The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-25
tn sT0RAl
Catholics Called Upon by the Head
Of the Church to Remember
October 21.
They Are Requested to Take an
Active Part In the Cele-
bration.
In Addition to tho Civic Services They Arc
to Especially Remember Its Re-
ligiOus Eeaturss.

JOnn ID. brOnool, bl6nop or deiena, Dhb
issued the following pastoral. relating TO .
proper celebration Of Columbus day. OCT.
2l, by the Catholics Of his diocese. The
| pastoral ia as follows:
JOHN BAPTIST. ny THE GRACE OF Con AND
THE FAVOR OF THE APOSTOLIC SEE,
B1sHoP OF HELENA.
To the Clergy and the Faithful of our Dio-
cese. Greeting:
On the 10Th day Of October, 1902. Chris
topher Columbus discovered America. Pope
Loo XIII. wishes the American church to
| celebrate the 4OOth anniversary in an ap-
propriate manner. The president of these
United States and the governor of Mon
tana have issued proclamations to the oit-
zens. inviting them to \ proper observance
| of that great event.
| As American Catholics We shall take great
pleasure in complying with the wishes of
our spiritual and temporal rulers. the more
| SO. that the great discoverer was an exem-
plary Catholic and We share in the fruits
of his discovery. We desire therefore. to
direct your attention to the glorious
achievement, brought about by Divine
Providence at the close of the middle ages,
the discovery Of America by that great
| Christian hero. Christopher Columbus.
The idea of such an undertaking was so
| unheard of in those days. that Columbus
met with nothing but disappointments in
his own and neighboring countries. The
whole project would have to be abandoned.
perhaps for centuries to come, if God had
not raised np a woman, full of faith and
zeal for religion. Having listened to the
plans of that providentiai man. and en-
eouraged by some OF the clergy who e1er-
cised great influence at her court, she es-
poused the cause and was willing to pledge
even her jewels for its furtherance. That
great woman was Isabella. the Catholic
queen of Catholic Spain. God alone could
have inspired Columbus with that indomi-
table spirit OF perseverance required fol
car rying out so perilous work; faith and
piety guided his every action, which made
him lind the time for gathering up his crew
to receive in body holy communion be-
fore leaving, ON Friday, the port of Pa
los. No wonder that also on Friday. the
day sacred to the memory of our Ssvior'f
passion, he took possession of the land he
discovered BY planting upon 10 the cross
the sign OF mans salvation. Let ii here be
Remembered that Columbus wished by his
discoveries to spread the knowledge OF
Christ and to obtain means to rescue the
holy land from the intidel Turk. A great
part of Europe will vie with us IN oelebrat-
ing that great event. No one shall sur
pass us in rendering thanks to God fol
having opened new world. whore untold
millions would praise his holy name, thank
ing him for new and prosperous homes and
for the liberty of conscience under theil
own vine and fig tree"
II is our earnest request that Friday, the
21st of October, be celebrated in every
ali, RHh nnI vVrIV nc NIT ut
mass, sermon and benediction with tn.
holy sacrament wherever it can be done
and that the faithf ul keep the day az OF
festivals. The masses to be taken "dt
Beata" pro re gravi with the orations ''pre
Rratiarum actione." We further recon-
the civic celebrations with which gratefu
| and Christian nation will honor the day
As Catholic France helped the United
States to establish their independence. Al
! such great Catholic officers as Sherman
sheridan. Mulliaan and others proved tn.
war, whilst priests and Sisters of Charity
proved their unadulterated Christian in.
stinots by ninisterinR to the dying soldiers
of north and south, 80 let the Catholic peo
pie celebrate with their fellow-ctizens tn,
glories of the Catholic discovsrer O.
America, our common home.
May the Lord bless our country and pre-
serve it; may He establish and preserv,
peace and good will among all the people O
this union. That this prayer may obtai1
its effect, let all foster Christian education
let all strive to practice Christian virtues
and then prosperity will reign, for Goo
shall be known and praised. and the prom
ise shall be fulfilled that such as bless Hin
shall inherit the land.-Ps. xxxvi 22.
This pastoral will be read at the paroch
ial masses on the Sunday after its recep
! tion.
Given at our residence. Helena, Mont.
Sept. 25, A. ID. 1892, ON the feast of st
Louis
JOHN B. BRoNDEL, Bishop OF Helena.
II G. G. FoLLET, Secretary.