The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1879-01-19
rAsToRAr AID nArDAronY rrrrrR
OF TIE
Most Rev. Archbishop Of New Orleans,
On the Next Coming Lent and His Voyage to Rome

Orleahs Assistant At the Pontj6cal Throne, Rom
AZ Count Grand CToes Of the Order Of the Holy Be p
/. chre. etc.
To the Clergy Faithful OF our Diocese Health an
Benedlction IN Chrtst, our Lord.
Beloved Fellow- Laborers and Dear Brett
rem Although the time of Lent be "
distant, nevertheless, as we are, in a fe'
days, to undertake a voyage to Rome t
u tender personally our homage to the Sow
- ereign Pontiff and apprise him of the stat
OF our diocese, We wish, before leaving
- to recall to your mind, as in the precedin,
= years, the dispositions you should be in t.
pass with truly Catholic spirit those holy
l. Forty Days, whose object is to prepare III
to celebrate worthi'y the great solemnity
OF Easter by the acts of "a sincere penance
Penance Alas dearly beloved Broth
rem, the life of Christian should be, &C
cording to the spirit of the Gospel, a life
OF pensnce and expiration. But as the
Holy Catholic Church knows our weakness
and is we'll aware of our deplorable
promptness to neglect and abandon our
most urgent duties, She has appointed GER
tain days and certain spaces of time during
which She enjoins on Us acts of atonement,
J that We may be reminded Of the obligation
| OF penance, which obligation is repugnant
| to nature, and yet is an essential condition
of salvation.
And how urgent and forcible, dearly be-
loved Brethren, are the motives which
should incite US to do penance. We have
just been rid of the scourge which has
made in our midst such cruel havoc, and
although that scourge may have spiritually
oenehtted few, how many still remain
needless of the warnings which God gives
them, aud as untouched by the besto ais
OF His mercy as they are unmoved by the
strokes of His Justice. Some suffer them
selves tosbe carried away by that unruly |
love OF gain, by that lust Of money, before |
whose progress are fast disappearing those
habits of probity, loyalty and good faith,
that were, in past days, one of the elories
OF our population Others again yield
entirely TO those extravagances of luxury
which are among the main causes of the
ruin of societies. Others, still, give up
themeelves with frenzy to those pleasures
which emasculate the souls and corrupt
manners. How can we hope, with q life so
sensual and pagan, to dsarm the Justice of
Oar Lord.
Let us then avail ourselves, dearly be.
loved Brethren, of the time of grace
which ID soon to begin, to look into our
souls, and by an earnest and sincere
return to God, bringing forth
worthy fruits of penance. If you cannot
ami the works of penance epjoined by the
church, endeavor to supply them effica-
'iousiy by accepting the trials which it
'ieases God to send you, by the practice 9
u charitable deeds, by almsgiving and Z
prayer. God has assigned to each of us
ne number of crosses he is to bear, and if 6
We were to accept them with resignation {
md without complaining it would be l
alutary penance. If, instead of wasting
our time in vain and frivolous trifles,
which are often dangerous aud wicked, you f
hought OF redeeming it, by some of the
GOD works which are ever within your
each, it would be at once "a meritorious
ensnce and beginning of conversion,
IS for what regards almsgiving, need we I,
ecommeud it to those In whose power rest T
he means, when we behold all around ma =
UGH deep misery, and when our greatest !,
Orrow, if we love our suffering brothers. :.
ONES from our not being able to help n,
hem as We wish to do. =,
And II to resignation in your trials, to n
10 practice of good works and almsgiving, !,
on add prayer, you will surely make If
ivine Justice relent, and the mercies and h,
!essings of the Lord shower~down upon ~
on. For, if God graciousIy listens to the
rayer of one whose heart is pure, he yet
pes not scorn the pray or that springs from a.
contrite and humble heart. -,
AS for us, dearly beloved Brethren, you W
low that in our prayers you are ever in
'esent, and that every day, while Offering ar
9 Holy Victim at the altar we hold up to :,
IT Saviour all the souls entrusted to our he
re and that are 90 dear to us and would on on
God that all of them responded to our tri
votedness and our paternsl love And en-