The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-05-19
Bishop Aliens Letter is Read at
St. PauPS Church Wherein
He Recommends PiIgrimages
to 70 'e to See the Pope.
Says in 1870 the Pope Mas
Robbed of His Temporal Pos
sessions by an Act of InjuS-
tice Never Repaired,

Yesterday was the feast of Pentecost or
Whit-Sunday and sermons appropriate to
the occasion were delivered In Catholic
and Episcopal churches.
At st. Pauls church the Rev. Father
OReilly said the early mass About fifty
children made their first com munion. The
girls, dressed in white, and the boys in
black suits, formed In line in st. Paul s
Hall and marched to the church. AS the
procession entered the sacred ediflce the
children sang a professional hymn. Be
fore the communion they sang another
out, they sang the TIE Deum. The musical
selections were beautiful and the little
singers kept good time.
At high mass the Rev. Father Rudolph,
o. s. b., was the celebrant and the Rev
Father O'Reilly was the preacher. On
entering the pulpit Father OReilly said
that the collection for the Holy Father
would be taken on Trinity Sunday. and
not on this Whit-Sunday as previously
announced. After making the announce
ments for the week the father read a
circular letter from the bishop, the text
of which follows:
Bishop Aliens Letter.
Mobile. Ala. May 5, 1902.
Dear Rev. Father:
The annual collection for our Holy
Father will be taken UP in all the
churches of this diocese on Trinity Sun
day.
AS 1t is the jubilee year of His Holiness
the offerings should be more generous
than usual Every individual Catholic
should give an aims, be 1t ever so small,
as a thank-offering to God for the long
reign granted to Pope Leo and for the
many and great services rendered to re-
ligion by him.
Leo XIII entered upon the twenty fifth
year of his pontifcate in February, and
since then the whole world has been try
ing to celebrate this remarkable event in
fitting manner.
The committee having the celebration
In charge recommends. first of all that
pilgrimages be encouraged to visit Rome
and there pay homage In person to the
successor of st. Peter. the venerable
father of the faithful whose long and
wise rule has been so beneficial to the
best interests of the church.
As only a small portion of the faithful
is free to go to Rome. all are requested
to remember the Holy Father in their
daily prayers and to contribute offerings
In keeping with the means of each one.
Pope Was Robbed.
In 1870, the Pope was robbed of his tenn
poral possessions by an act of injustice
which has never been repaired. The
wrong done the Holy See by that sacri-
legious act mas been followed by other
hot
he now lacks the material support which
becomes his exalted position. On the
other hand, the need of funds for the adj
ministration of the church Is continually
increasing. For the good of religion and
the salvation of souls the Holy Father Is
yearly compelled to meet enormous ex-
penses.
Our duty then to our Holy Father Is
plain. He Is our spiritual father as truly
as II he were pastor of our parish or the
bishop of our diocese. Indeed all bishops
and priests derive their sacred faculties
and Jurisdiction from him.
1t is our duty therefore TO help him.
Few can join in the pilgrimages that go
to Rome to receive his apostolic blessing
but by their prayers and aims. all can
give the Holy Father some proof of their
affection and love.
Wherever 1t Is practicable a Iridium
or three days Of prayer should precede
the Feast OF Trinity. All who Join In
this and go to confession and communion
and contribute an aims and prayer for
His Holiness may gain a plenary indul-
gence on Trinity Sunday.
The usual Novena In honor of the Holy
Ghost should preoede the Feast of PEN
tecost.
Please read this circular on Pentecost
and Trinity Sunday, and add such words
as your zeal and prudence may suggest.
am, Dear Rev. Father, sincerely yours
in Xto, EDW. P. ALLEN,
Rshop of Mobile