The Opelousas courier., 1882-06-03
Leo xTEE and Sunday.

to the society for promoting Cathoi'c
interests. from the head of the Catho-
lie Church. in reference to Sunday,
from which we make the following ex-
tract. IT will be seen that His Holi-
ness feels very strongly on the snhJecs
and expresses himself with great
warmth. His uttcrances must have a
powerful effect. He said
Yet the observance of the Sacred
Day, which was willed expressly by
God from the first origin of man, Is
imperatively demanded 10y the abso-
Lutte and essential dependence of the
creature upon the Creator. And this
law, mark it we'll, my beloved, which
at one and the same time so admirably
provides for the honor of God, the spir-
itual needs and dignity of mans life,
this law. we say. touches not only IN
dividuals, but also peoples and nations,
which owe to Divine Providence the
enjoyment of every benefit and advan
taee which is derived from civil so
ciety.
"And it is precisely to this fatal ten
dpncy, which to-day prevails, to desire
to lead mankind far away from God,
and to order the affairs of kingdoms
and nations as if God did not exist,
that to-day il to be attributed this
contempt and neglect of the day of the
Lord. They say, it is true, that they
intend in this way t" promote industry
more actively, and to procure for the
people an increase of prosperity and
riches. Foolish and lying words +!
They mean, on the contrary, to take
away from the people the comforts, the
consultations and the benefits OF rell
gion !; they wish to weaken in them
the sentiment of faith and love for
heavenly blessings; and they invoke
upon the nations the most tremendous
scourges of God, the just avenger OF
His outraged honor.
THAT which renders such disorder
still more d~eplorable, is that it takes
place in the midst of Catholic nations,
on whom the benefits of the Lord were
rained down more %copiously and album.
dainty than elsewhere. Most deplor
able of all is it to see such an abuse in
), Rome, the centre of Catholicism, the
seat of the Roman Pontiffs, at the very
time when Catholic nations feel The
necessity of recalling to vigor the ob
+ ~strvance of Sundays.
"Wherefere. it is with most prefount
sorrow and regret that we perceive
9 that the faithful from all parts d. TIN
world, who expect to find here in Rom
: the model of the Catholic life, pnbli
and private, are, oil the contrary, sad
0 dened and offended by such profana
ton. And oar grief is rendered NOR
peignant by the reflection that, mas
much as Rome has been removed fror
our Legitimate dominion, we find it i'm
possible to remedy the evil and vindi
cate the honor of God.
"Accordingly to yon, my believe
. sens. it chiefly belongs to accemplls
e this purpose. Employ in this hol
work all your care aud industry !: Ii
% the number of z~ealons champions of til
1t ra,o of s.or.d lars lie inoraa,
| ed let your activity, zeal and hol
couraged be redoubled do not allo
yourselves to be restrained by motive
of human respect and do not sufft
q the offfenses aud injuries which yo
t, must occasionally meet with comp
1t You to abandon your holy enterpris
"And in order that your exertiol
may be more fruitful in results. "
make appeal to the piety and religio
of those who have at heart the hon,
of God and the deeency of Rene.
well as to all who are interested in ii
moral and material welfare of Il
or working classes. and we warmly exho
ID them to cooperate with you in tn
Is most noble undertaking according
the rules of your statutes and in pr
portion to the means and condition
each individual.
/ " As for ourselves, we will alwa
is give our assistance by onr word al
re authority, and we will continual
beseech the Lord to grant 10 you al
all your associates the grace to pers
we're with zeal and success in sohely al
8 salntaiy an enterprise"
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