The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-10
HIS PASTORAL TALK
BISHOP KELLEY EXHoRTs CATHO-
Lies TO OBSERVE LENT.
MASS OF THANKSGIVING.
,o RE Celebrated FEB. 20. THE
POPEis PATH ANNIVERSARY.

,bief Events of Life of Leo XIII Re-
.oId and His Letter of Nov. is.
tSo3. Contrasted with the indie
is;ou and Doubts of Protestant
,.,n-The Pope's InfalIibiiity In
.,sted Upon"-'Can No More Be
Txvo Churches of God Than There
CON he Two Christs."
PASTORAL letter by Bishop B. ].
reiIev was read in all the churches of
tbe diocese of Savannah yesterday, as
follows:
BENJAMIN Joseph Kelley. by the
Grace of God and the favor of the
tIolv Apostolic See, Bishop of Savan-
nah To the clergy and the laity of the
diocese:
The holy season-of Lent commences
mis- wear on Wednesday, Feb. II. on
which day the Church, by the Impress
i've ceremony of placing upon our
foreheads the ashes of the palms used
m the preceding Palm Sunday, bids
rs remember that we are but dust,
and back to dust must return. This
solemn reminder is not merely in
tended to recall the obvious truth that
We must all die, but is designed by
the church as fitting introduction to
lent. We need not tell you that there
Is a great laxity in the observance of
Lent. There are comparatively few who
snend Lent well. We are not left to
cur own ideas in regard to the way
in which we should spend this holy
oh, ic
tlv left to our own sense of piety, and
recognition of our great debt to God.
1.-The regulations for Lent which ac-
company this letter, give rules for all,
regarding the quantity and quality of
food which we may use during Lent.
If a. comparison is instituted between
these and the regulations which were
enforced in the past, it will be readily
seen that a greater freedom is now
Permitted than was then allowed. But,
we should by no means conclude from
this that Mother Church deems NOR
tifcatiOn less necessary now than then.
She has been led by many considera-
tons to modify her laws, and not the
least of these has been the growing in
difference of so many of her children
to any kind of self denial. Yet this
modification should induce us to OBJ
serve more carefully the present very
mild regulations, and we should by no
means imagine that we stand less in
Iced of penance. There is nothing
which more clearly marks and defines
the great difference between the
Church and the world than the prac-
tce of modification, whether self i'm
posed, or ordered by legitimate author
ity.
For us, in this as n all questions
concerning our faith or the observance
of the moral law, we are not led by
our opinion. Faith teaches the neces-
sity of modification. Reason admits
its need. Our blessed Lord has left
US an example, for he, who came not
only as our. teacher but also as our
model, taught modification by word
as we'll as by example. If any man.
said the Lord will come after me, let
him deny himself and take up his cross
and follow me- 1t IS sufficient for us
to observe that our blessed Lord here
lays down rule or guide for all men,
and for. all time, showing the path in
which they must walk if they hope to
secure everlasting life. That a rec
ognition of this truth is essential. is
clear from the inspired words of St.
Paul, who, writing to the Galatians,
says: And they that are Christ's have
cructfied their flesh with the vices and
completeness The same apostle
writing to the Romans, says: For if
you live according to the flesh YOU
shall die, but if by the spirit you NOR
INV the deeds of the flesh, you shall
hVe' And he tells us of himself: L
4 ehastise my body and bring it into
subJection: lest perhaps when l have
preached to others, | myself should be-
come castaway.'
But the example of our Lord. the
author and tlnisher of our faith, who,
having JOY set before him, endured the
cross should be sufficient for us. He
expressly tells us that he has given
us an example which we should imi-
tate' and he tasted forty days and
iorty nights; and it is in commemora-
ION OF this fast of the Son of God
MAJ Lent has been instituted and its
s observance commanded He had no
need OF fast and modification, but ne
Tlshed to teach their necessity for us.
III ~ ms at least we may initiate him.
n ruoihas a kempis, in his wondrous
work The Imitation of Christ" beau
ufully says:
4 Take courage. my brethren: let
~ 90 forward together Jesus will be
Il with US.
H. FOR the sake of Jesus we took up
'i'e cross: let us persevere on the cross.
lie will be our helper who is our
Il captain and leader.
behold our King marching before
as VINO will fight for Us.
M Lei us follow him manfully; let
w. GAe shirk through fear; let us be
4 reaoy to die valiantly in battle and
s 'o' sIain our glory by flying from the
# 's@.qard of the cross
a minated by the example of our
So, and enlightened by the Holy
tpiill the Church of God has traced
US the way in which we should
In ana has made of our Lords vol
o,T, last an inviolable law for her
H,Iuren. Are the reasons for observing
tirl1-a eSs urgent to-day than in former
o,s' Have we fewer temptations to
49, ONE, on are we assaiIed less vio-
obiis by our passions? Are we less
& GlIseu TO follow in the footsteps of
osa Is life more secure or eternity
A %ss certain. is not God the self-same
H., VINO demands of us to live accord
NJ !" the example of one to whose
RI fon,Ise we are destined to be made con-
n,,,,, Nv lamentable Is IL to find so
ratas christians. who, though as yet
81 NJ 'l1lihs in their hearts a belief In
n .u1gc'rlnes of the Church. yet refuse
er,, pinit themselves TO her disciplin-
shs. Avs In the matter OF fast and
(. ns'."ence. How many discover so
lam reasons for exemption from this
Am o, the church, and imagine that
me- -lndulgent director can with
81 safety be followed than the
MIN OF God. Fasting Is difficult.
olotedly. but Lent Is Intended as