The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-22
BISHOP KELLEY SENDS
PASTORAL FROM L0URDES,

NOluen VI DO6
ton of immaculate Conception to
BE Observed.
Right Reverend B. ]. Kelley, bishop
| of Savannah, has sent to this diocese
from Lourdes, France. a pastoral let
| ter ordering the celebration of the
| golden jubilee Of the dognatic defini-
| ton of the Immaculate Conception.
| This letter, which has been read in
all the churches of this diocese, fol-
| lows:
"On the 8th day of December, 1854
Pope Plus TX. of holy memory solemn
| ly defined the Immaculate Conception
| of the Blessed Mother of our Redeemer.
The divinely appointed teachers of the
! flock of Christ, the successors of st.
| Peter, had condemned the false opin-
! ions of those who contended there
was only a question of the sanctifica-
ton, and not the Immaculate concep-
ton of Mary; they had solemnly re-
probated the opinions of those think
| ing otherwise of Mary's privilege; they
had strictly forbidden anyone either
publicly or privately defending an
opinion contrary to this doctrine;
they had approved of the solemn cele-
bration of the feast of the Immacu-
late Conception; they had warmly well
coined and approved the selection of
the august Mother of God, under this
sweet title, as protectress alike of
cities and entire countries; and at
last the time preordained of God hav-
ing come, the Pope, whose pontificate
had exceeded in years that of any
of his predecessors, Plus TX, solemn
ly proclaimed, at the earnest request
of people, priests, bishops and even
many secular rulers; that the doc
trine, which declared that the Most
Blessed Virgin Mary in the very first
instant of her conception was, by a
| singular grace, and privilege of God,
| in view of the merits of Jesus Christ
the Redeemer of the World, preserved
free from all stain of original sin,
had been revealed by God and. there
fore, must be rmly believed by all the
| faithful.
Faithful RejOiced.
mo one may tell the joy which filed
! the hearts of the faithful children of
the church at this announcement.
! From every part of the world came
| deepest expressions of gratitude to
! Plus TX, who had in virtue of the
| power given him by Christ, of teach
| ing the whole flock of Christ with I'M
| erring voice of truth, added another
| star to Mary's crown and given the
supreme approval of his nfallible au-
| thority to the traditional belief of the
| church that where there was a ques-
ton of Mary's sinlessness, too much
could not be said of her, who was to
| be the SpotleSS mother of the imma Gu
| late Lamb of God.
Fifty years have passed since this
| glorious definition, and to-day another
Plus sits on Peters chair and one of
| the first thoughts of his truly paternal
heart was to send and carry out the
| intentions of his immediate predeces-
| sor, Leo XIII, by some fitting COM
memoration of this Golden Jubilee of
the Immaculate Conception. The vicar
| of our Lord Jesus Christ has written
to all the bishops of the world, telling
| them TO excite the hearts of the faith
| full to celebrate this Golden Jubilee by
a renewal of their faith in Mary's
matchless privilege and their conf
dence in her maternal love. Who can
fail to correspond with this gracious
| invitation, which is confirmed by our
| own experience? For is it not true
| that we have all been the recipients of
| countless graces which came to us in
| answer to prayers addressed to her
In all that relates to our souls, is it
not true that the days have gone well
with us when Mary's help was sought,
and no sooner was she forgotten than
we fell away from God?
Through Mary's Grace.
THE Holy Father bids us remember
the many favors which the Church has
received through Mary's intercession,
| n II
must hope for still greater graces from
her prayers.
when our needs are so great and
so many and relief is so near and so
| easy to secure, how can we be excused
if we fail to avail ourselves of these
| wondrous means of grace? If in the
past we have not done our duty let this
occasion suggest to US the ready means
of correcting our negligence and atom
ing for our neglect. If perhaps we
| have been fortunate enough to prac-
tice some daily devotion in her honor,
let us redouble our zeal and love and
find fresh ways of doing yet more; for
we may well assure ourselves that
| there is no more certain and accepta-
BILE way of finding favor with Jesus
than by honoring her to whom he paid
his filial tribute of obedience, honor
and love.
to compliance with His will, the Holy
Father has been pleased to open the
treasures of the Church and proclaim
a plenary Indulgence in the form of a
| jubilee to be gained by all who shall
have fulfilled certain conditions during
a given time.
THE time for gaining this plenary
indulgence is from Sept to Dec. of
this year. The indulgence can be gain
ed but once, and is moreover applicable
to souls in purgatory.
] Conditions to BE Observed.
THE conditions are: Three visits to
! be paid to a church designated by the
bishop, and there Offering devout pray
ers for the intentions of the Holy Faith
er-for the liberty and exaltation of the
! Holy Catholic Church and Holy See
| for the destruction of heresy and the
| conversion of those outside the church
| for peace among Christian rulers and
union and harmony among the faithful
| Fasting one day, provided the day
| chosen is not one on which a fast is
otherwise prescribed.
Confession and holy communion.
I'm case persons are unable to carry
| out any of these conditions, confessors
! have the power of substituting other
| Plus works. Children who have not
made their first holy communion can
! gain this indulgence, some other work
being substituted by the confessors.
| I'm Savannah the church to be visited
| is the Cathedral.
"In Atlanta the Immaculate Concep-
! ton. and in Augusta, st. Patricks. In