The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-01-06
CATHOLIC DUTY DURING HOLY
YEAR.

Distasteful as it may be We cannot
hide the fact from ourselves that as
Catholics we are not animated with the
same zeal that characterizes many Of
our non-Catholic brethren in the ma
terial upbuflding of the institutions of
our church.
The year that has just closed is no
table in the number of men, all non
Catholics, who have contributed in a
most generous spirit to institutions for
the spread of Professionalism, while it
records but few acts Of an equally
generous nature on the part of Catho-
lies. The fault Of this is not so much
with the people as it is with the teach
ers who have failed to show them the
needs of Catholic institutions, and
placed before them the merits that are
sure to come to those who generously
upbuild them. Within the past year
we have heard the pastor of one Of the
wealthiest parishes in the country as
sure his people that they did their
whole duty when they contributed to
the annual church collection. More
over. this same pastor affirmed that his
people should turn a deaf ear to all
other appeals for the development Of
Catholic life because in answering his
appeals for money they had fulfilled
their duty. He seemed to forget that in
answering his appeals they had only
done an act of justice, one that in so
doing they entitled themselves to taone |
of the merits that attach to acts of /
charity 1t is because of such /
teachings that wealthy Catholics
fail to comprehend the splendid oppor-
tunities that offer in this country fou
the betterment of established fnstitu-
tons and the establishment of other
and necessary ones. We are delighted
to bear testimony to the fact that in,
this western country there is less rea-
sons for such criticism as this than in
the older and Weather portions of the
country. Instance Salt Lake, which,
during the past year, witnessed the
erection Of a splendid orphanage-the
gift of a single individual-and the do
nation Of $4,000 by a few Catholics for
the erection of q. new and magnificent
cathedral In addition to this The In
termountain Catholic owes its existence
TO the desire on the part of a Catholic
layman to do something for the church
welfare-and not to any desire for
profit
But notwithstanding the magnificent
spirit displayed in Salt Lake we feel
that there is lacking all over the coun-
try, especially on the part of rich Cath
olics, that generous, self-sacrifcing
spirit so marked during 1S99-on the /
part of non-Catholics.
The church can be benefited in many !
ways during the Holy Year. The foun- !
tain OF grace will pour in obedience. +
The priests Of the church VIII arouse
a spiritual life among the people and +
sacrifice viii mark their lives. It is r
q year when the Catholic laity should =
enter into the spirit that animates the {
church and make possible by generous t
the furtherance of all the S
church's works-schools, converts. q
asylun1s and the like are I
all necessary and should be cared for
at all times. The Catholic press. too.
should receive support and aid for it
is the medium Of great good. Indeed.
there are SO many opportunities for the
wealthy Catholic to do good that it
should be sufficient to call attention ia L
them in general without particulariz- Il
ing. -
We trust that the year Of Our Lord :
will witness the spread Of Catholfcitv
and the advancement of Christian m s.