The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-21
ANACONDA NEWS.
THE BISHOPS PASTORAL
Bishop Brondel Addresses Him.
self to Montana Catholics.
WITH REFERENCE TO LENT
A Warm Advocacy of the Establishment
of Parochial Schools to Educate the
Young Religiously Great Work
of the Catholic Church.

Bishop Brondel has issued the fol
lowing pastoral. which was read yester
day in st. Pauls Catholic church:
: Thy kingdom come b. B. with thu
IL. season of Lent, which begins thi:
year on the 23d day of February, WI
send, according to Christian custom, oul
pastoral letter, beginning the same with
prayer our Divine Lord taught us
and which at the present time seems
most appropriate. For when we look
at the movements of nations, when we
consider the condition of our own coun-
try. we cannot help raising our voice
with that of Jesus Christ and asking of
our heavenly Father that the kingdom
of truth and OF virtue may be esta b.
Hshed on earth more and more. Indeed
we see on one side wickeGness in every
shape and form inundating the world.
no longer restrained to the low strata of
society, but invading the educated and
ruling classes. Our ears are accustomed
TO the reports OF all sorts of crimes
amongst all sorts of men, and we re-
frain. out of consideration for your yir-
tue, to name them.
"On the other hand we rejoice to see
multitudes alarmed by the excess of evil.
and better Informed than in past times,
looking up to our holy mother, the
Catholic church. as the haven of peace.
the beaconlight on the tempestuous
ocean, showing the infallible truth in the
midst OF innumerable errors and prom
Using cure to the afflicted minds and
hearts In the reception of her divine
Sacraments.
turning away from describing the
evils OF the present day, evils which you
Know and abhor, we love to call your at
tention to the wonderful change taking
place III the non-Catholic world and the
~ xvi Sc
the cause of that change.
But two venerable, aged pontiffs rule
the Christian republic for the last 50
years-Pope Plus IN, from 1916 to 1878,
and Pope Leo Kill, from 1873 to the
present day. Both most remarkable for
sanctity of life, for learning, for great
deeds and the establishment of numer-
Gus episcopal sees in different parts of
the globe. The trial Of broachng new
heresfes or schisms is abortive. Ecclesi-
astical studies and discipline become
more and more perfect. Religious
houses multiply, bringing help to every
human affiiction whilst shining as ex-
amples of Christian perfection. Catholic
societies, congresses, schools, academies
and universities papers and periodicals
and books multiply everywhere in
Catholic Protestant and pagan lands.
In the non-Catholic press pulpit and
legislative hall the praises of the old
church are heard. Catholic art perfects
RELIGIOUS
services are carried on with unusual !
pomp, devotion and according to rubric.
filg1lmages TO sacred places are re-
VlVed. Unusual miracles are performed |
at Lourdes, in France. these last 40 /
years. The most amiable relations exist
between the pope and the rulers of ma
tons. The reception Of nom Catholics of
various forms of belief into the one true
church of Christ goes en- continuously.
me deNotl2n GO the sacred heart Of Jesus
increases all the time and Catholics re-
eelVe the sacraments more frequently |
and come back to the practice Of their
religion. filling their church edifices and
them. And as faith is in
creasing, the good works are in propor-
ton; A fraternal feeling seems to take
~. OF az fneA q good will and they
lay aside their differences of opinion to
work tremendously together for the
common good, The heralds of truth
and adapt themselves to the
new surroundings. People begin to see
the necessity Of the religious training If
children and as schooling has become
universal. so we hope will be the relfs-
Gus teaching. We take this occasion to
warn all or the necessity of Christian
education. The many evils we deplora
-o-day may be in great part attributed
o the lack of religion and this loss of
,eligon in the majority of our people
We nave to lament, because religion has ,
lot been taught in the schools of the ris-
ng generation.
May all open their eyes to the real
,ause of immortality, intemperance and I
III other excuses which are a disgrace Z
o our age. These evils cannot be RENE :
lied by legislation. by prohibition. bur =
ney can be effectually done away with f
~ going TO the root of the evil, instiIl- q
ng daily into the minds and hearts az i
he young in school the love and fear r
+ God :
As most of our public schools are
requented by pupils of different halfaf
r no belief, and as the law gives free
ON of worship, it is difficult to teach .
ei1glon in these schools without tres
assing upon the conscientious rights of
upils.
There fore Catholics should do all in
heir power to establish CathoJic n,
chools, and be careful to send their
hildren to those schools where their
aith and morality will be safegllaraed
y the virtue Of the teacher by the cor u
sctness of the books, by the proper as II
1ciation of pupils. and above all. nv II
he teaching of Christian doctrine and y
raetiee. II
We see with pleasure the ipcrease IF o.
'atholie schools and the greater Num- :.
er Of children attending them From ~
ersonal observation we bear testimony -
. their excellence and efficiency we -
aJolce to hear not only Catholics bur -
$50 those separated from us in reIi- =
lous belief expressing frequently the ~
9slre of seeing children educated reli- 80 -
lously. The church has ever fought -
IL thar and when She xeiIi abfaf,, 49,, fo