The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-03
An EncyclicaI Letter From the
Pope to Catholics in All
Lands.
ASKED TO PRAY FOR UNION
Father Clark of the Paulists
breaches on Pentecost and
Christian Harmony.


Vicar General ]. J. Prendergast to the pas
tors of the various parishes instructlng
them 10 draw the attention of their congre-
cations to an encyclical on this subject,
which is now engrossing the minds of
leaders of thought in two continents.
The Pope addressed the encyclcal letter
early in May to the heads of the Catholic
Church throughout the world, pleading for
universal prayers for the unity OF Christen-
dom. The prayers were 10 be offered about
the time of the festival of the Pentecost,
which was celebrated yesterday by the
Catholic church.
The encychcal was given out by the
Apostolic legation IN Washington, May
%, translated into English as follows:
Most Reg Sir: A certain proof of the watch
full love Oh mother is the prayer which the
church never ceases TO offer to God, that wher-
ever Christian people exist there should be one
faith of mind and holiness OF action. In like
manner we. who, as we represent the person of
The Divine Pastor in the world, also strive 10
carry out his intention, have never failed TO
nourish among Catholics that desire for union;
and even now we are more strenuously urging
1t on those whom the church for SO long time
and with so great earnestness has been calling
back to her fold.
The source whence we are especially to ex-
pect assistance and success for these designs
and plans OF ours is not hard TO discern, and
grows more evident day by day. 1t is none
woke and to whom it pertains 10 illumine our
minds and graciously 10 turn our wills to the
way of salvation.
Catholics surely cannot fail to see how grave
and important is the work we have under
taken. On it depends the eternal salvation of
many, together with the spread of divine
honor and the glory OF the Christian name If
they sincerely and piousiy consider these
things they will surely feel in their souls
stronger burning of that divine charity which,
with Gods grace, shrinks from no labor, leaves
untried means for the good of their
brethren. And so it will happen that they will
eagerly, as we so ardently desire, not only add
10 our confidence in happy result, but will
give us all the assistance they can, especially
that which humble and holy prayer can obtain
from God.
No season could be more fitting for this work
of piety than that in which long ago the
apostles, after our Lords ascension into
heaven, remained together "persevering in
prayer with Mary the mother of Jesus" await
ing the promised power from on high" and
all the gifts and graces. In that august CEN
the Paraclete, the church, which, conceived by
Christ, was born at his death, by the coming
as 1t were OF the divine breath began happily
her great work of bringing all nations into the
unity of faith and the newness of Christian
life Rich and abundant fruits followed in
short time, among which was that perfect
union of wills never too often set before for
imitation. In the multitude of the faithful
there was but one heart and but one SOUL
For this reason we have thought it well, by
our exhortation and call, TO excite the piety of
Catholics that they may, following the exam
pie OF the Virgin Mary and OF the holy apos-
Ties during the nine days preceding the sacred
feast OF Pentecost, pray God with one mind
and with special fervor, renewing and repeat
ing the petition, "Send forth Thy spirit and
they shall be created, and Thou shalt renew the
face of the earth" The greatest and richest
blessings may justly be hoped from him who
is the spirit OF truth, who has spoken the
secrets OF God il the sacred scriptures and
who strengthens the church by his perpetual
presence; from whom, the living font OF holt
ness, regenerate souls, made sons of God by
adoption, are in wonderful way strength
ened and perfected. For, by the multiform
grace OF the Spirit, there come to them, in
perpetual bounty, divine light and fervor,
health and strength, solace and rest, the desire
of seeking all good, and fruitfulness in
holy works. Finally the same Holy Spirit so
acts by His power in the church that as
Christ is the head of this mystic body, the
Holy Spirit may aptly be termed its heart for,
ST. Thomas says, "The heart has certain
hidden influence, and, therefore. the Holy
Spirit is compared TO the heart, since he in
vincibly WHITES and unites the church"
Since, then, the Holy Spirit is, above all
things, charity, and to him especially are at
tributed the works OF love, it is greatly to be
hoped that through him, the spirit OF error and
wickedness being put down, greater and
stronger harmony and union of mind will pre-
vail, as they should, among tho children of the
church, who, according to the admonition of
the apostle, should do nothing in strife should
think the same things, and, united, should
have the same charity. And so, perfecting our
joy, may they form one strong and fiourishing
body, not in name only but in TACT.
among Catholics themselves from this piety in
praying to the Divine Paraclete, is specially to
be hoped the reconciliation of our separated
brethren for which we so earnestly labor; so
that they may come to feel the same in them
selves as in Christ Jesus, and being at last
united with us in faith and hope, may be
joined with US also IN the bonds of perfect
charity.
Given at St. Peters at Rome under the seal of
the Fisherman, the 9Th OF May, 1885, in the
eighteenth year OF our pontifcate.
Tho fea CT Of pantacosf uoc oaparallx, \
served in the churches. At ST. Mary's, on
California and Dupont streets, there was a
high mass sung by Father Otis, c.. S. P,
and accompanied by special music. The
handsome interior was seen for the first
time by the congregation after its renova-
ton and decoration, and proved quite an
agreeable surprise to all who visited the
church.
Father Clark preached on Pentecost
and in the course of his sermon dwelt at
some length on the encyclical on Christian
unity. He selected for his text, ST. John
xvi:13: when the spirit of truth is come
he will teach you all truth He said:
Truth is one, and the human teacher of truth
must conform himself to the standard which
the divine teacher has established. Pentecost
is the birthday of the church. On this day
nearly 1900 years ago the disciples of Christ
were gathered together in that same upper
room where Christ had given them power to
consecrate the sacrament of his BODY and
blood; where, after his resurrection, he had
committed to them the power of binding and
loosing from sin, and from whose walls there
still resounds the great apostolic mandate
.'Go out into the world, preach the gospel
10 every creature" In the midst of this little
assembly there came the Holy Spirit proceed
ing from the Father and the Son, TO found the
church of God in the world. "And there ap-
peared unto them cloven tongues, as of fire,
and they began to speak with tongues as the
spirit gave them utterance."
From this day forward they administered the
sacraments of the church and preached the
gospel as Christ had commanded them.
1t is recorded that st. Peter in the first great
sermon that he preached on this day converted
5000 souls. Since that time the Holy Spirit
has been the teacher of truth in the world
Men have attempted, and attempted in vain
to find out for themselves without divine aid
what it is necessary to believe concerning God.
tn 'ir neighbor and themselves and how IT is
necessary to act in regard to the same Stand
ards of belief and morals have been set up by
purely human teachers and have gone the way
OF all things that are purely human. That divine
standard which has for its authority God alone
remains ever the same, teaching the same
tenets of faith and the same precepts of morals
The unity of the church, like its holiness, is
indefectible. 1t has never been rent asunder
1t can never be rent asunder. because unity
cannot be divided. Men may separate from
the unity of the church. but they do not par
take of IT any longer UNITY can never be di.