The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-21
MISSIONS TO CLOSE THE CENTURY.
bishop HEcDounsn's Elaborate Project Tor the
ntocese OF RrookIyn,


TIT Right Rev. Charles X. Mcdonnell. D. D.,
Roman Catholic Bishop of Brooklyn, has directed
his clergy TO abstain from the giving of missions
In their several churches during the whole
course Of tho year 1898. With the close OF the
coming December. therefore, these occasional
periods Of special interest l. religious affairs,
analogous in many ways to the so-called revival
services In Protestant churches, in the admins
tration Of Catholic parishes, will DO abandoned
for q twelvemonth in the diocese OF Brooklyn.
SO far as lie known, no similar action has ever
been taken by any Catholic Bishop In this coun-
try. but Bishop Mcdonnell and his board Of
consulters determined upon this course ct q
recent meeting, in order that they might better
prepare for q great spiritual awakening among
their people in tho year 1899. the last OF the
century, when the cause Of religion will DO pre-
sented from their pulpits. from January to De-
cember by tho most powerful and eloquent
mission preachers in the land.
In reaching the conclusion to mako the year
1899 memorable In the history of the Catholic
Church in America by this long series OF mis-
sions, Bishop Mcdonnell becomes the first
American Bishop t take definite action with
relation to the desire Of the Pope on tho ques-
ton. as is evinced in the following letter from
Cardinal J%ncobini, Secretary of the Congrega-
ton for the Propagation of the Faith. which was
addressed to the Bishops throughout the world
q short time ago:
"You have doubtless become aware of the
project, advanced by o number Of men of great
piety, to get the faithful throughout tho uni
verse Mt the close Of the present century to
affirm In a solemn manifestation. by o series Of
religious exercises. the;f love and gratitude to
the all.powerful Redecmer Of the human race.
1.-THE design Of these men in this initiative
was to respond to the desire Of our Holy Father.
Pope Leo KILL, who wished TO consecrate the
epoch Of transition from one century to another
by an extraordinary invocation OF the divine
assistance OF Jesus Christ as a happy presage Of
Now. the project Of these personeges having
received the full appreciation, of his Holiness.
and Catholic delegates from all nations having
realization. 1t has pleased the Sovereign Pontif
to select mo, without any merit on my part. as
Here, assuredly, 10 o noble task, and I own
that 1 am proud and happy TO undertake It For
than than t ISs OCCASION es mG so fa sEoessSEIe p 70 %y tes % ms
at the end Of my days to employ all the strength
thar 10 still left me IN promoting the glory. of our
. departing century. And what 8 century has
been this Of ours, In which proud men. relying
Ing an activity which might DO called feverish.
have carried their audacious temerity to the ex.
tent OF calling in question the origin Of Christi.
legend. faith in the divine person of the Saviour.
"Wherefore we shall feryently strive to make
" II kfGos lhJutiOb uOno v u
Master. to appease Gods anger. by our prayers,
to exalt in pRans of praise the holy name Of
Jesue Christ, who 10 tho eplendor of the glory
and tho perfect image of the substance Of God.
Such win DO the task In which we shall set forth
all our zeal at the dawn OF the new century"
Although the general plan of work has been
decided upon. Bishop Mcdonnell has done little
with tho details Of his proposed scheme for 1899.
In England there has been for o time q custom
Of massing missionary forces on some particular
city at the same time. Cardinal Vaughan. when
Bishop of Stafford, on several occasions sum-
moned all of tho missionary strength at his
command to the city OF Manchester, where
he had the missionaries stationed at all the
churches. simultaneously and all preaching
agninst the drink evil. Sunday desecration, or
some other subject whieh- h1 wished to impress
especially upon the minds Of the. people,
In the diocese Of Brooklyn the work will be
much larger. There arc seventy-eight churches
In tho diocese, 90 that there will DO a. many 40
seventy-eight missions going on at tho same
time. Each mission requires the services Of
four preachers TO- o parish, thus making the
presence of q small army of missionaries neces-
6ary. Already the work of engaging the services
OF some OF the most distinguished missionary
preachers in the land has been begun. Later on
Bishop Mcdonnell will instruct tho missionaries
and bis clergy in tho special work he wishes to
accomplish In the course OF the extended under
taking, and will arrange o schedule of topics
upon which they will preach.
The success Of Bishop McDonnell1 plans Will
be watched with interest by the entire body Of
tho Catholic clergy in the United States and
abroad.