The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-05
A SOLEMN JUBILEE
AN IMPORTANT FEAST OF THE
 CATHOLIC CHURCH.
DashcD Allen Issues Instructions to Faithful of Diocese of Mobile, TOuching Anniversary of
 . PromulgatlOu.


 St
 Next Thursday at St. Peters Catholic church the solemn jubilee of the Inn maculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will begin and will con- tinues until December 8. The event commentaries the pro- mitigation of the doctrine declaring that the Mother of God by a singular privilege of grace bestowed on her through the merits of her divine Son, was preserved free from the stain of Ioriginal sin.
 To finally celebrate the fftieth an- niversary of this privilege. which is entitled the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, special ser vices are ordered to which special fa- vors are attached. as will be seen from | the appended letter of the Rt Rev. Bishop E. P. Allen, of Mobile, addressed to all priests of his diocese. Mobile, Ala, Aug. 2S. 1904. Rev. and Dear Sir:
 On the Sth of December, 1854. Pope Plus TX of happy memory. surrounded by most of the Bishops of Christen- dom and in the presence of a vast as- sembly of the faithful, solemnly de- fined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
 This solemn definition of a truth which had always been held by the great body of Christians throughout the world filled the hearts of loyal children of the Church with gratitude and joy.
 ITO fttingly commemorate this re- markable event to increase our devo- ton to the ever-sinless and holy Moth CT of God, Pope Plus X, in an encycli- cal letter. dated December 17th. 1903, proclaimed a Jubilee Indulgence to be gained during three months of this year. The time for gaining the Jubilee will extend in the diocese of Mobile, from September Sth to December sth- the Feast of the Immaculate Concep- tion.
 The beautiful letter of the Holy Father should be read to the people at a suitable time during the Jubilee.
 "PriviIeges.
 "1. A plenary indulgence or remis- sion of all temporal punishment due to their sins may be gained by the faithful once during the Jubilee.
 "2. This indulgence is applicable to the souls in Purgatory
 "s. During the Jubilee the faithful retain the privilege of gaining all the other indulgences not excepting ple- nary indulgences.
 "Conditions. "1. Confession and the worthy re- ception of Holy Communion on any day between the Sth day of September and the Feast of the Immaculate Con- ception, December Sth.
 Three visits in our Cathedral City l to the Cathedral; in Birmingham to | St Paul's Church; In Pensacola to St. Michaers and in all other places to 1,A De- f~h @h,, CTS are to be offered up for the liberty and exaltation of the Catholic Church and the Apostolic See, for the extir- patton of heresies and for the conver- sion of all who are in error, for the concord of Christian rulers and the peace and unity of all the faithful and for the intentions of the Holy Father. Five Our Fathers" and Hail! Marys" or one of the approved Litanys will satisfy this condition.
 "S. A strict or black fast on one day. This calls for abstinence not only from meat but also from milk, but to keep this fast. 1t may be commuted to some other pious work such as prayer and alms- giving. | 4. Confessors have the power to commute the works prescribed above Into other works of piety, whenever the circumstances of their penitents render 1t necessary or advisable. | "5. Children who have not yet made their first Communion may gain the Indulgence by performing some other good work with the advice of their confessor in place of Holy Commun- ion.
 "6. All priests, secular and regular. who have faculties in this diocese are authorized. during these three months | to act as extraordinary confessors for religious whether cloistered or not Special faculties are given by the Holy Father to all priests properly approved empowering them, during the Jubilee to absolve from all sins and censures in whatever manner reserved, but with few exceptions, as stated in the ency- lclical.
 | Whenever 1t is practicable, there should be mission or at least trid- uum, during which time all may be in- duced to approach the sacraments and gain the Jubilee.
 l "As the time for opening the par ish schools is at hand, we feel 1t our duty to urge pastors who have the care of souls to see that all the little ones of the flock. without exception are gathered into the parochial schools where they may receive that moral and Intellectual training which will fit them for the duties and responsibilities of life. This training is the birth right of every Catholic child and hence the parent who, through neglect, de- prives his child of 1t, is guilty of a grave fault. Without religion there can be no morality. To have morality, | therefore, we must teach religion in our schools. The child must be taught the moral law and trained in the prac- tice of virtue from its earliest years. God has given our little oaes hearts l to be formed to virtue as we'll as heads to be enlightened. By secular training we improve the mind, but by religious training we restrain the will and di- rect the heart. While secular knowl- edge Is necessary to succeed in life we should not exaggerate its importance | or minimize. as many do, the import ance of religion in education. The knowledge of religious truths Is as far above human science as heaven is above the earth. Hence, the all-im- portant subject of religious instruction should receive the first consideration in every well organized school. Our parochial schools we are proud | to say, not only give our children the necessary instruction in the great truths of religion which must regulate their lives but they also impart a sound training In the secular branches not inferior to that obtained In other schools Catholics, therefore. have no just or reasonable excuse for neglect ing duty in regard to their own schools. I am, dear Rev. Father,
 HSipcereIv yours in Christ