The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-03

most pressing duties and fail to perform
their Easter duties and to sauctify the
Lords day. We see too many who try to
| reconcile things that are Incompatible
combining few exterior religious prac
| tices with worldly life, or, to call it by
it's name, with a pagan life, worldliness
being nothing else but paganism with a
faint tint of religion. How painful it is to
see persons calling themselves Catholics
given up to the insatiate love of pleasures
and to all the extravagances of unbecoming
luxury j. and in order to indulge their crsv
ing0after vanity and sensuality, permitting
themselves to be drawn into excessive ex
penses, which, at all times, would deserve
censure, but still more now, at this time
of need and misery, when in our midst 30
many of our Brethren even want the first
necessities Of life.
We also see with sorrow that some
Catholics seem to ignore or scorn the dis
cipline of the Church in relation to the
authority of a Pastor in his parish. A
Pastor appointed by the Bishop, and under
his Jurisdiction, exercising parochial du-
ties, has the responsibility of that parish,
and, therefore, he must have all the au-
thority and rights which that same respon-
sibility demands. But some persons, guided
by their own tastes, whims or caprices, do
not allow themselves to be guided by the
spirit of the Church, and have not the neces-
sary regard for the authority of their Pas
tore, to whom have been entrusted the mis-
- 4 ;o1i n n cnD
quence, the special graces necessary to
govern their parishes. In order to check
and correct such abuses that give rise to
serious inconveniences, we shall have to
renew and enforce the measures that our
venerable predecessors had adopted in like
circumstances, and when the time shall
have come, after prayer, consultation and
reflection, we shall communicate to you
the ordinances that it will be advisable,
in our Judgment, to promulgate on this
important matter.
With reference to the temporal situation
of the Diocese, we repeat, Beloved Broth
rem, what we said last year. Under wise
aud skillful administration the financial
affairs of the Diocese are notably improved
Notwithstanding the hardness of the times.
If God, as we hope, grant US soon better
days, that improvement will increase rap
idly. But we are still! in need OF your
cooperation and you will continue it by
contributing for the "Dioceean Assoca-
ton" established by us last year. This
instituticn has been very serviceable,
although the reeult was not what we had
| q right to expect. The success of this good
work rests principally with the Pastors.
! and we feel confdert that every one Of
them will display sufficient zeal to carry il
successfully to the desired end.
| But, Beloved Brethren, what above al
we expect from you is that, since we have
for so many yeare, given you all we have
and all we are, and are still disposed tt
sacrifice for you the remnant of our life, o
our strength and of our health, we may
have the consolation to see you responding
to our efforts, 80 that our tolls and labor
be not fruitless and void, and when th'
Just Judge shall come and render to eacl
one according to his works, we may al
together be admitted to receive the rewar'
God has promised to those who shall hav
been faithful unto the enc.
Moved by these considerations, havin
invoked the holy name of God and take
the advice of our Council, we have ordain
ed and do ordain what follows:
/. Owing to the existing pressure and to th
dialculty for most persons to procure lente
diet, the of meat is again allowed ever
day, except Friday and Wednesday, durin
Lent, and the three days in Ember week. A
who fast should, on fast-days, eat meat at or
meal only but it may be eaten at every meal
sach as are exempted from fasting.
, Every day. during Lent, the use of met
and any kind of fish at the same meal is stric
ly prohibited.
;. They who deem themselves reasonab
; exempted wholly or in part, from these T
| gulntions concerning fasting and abstinence
should consult their Pastors or ConfessoIs ar
be governed by their advice.
g 1 The time assigned for the performance
. Easter duty, begins on the first Sunday
Lent. and ends or Trinity Sunday.
{ = The prayer pre- Papa Will be said at Ma
, and at the beucG.ction of the Bles Sod Sacr
, ment and then the verse for the Pope
Il ! added I } the verse OF the Blessed SaCramer