you not to add thereunto your
own cooperation. Wherefore we have resolved
to establish, by this our Pastoral Letter, a
Diocesan Association, the object of which shall
be to help us in the payment of the debts of
the Diocese. To become a member of tho IA. |