The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-05-12
PAPAL ENCYCLICAL
Relates to the Teaching of the
Catechism and E oins
Bishops to Strictly En-
force the Order.

This document. which is ad-
dressed to the whole Catholic
world, will be sent to the bishops
and by them will be transmitted
to the pastor Of each parish and
will then be read to the laity.
The encyclical is sure to create
much comment, not only because
of the provisions for teaching the
catechism in each parish which
the Pope prescribes. but the
manner in which he enjoins all
bishops to see that the orders are
enforced to the letter.
THOSE IGNORANT OF RELIGION
After speaking of the large
numbers who live in ignorance of
Christian teachings, and after
deploring the decay of religious
belief, the Pope goes on to say:
There are today vast nun bers,
continually recruited by fresh
accessions, who are either utterly
ignorant of the truths of religion
or what at most possess only
such knowledge of God and of
the Christian faith as to lead the
life of idolaters. How many are
there, not only among the young,
but among adults tottering with
age. who know nothing of the
principal mysteries of faith, who
on hearing the name of Christ
can only ask: "Who is He =
that | may believe in HimF John
TX, So.
"In consequence of this igno-
rance, they regard it as no crime,
to excite and cherish hatred
against their neighbor, to enter
into most unjust contracts, to
give themselves up to unjust
1 speculations, to possess them
selves of the property of Others
10y enormous usury, and to COM
NIT other iniquities, not less rep
rehensible. Furthermore, hey
are unaware that the law of
Christ not only forblds immoral
actions, but condemns deliberate
immoral thoughts and immoral
desires. Even when they are
restrained by some motive from
abandoning themselves to sensual
pleasures, they without any kind
of scruple feed on evil thoughts,
multiplying sins beyond the
hairs of the head.
Again, we deem it necessary
to repeat that such persons are to
be found not only among the
poorer classes of the people or il
the country district. but among
those in the highest walks of life
and even among those pulled uI
with Knowledge, who relying
upon a vain eruditiou, think
that they are at liberty to turn
religion into ridicule and to 'blas
pheme that which they know not.
(Jud. x.")
MUST TEACH CATECHISM.
The Pontiff urges the teaching
of the catechism and suggest,
that confraternities be formed fol-
the purpose OF securing teachers
Continuing. the Pope says:
snow, if what we have said 81
far demonstrates the supreme i'm
portance of religious instruction
it follows that we ought to do al
that lies in our power TO main
tam the teaching of catechiSm
aud where the practice of SC
doing has fallen into disuse there
should be revival of the teach
ing of eatechism. which Benedic
XIV has described as 'the mos
effective means for spreading th'
glory of God and securing til,
salvation of souls Cons t.
Elsi MINNIE ID.
1--WE therefore, venera L
brothers, deslrous of fulfilling
this most important duty which i
imposed upon us by the Suprem
: Apostolate, and wishing to Intro
dnce uniformity everywhere il
: this most weighty matter, do b
our supreme authority enact an
strictly ordain that in all diocese
the following precepts be OF
served:
INSTRUCTION BY PRIESTS.
son every Sunday and ieas
day. none excepted, all paris
priests aud, generally speaking
: all those who have the care Q
souls shall throughout the year
with the text of the catechisn
instruct for the space of an hou
the young of both sexes in wha
: they must believe and do to b
saved.
"They shall at stated time
during the year, prepare boy
aud girls BY continued instru,
I ton lasting several days I
receive the sacraments of PENANG
aud confirmation.
Every day In Lent aud, If ne,
essary, on other DAYS after I'll
4 feast of Easter, they shall lik'
! wise by suitable instructions an