Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-08

Dtshsp Riehtez's omeia, Leuss 70 His
Dioceoe.

ek4<atSt 0oSo A0<t3 - ~
pioeeas.
The o1lciaI isttsr Of tie b. Rev.
Tseasph kachler. Roman Catholic. 10 bis
hsethss psissks u the faith. y in iis
J fall sext - fellows:
~Ihe Rss. Dear Father: On account
g Ne sickness, ccmmoniy called sin-
loonzo, prevailing IN nearly every
tan0s our holy fattlsr. anxious for the
heoith Of bosh the cody and the soul OF
h1o spiritual chi!area. has granted 70
ne axchbioi1ops, bisaops and ordinances
q all pisces wheru the above named
eIekness exists. 70 dispense from tho
leu Of fast and abstinence. By virtue
- Ibis speciai faculty NJ dispense all
Ne faithful Of this diocese from fast ON
ell the days Of lent except the Emb<r
days and Good Friday; and from Al
ssinencs on all thu days OF lent except
The Ember days and Fridays-
''lt - the wilh II our holy father
that the disDenaatiou from fast and ab-
Bsinepce stimulate the faithful 70
greater seal in works Of piety and
charity, in order thai, his anger being
appeaDeo, God withdraw his scourging
hand from the people.
Eve recommend the soul Of the late
parfect Of the propaganda, Cardinal
6iDeoni, TO your prayers and - The
prayers OF your congregation. By pray
Or We can. IN . measure, cancel the
debt Of gratitude for his truly paternxl
s0licitnde during many years for the
welfare Of tho church in the United
States
ION the first Sunday in Lent the col
lectlons will BE- for the Indian and negro
missions. The Importance Of these coll
iecti0ns may be learned from the third
pastoral letter Of the second plenary
council Of Baltimore, which refers 70
the subject IN these terms.
'In nearly all European countries
there are foreign mission colleges, and
also associations OF the faithful for the
Support Of the miselons by their con-
lrlbutioDs. Hitherto We have had 70
strain every nerve in order to carry on
he missions OF our own country, and
We were unable to take any important
part in aiding the missions abroad. But
Ne must beware lest our local
burdens should make our zeal
barrow AMI uncatholic. There are
hundreds Of millions of souls in
heather land to whom the light
Df the Gospel has not been carried. and
heir condition appeals 70 the charity
Df every christian heart. Among our
Dwn Indian tribes, for whom We have =
Dpecial responsibility there are still
t,any thousands in the same darkness
IL heatheuisup, and the missions among
bar thousands Of Catholic Indians
must equally look to our charity for
support. Moreover. out OF the {, 000, 600
Df our colored population there il .
very large multitude who stand eorely
h need OF christian instruction and
missionary labor; and it IL evident that
In the poor dioceses, IN which they are
mooaly found, il 10 most difficult 10 b.
stoW On them the caro- they need,
Without the generous cooperation Of
pur Catholic people in more prosperous
localities. We have therefore urgee
che establishment Of the society foE
Che propagation of the faith in
every parish IN which is 10 not yet
erected, and also ordered q collection
10 be made yearly in all the dioceses,
Ior foreign missions and for the mis-.
Dions among our Indians and negroes.
We have done this through . deep
pense Of duty, and We trust that ouI
boble hearted people wall not regard Il
n = burden imposed upon them. but -
m opportunity presented to them II
cooperating in . work which must BE-
specially dear to the heart Of our Lord
The offerings at the cross of Good
Friday ere for the Holy Land.
"You will please read this letter "a
your congregation and missions today.
Tour faithful servant in Christ.
"HExRv JosEPH,
"Bisbop II Grand Rapids"