Evening star., 1905-05-09
THE POPE'S ENCYCLICAl
URGES TEACHING cATECHIsM TO
THE YOUNG.
Also Adults Need Religious Instruc-
tion and Parish Priests Enjoined
to See to It.

oii the tedcHinS Oh the CatecnlSm, Wnlc
was promulgated in Rome April Is, ha
been made public In Washington. Tn
letter is addressed to the whole Catholi
world. and will soon be sent to the bish
ops of the church and by them trans
mitted to each parish and read to th
laity.
The encyclical letter will undoubtedly
attract attention and create great com
ment not only because of the provision
prescribed by the pope for teaching tn
catechism in each parish, but also be
cause of the manner In which the bish
ops are en5oined to see that the order
OF the supreme pontin are enforced t
the letter
This. venerable brothers." says th
pope, I'VE do prescribe and command b,
virtue of the apostolic authority. It nov
rests with you to put it into prompt an,
complete execution in your dioceses, an,
by all the force of your power see to /
that these prescriptions of ours be no
neglected. or. what comes to the sam,
fcially.'
The letter mentions the immense mum
bers who live in ignorance of Christian
teachings and deplores the decay of relig
ion. On this point the pontiff says:
Ignorance of Religion.
There are today vast numbers continu
ally recruited by fresh accesslons, who ar
either utterly ignorant of the truths Of re
ligiOn-or who at most possess only suc
knowledge of God and of the Christian
faith as to lead the life of idolators Hoy
many are there. not only among the young
but among the adults tottering with age
who know nothing of the principal mys
teries of faith, who on hearing the nam
of Christ can only ask: Who Is He
h. I hol in I'm fx
I'm consequence of this ignorance, the.
regard it as no crime to excite and cheriS
hatred against their neighbOr. to enter int
most unjust contracts, to give themselve
up to unjust speculations, to possess them
selves of the property of others by enor
nous usury. and to commit other iniquitie
not less reprehenSible. Furthermore, the.
are unaware that the law of Christ no
only forbids immoral actions, but con
demns deliberate immoral thoughts ant
immoral desires. Even when they are re
strained by some motive from abandoning
themselves to sensual pleasures, they with
out any kind of Scruple feed on evi
thoughts, multiplying sins beyond the hair
OF the head.
Again. we deem it necessary to repea
that such persons are to be found not onl.
among the poorer classes of the people o
in the country districts, but among thos
in the highest walks of life and even among
those puffed up with knowledge, who, rely
at liberty to turn religion into ridicule ant
to 'blaspheme that which they know not.
(Jud x)."
After urging the teaching of the cate
chism and suggesting that confraternitie
be formed for the purpose OF securln:
teachers, the letter continues:
Precepts to Be Observed.
Now, if what we have said so far dem
onstrates the supreme importance of re
ligious instruction. it follows that we ough
to do all that lies in our power to maintain
the teaching of catechism, and where thu
practice of doing has fallen into dlsus'
there should be revival of the teaching o
cathechfsm, which Benedict XIV has de
scribed as the most effective means fo
spreading the glory of God and securing
the salvation of souls (Const., E,lsi Min
ifne I5 - ---.- s-..--.s - - =
We, therefore. venerable brothers, de
srous of fulfilling this most important dut!
which Is imposed upon US ny tne Supren
Apostolate, and wishing to introduce uni
formity everywhere in this most weight!
matter do by our supreme authority enac
and strictly ordain that in all dioceses tn
following precepts be observed:
"On every Sunday and feast day, nom
excepted. all parish priests and, general!
speaking, all those who have the care o
souls shall throughout the year, with TN
text of the catechism, instruct Tor IN
space of an hour the young OF both sexes II
what they must believe and do to be saved
They SHALL at stated times during tn
year. prepare boys and girls by continues
instruction lasting several days to receiV
the sacraments of penance and conhrma
ton.
'sE,very day in Lent and, if necessary OF
other days after the feast of Easter. the,
shall likewise by suitable instructions an
reflections most carefully prepare boys an
girls to receive their first communion in
holy manner.
I'm each parish the confraternity of tn
Christian doctrine is to be canonically in
stituted. Through this confraternity tn
parish priest, especially in places wher
there is scarcity of priests, will find val
liable helpers for catechetical instruction
in pious lay persons who will lend their ali
to this holy and salutary work, both from
a zeal for the glory of God and as mean
of gaining the numerous indulgences grant
ed by the sovereign pontiffs.
I'm large towns, and especially in thos
which contain universities, colleges an
grammar schools, let religious classes b
founded to instruct in the truths of fait
and in the practice of Christian life tn
young people who frequent the publ
schools. from which all religious teaching
is banned.
I'm consideration of the fact that in thes
days adults not less than the young stan
in need of religious instruction. all paris
priests and others having the care of soul
shall, in addition to the usual homiy Of
the gospel to be delivered at the parochia
mass on all days of obligation, explain tn
catechism for the faithful in an easy style
suited to the intelligence of their hearers
at such time of the day as they may deem
most convenient for the people. but no
during the hour in which the children ar
taught. In this instruction they are t.
make use of the catechism of the Council
of Trent: and they are to divide the matte
In such a way as within the space of fou
or five years to treat of the Apostles Greed
the sacraments, the decalogue, the Lord
Prayer and the precepts of the church"