The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-10
PASTORAL LETTER
FROM THE
RIGHT REV. BISHOP OF NATcHEZ,
For the Lent Of lsTs

WILLIAM HENRY ELDER, by the grace OF God
aud the favor of the postoo See Bishop of Natehsz
To the Clergy, Religious and Laity OF our Diocese
| health and blessing:
| Belored Brethren and Children IN Christ-The
acceptable time--the days of silyation-the
season Of Lent, with it's extraordinary graces'
| 10 again come round to Ms. And it comes this
| year associated with events of unusual weight,
to press upon our consoiences serious reheo'
tiops concerning our duties to God and our
! preparations for eternity.
| That great Sovereign Pontiff whom for o
generation we have admired and loved and
reverently obeyed, has been called from his
labors to his reward.
God has speedily appointed for us another,
whom even the enemies of the Church applaud
for his wisdom, holiness and sweetness, and
whom we already revere and love, because
| our Lord has given him to be His Vicar and
our Father.
| And at this same time the world is in trou-
ble In more than one country by famines of
uuheard of grieyousness and extent, popuia-
tions are actually starving to death, more
| numerous than those of all our United States.
Bot Europe can scarcely give any attention to
! this in her bresthless anxiety about threat.
! enine- -waF-ef which no one can foresee how
| wide the devouring flames will spread
"See, then, brethren, that we be not foolish;
but act as wise men, and make good use OF the
time God gives US, for the days are evil"
| (Ephes. v. 15.)
| Apply yourselves, then, diligently to the holy
! exercises of Lent. Seek not to excuse your
selves unnecessarily from the fasting of the
Church. Even when you are lawfully exempt
ed it 10 not gain but q misfortune because
YOU cannot enter heaven until you have done
penance for your sins and the pains of pur-
gatory will be more grievous than the fasting
of the Church. Attend with fervor the public
dsyotions and the instructions of this holy
time, and, above all, approach the Sacra-
ments devoutly and frequently, for in these
you have the medicine and the food that give
health and vigor to your souls.
1t is usual to take this occasion of Lent for
impressing on the faithful some one particu-
lar duty and this year, without much ch dice
on our part, we feel compelled to address You
about an obligation which is not only serious
in itself, but of the deepest consequence to re-
Iigion, for yourselves, your children and your
nei ghbors the strict obligation on the con-
science of every one to contribute his fall
share to the support of his Pastor and of the
expenses of the church.
We say we have little choice in the selection
of the subject, because circumstances are
become such that any longer delay threatens
to leave many without the help Of religion, by
lessening our number Of priests and theiI
means of attending to your souls.
Further on we will explain this to yor, by
setting before you with all candor what most
concerns you In our temporal business.
We wish first to do oar duty by enlighten
! ing your oonscences that you may know how
rigorous is your obligation of justice to COZ
tribute your full share for the necessities o
religion. Many persons have indifnitt
notion that what is given for igion is a sor
of aims, which it is right to give when conve
nient, but which they are not bound to Civ
unless of their abundance, whereas, in truth
the payment of your share for the expenses o
religion is o debt vigorously due in justice
as much as the payment of your taxes to tn
State, or of your fees to the lawyer or the doc
tor. So that any one who willfully neglect
this duty is guilty of mortal sin against jus
d tice, because he neglects to pay just deb
u And this is the most important of his debtl
1t because it is for his most necessary want
l. it is for the necessities of his soul and of h
1t children's souls. And although it is nc
IF exacted from you by the civil judge and ii
sheriff, like your other debts for that ve1
q reason will God take on himself the punisl
-, ment of those who neglect to pay it. And
tells us how much heavier are His punshmen
than those of any human judge. Fear n
~ them that kill the body, and after that ha'
y nothing more that they can do; but fear
9n Him who, after He has killed, has power
he cast into hell" (Luke, xiii .
ed Perhaps, hitherto, some may have be
Mt partly or entirely excused from sin in the ey
IS of God, because they did not clearly understa
Id the obligation. Your Pastors very proper
,al feel an unwillingness to epeak much upon
J., subject which might lessen their influence
winning your souls to the love of God. Al
~ consequently, you have not received as mu
'4o instruction on this duty as was needed
'e- make you comprehend your obligation.
me But it becomes our duty, as having cha