The San Francisco call., 1897-10-02
His Holiness Reminds
Catholic Clergy of
Their Duties.
Special Devotion in Honor of
the Virgin Mary Is
EXhorted.
October, the Month of Fruits, Is
Selected as a Most Appro-
pirate Period.

NEW YORK, N. Y, Oct. 1.-The New
York Freeman's Journal will publish to-
morrow a translation OF Pope Leo Kills
most recent encyclicaI, of which the tol-
lowing is an abstract:
To our venerable brothers and patriarcbs
primates, arch bishops and other ordlnaries in
peace and communion with the apostolic see !:
Venerable brothers, health and apostolic ben
ediction.
How important is It, both for public and
private interestests, that devotions TO the mosf
august Virgin Mary should be main tained as
siduously and spread with ever growing zeal
will be understood by every body who rejects
on the eminent position OF honor and gl ory in
which GOO has placed Mary.
From all eternity he chose her to become
mother OF the One who was to clothe himself
in human flesh.
On the approach of the month of October we
were unwilling, venerable brothers TO fail TO
write 10 you again this year.
With our utmost ardor we exhort each one OF
you anew TO merit grace for yourselves and
1or the church militant by the recital
OF the rosary. This species of PRAYER
seems, in the providence of God to
| have taken marvellous growth
at the end OF this century in order that by It's
means the Tagging piety If the faith full might
be stimulated, as witness those temples, those
| noteo and renowned shrines consecrated to
| the service of the Mother of God
| In the month OF May we offered flowers to
this divine mother. ana now We would that
OSloper, the month OF fruits be employed by
| Ill 10 nOnof ler WIN special devotion.
Catholics arc wont to establish, under mani
| fold forms, those salutary sOcietie of which
we speak. Such are clubs, rural bands gath
er1hgs held on feast days for the recreation of
\ the mind, patronages OF youth, confraternities
and many other unions founded for excellent
| ends.
In the course of time they were confirmed
| by law. dlstngul shed by insignia endowed
! with privileges, devoted 10 service in the
cnurchcs, consecrated 10 the wants of soul
| ana body; they received different names at
| different epochs.
Amid these groupings we have no hesita-
| ton IN assigning the place OF honor to the
Gonfraternlty known as that of the Most Holy
ROSARY, for, considered in its origin, it is dis
| ungulshed above all similar Institutions by
lis antiquity, since IL has mad for its founder
| Dominic himself.
thanks 10 the munifcence OF our predecess ors
obtained them in the largest possible num-
bers The form and, SO they say, the soul of
! this institution is tue rosary OF Mary
The power and efficacy OF this same rosary
| regarded as an obligation imposed on the
/ mem oers OF the contrateruity TO which it has
! given its name, are especially important
/ Stimulated by the example of our prede-
cessors, We. TOO, venerable brothers, exhort
| and encourage you, as we have often before
| done, to cherish with espec al solici-
| tude this sacred host in such wise
! that 1t may, thanks TO your efforts
see daily increass of eff ctfve membership D
| enrolled under its standard; that by your
| concurrence and that of those of the clergy
under your charge to whom the care of sous
| is cnleRy entrusted, the mass OF the people
| may arrive at true knowledge and apprecia-
! ton OF the virtues of this ocis tion and OF
/ Its utility for The eternal saivation of man.
We urge this the mora earnestly since,
within quite re cent times, there has been re-
I blossQmlng of one of those forms OF devotion
to the mother food in the rosary-the per
petual rosary"
We heartily bless this institution and ear
| nestiy desire you to concentrate your zeal
and activity TO its increase.
We entertain most lively hope that the
! prayers OF the rosary Will prove most power
! Iul.
! When issuing from the lips and hearts of a
great multitude, they go on increasingly, and
when day and night alternate IN the different
regions OF the globe the con tinuous concert OF
prayerlul voices rises in harmony with N edita-
tion on divine things.
And now, as pledge of heavenly favor and
In testimony of our paternal love, we grant
| the apostolic benediction most affectionately
IN the Lord 10 yourselves, venerable brothers
to your clergy and to ali people confided 10
your faith and vigilance.