The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-06
LENT AT ST. PETERS
FATHER EATON SPEAKS ON ITS OB-
 sERvANCE.
Rules for Conduct of Parishioners Head From the Altar--Father s1evin
 is to Conduct Special tt Services.


 At St. Peters Catholic Church yes- terday the assistant pastor. Rev. Fath- CT T. J. Eaton, preached on the gem eral observance of Lent, which begins Wednesday and instructions were given partshioners as to their conduct.
 Father Eaton explained the Lenten season and its services. He also an- nounced the church calendar for Lent.
 The following letter from the head of the Diocese of Mobile was read from the altar:
 The Reverend Clergy and Devoted
 Laity of the Diocese of Mobile:
 By decree of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore a collection is to be taken up on the first Sunday in Lent for the Home and Foreign Missions. We ask your sympathy and earnest CO., operation in behalf of this worthy cause. The missionary spirit, by the grace of God, is spreading among our people from year to year. This is shown by the increasing support given to the Society of the Propagation of the Faith and to the missions for our non- Catholic brethren. These contribu- tfcns, though generous already, would, we feel confident. be greatly augment ed, could all be brought to fully real ize the importance of the Divine com mand,s Go teach all nations
 "In every part of our beloved coun- try, there are sincere and conscientious souls. unaffiliated with any religious body, who are anxious to know the truth and willing to accept 1t when made known them. Our Savior died for all these souls, and many of us allow them to live and dieK without making any special effort to enlighten them. They are entrusted to our care no less than those who have the Eft of faith. Should. we not show more interest in their spiritual welfare? The church is their truf homey for there, relieved of all douHks and misgiyings, they find peace and rest. Tn the sac raments, they will find life.i hope and strength along with the grace to com bat their evil inclinations Our love for our neighbor is said to be the test of our love for God, and, if this be- so, 1t Is our duty to impart to our separated brethren the knowl- edge of that faith which is the source of our strength and our abiding confi- dence, in God. Zeal for souls is the | characteristic of every true Catholic. 1nasmuch as he prizes his religion above all things, he desires to have it's blessings enjoyed by others.
 How many among us, brethren. are wanting in that zeal? How many | among us waste in foolish and perhaps sinful pleasures money, which if given Tor missionary purposes, would be the | means of salvation to immortal souls? We appeal to you, brethren, to be generous Give us from your resources the means to support our zealous mis- | sionaries and at the same time develop our missions. The Father of Merc;e es will shower His blessings on all who take pity on His stray sheep and help l to save them.
 During the Lenten season we are all called upon to practice self-deniaI Not only should the law of fasting and ab- stinence enjoined by the Church be faithfully observed, but we should bear in mind that something more is required for the due observance of the penitential season to render 1t accept, able to God and of benefit to our own souls. The Church at this time re- stricts us in regard to the nature and amount of food we are allowed to eat. but she is far more solicftous about the spiritual benefit we should derive from our lasts. We will obtain little fruit from them, if we do not refrain from other habits of self-indulgence. and accordingly absent ourselves from those places of amusement wherein the spirit of vanity, feasting and hilarity is indulged without restriction. What at other seasons might be considered harmless gaiety is not, as a rule, in keeping with the spirit of penance or the traditions of the Church for this time.
 "The Church begins the penitential season by admonishing us. as she puts ashes on our head: Remember man hot -k g-&z shall return.' This plain but too com monly forgotten truth should be brought home to us during this holy season and induce us to think more of our immortal soul and its welfare. The season calls for more %egular attend ance at the public exercises of religion daily mass whenever practicable, the frequent hearing of the Word of God. the fervent reception of the Sacra- ments of Penance and Holy Eucharist and Aims giving.
 Tt is the wish of our Holy Father Plus x, that the invocation: Most Sa- cred Heart of Jesus. have mercy on us.' should be recited three times alter nately with the people after the usual prayers at the end of low masses. We hereby require the recitation of the as- piration in future. The Holy Father has attached an indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines for the recitation of these prayers.
 The grace and favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
 Edward P. Allen.
 Bishop of Mobile.
 "J. w Shaw, Secretary
 The rules for lent in the diocese of Mobile, according to the apostolic in- dult of August 3, 1887, as sent to the churches by Bishop Allen are as fol- lows:
 "1 All the faithful who have com pleted their twenty-first year and who have not begun their sixtieth year, and who are not exempted from the obliga- tion of fasting by sickness. hard work or other well known reasons. are oblig-