The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-02-19

WHEELING.
TO tie Req. Clergy and to The Laity Of the
Diocese of Wheeling:
Mindful, beloved Brethren, OF the
grea, responsibility which devolVes uroo
us, of watching over the flock committed
to cur pastoral charge, we avail our
selves OF the near approach OF the hoiy
L4en,en season, 10 invite you TO more
careful discharge of certain important
obligations, and to warn you against GER
tain grave dangers, by which you are
surrounded. The main object which the
Church hiss in view in prescribing these
forty days of special prayer ana
uensn2e, Is to arouse her children to
more generous forts in the tuihlment OF
all their Christian duties. The united
PRAYERS OF all the faithful are then ad,
dressed to Almighty God, with increased
carnestness, tor the conversion oil the
SHINING and the perseverance OF the Just;
and in response to these ferVent appesis'
Divine grace is offered to ell IN greater
abundance. Moreover, the hearts OF all
Christians are so:tened into better dis.
positions, by the devOut contemplation OF
the Sayiour's sacred passion and DEATH
which the Church keeps before their
minds during this holy time. we are
con fdent, therefore, that there is no time
when our words will be received by you
with more docllity, or our WISHES meet
with moro ready compliance. In
soired it'll this confidence, we call
yorr attention to the various
subjects embraced in this Letter.
HOLY MASS.
There is no duty of greater Importance
than devout attendance at the holy Sac
rIfice of the Mass on Sundays and other
DAYS prescribed by the Church. In the
) ,critce OF the Altar is centred the es-
sonce OF pure, Christian worship, for It Is
the sacrifice of the Goldman to Ills
Eternal Father. By assisting piousIy at
il. ofleriug, we are closely united to the
Divine High Priest, Christ Jesus, sad
with Him we ioin in the most acceptable
worship that the creature can present
to bis Almighty Creator. we can SUD
sLit.,e no other victim for the Lamb OF
God. immols.ed upon the altar, end
nance we can substitute no form oil
drawer or praise of God in place OF the
Holy Sacrifice. Unless excused oy great
distance from church, or the lncIemeAcy
of the weather, or serious sicEness, OF
other lawful reasons, all Catholics are
bound, under the pain OF tnortai SIN,
to hear Mass on Sundays ard holidays
of obligation-b)und to hear the Whoie
Mass; Iutt IL, 10 be present deVouLiy
during a.! those parts that belong 10 the
integrity OF the sacrifice. IL Is Will
deem reSret .ha. we learn how msny
especially IN our own episcopal city, neg
lect TIL; sacred duty on the most tiImsY
pretexts- sometimes without even the
sbgtow Of an excuse. Such negligence
evidences a fatal indifference IN regard
70 the most essential claims Of religion
The reverend clergy will be dilgent IN
their epdeavors to correct this so grloV'
ors. vet 90 common disorder. They Will
visit in nerson the derelict, and ascertain
tho causes Of their negligence, and use
All means in their power TO induce them
to a more fsithful compliance with this
duty. Many children, too, who have
reached the age OF discretion, and VINO
are consequently bound by this law OF
Inc Church. are absent from Mass on
Sundays. Parents must bear in mind
that they share before God IN the SINS
of their children, which they can, but do
not, prevent. Can it be expected tbat
the blessing of Heaven will come upon
families who thus despise the ordinances
of God ard of His Holy Church?
THE sACRAMENTs.
The test of the practical Catholic lie
Ire regular and worthy reception OF the
OF Pensnce and the Holy
Eucharist. The first is the remedy or
dained by our Divine Lord tor the cure
Of the souls disorders; the second 10 the
food lovingly provided by Him for our
spiritual nourlshment. Ii we use so
MANY precautions to ward oil bodily SICK
ness and sustain our physical strength,
should we be less careful OF like atten-
ions 60 the soul2 Our blessed Lord
Himself has spoken the motto: "Where
your heart is, there also is your treasure.
Ii we employ al our time and energies
in provldinc for the wants and pleasures
Of our bodies, and mako no provision ioa
ne needs OF our souls, do we not thereby
show how low and earthly and unchris.
ian are the aspirations of our hearts
1t is truly sad to see so many, otherwise
GOOD and charitable and well-disposcd
Catholics, approaching so rarely the holy
Secraments; and ssdder still to see others,
only too numerous, utterly isithiess
10 these obligations. With all the ten
der Sc l;citude OF father, we appeal 10
both these classes, warning the latter OF
the dreadful judgements OF God upon the
obstinstely wicked, AID reminding the
former of the countless grsces and
blessings of which, by their indifference,
they deprive themselves. Whilst there
are slwsvs many devout, religious souls,
who console the jealous pastor by tleir
aud pious lives, how.lsrge num-
Der confine their religious duties TO the
Of what is absolutely neces'
s4ry to save t1em from mortal sin. This
conduct cannot be very &C
ceptable to that good God who deserves
and demands our whole heart and our
undivided service. The reverend clergy
will show an untiring interest in lncul'
eating on all the members OF their iiocks,
the importance OF approaching frequent
" and piously TO the Holy Sseramcnts
Of Pensnce and Communion; placing
before them the dangers OF indifference
and the happiness of fidelity IN the dis
charge of these sacred duties.
SOCIETIES, NEWSPAPERS, ETC
Regularity in the reception OF tte Sc,
craments cannot be more edectuslly Sc
cured. than by establishing and encour'
aging sodalities and other Catholic $3.50
cations, wherever there is sufficient
number to organize such societies
Children who belong 10 wei! conducted
sodslities, are generally found attentive
TO their religious duties. They are also
better instructed in all these devotion:
and religious practices which tend to
keep ,sliye spirit OF faith and piety. II
must be from sheer Ignorance o. the
many beneficial Influences thus eXerted
on the young heart, that parents often
.,Le sn Gttla interest in the training