Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-23

sons for the suppression of intemper-
ance.
The class of crime that degrades
our people. the quarrels and acts OF
violence, which occupy the attention
! of our civil tribunals, are all trace
able TO drunkenness.
For the correction of this evil let
| us endeavor by united action to pro
mote the temperance societies al
ready established in many parishes
and to create new temperance asso-
Citations wherever such do not exist
| in the diocese and thus use all
means in our power 10 wipe out this
great reproach.
During the holy season of lent, ex-
ira devotional services will be heiG
at least twice every week-on We'd
nesdays and Fridays in all parish
churches and also in submissions on
other days selected by the pastors
/ The usual devotion on Wednesdays
consists in the recitation of a part of
/ the rosary short, but practical in
( struction. and benediction of the
most blessed sacrament; on Fridays
/ the beautiful devotion of the stations,
or way of the cross" will be appro-
/ pirate.
The attention of pastors is most ear
nestly directed TO the decree of the
/ holy father. Plus Y. on the daily re
ception of the holy eucharist. The SUI
preme pontiff in this decree emphatic
/ ally declares the spirit of the church
with regard to the reception of daily
( holy communion.
/ His holiness proclaims unbounded
/ liberty and manifests an intense de-
/ sire TO see not only the religious, but
all the faithful. approach most fire.
quently. even daily. 10 holy commun-
! ion TO see the children of the church
gathering around the altar railing ev-
cry day.
/ The recent decree of the sacred con-
gregation of the discipline of the sac
raments as 10 the age of those TO be
admitted to first holy communion has
been duly promulgated in this diocese,
and a copy of said decree has been
/ furnished to every pastor.
In holy obedience to the command
I of our supreme pontiff. Plus Y, all pas
tors, and chaplains to religious houses
! colleges and academies will publish
| this decree yearly at Easter time in
the vernacular language, and explain
| its full significance 10 the faithful.
| Pastors and teachers are admOnished
10 explain in a thorough manner the
! decree regarding daily holy commun-
| ion for children.
Daily holy communion for the little
ones is not merely an academic ques-
/ ton. 1t is intensely practical. The
/ holy father has absolutely decided this
question, and there is no room for
contrary opinion. To the question pro
( posed to the holy father. Ought daily
/ holy communion be recommended TO
the children etc, the answer is plain
and unequivocal. yes, they ought not
TO be hindered, but on the contrary ex-
horted thereto. The contrary practice
anywhere prevailing being condemned.
To use the words of the decree: BE
cause it is absolutely necessary that
children should become united with
Christ before their passions get the
start of them, and that they thus may
have the strength to reject with great
ct energy the assaults of the devil, and
of their internal and external foes"
Dearly beloved fathers in Christ. let
us listen to the words of our holy faith
er. Plus X. who has declared that he
depends especially on us-his priestly
sOns-that Jesus, the greatest treasure
in paradise, the greatest of the ben
.efits that our poor humanity has re
ceived, shall not be coldly or migrate
fully abandoned. We must never for
get that we are the appointed guard
ians of the adorable sacrament. the
dispensers of the mysteries of God and
that it is our blessed privilege to un.
lock the treasure house of the blessed
eucharist, and to distribute Gods
graces TO the faithful children of the
church
Among the many excellent societies
of our church, now helping TO draw
souls to the service of God, the Holy
Name society is one of the most i'm
pOrtant This society is. above all
things. strictly religious. and is a pow.
erful means in holding the men of our
congregations in line by urging them
to a frequent reception of the holy sac
raments. II is with genuine pleasure
that we learned of the establishment OF
this society in several parishes of this
diocese. and we hope and pray that it
may soon be found in every parish OF
our diocese. A general permission to
establish this society in their parishes
is hereby given TO all the pastors Of
this diocese. who will. in their zeal. ex-
hort the men, young and old. to enroll
their names on the parish register and
thus become members Of a society
which has for its main object the Sc
curing of greater reverence for the
holy name of Jesus
Entering on the great work Of Lent.
this season Of penance and prayer let
US bear in mind it is also a season Of .
aims giving; no aim can be more pleas
ing TO God than that which will help TO
extend 70 souls the blessings of re-
demption. To extend the kingdom Of
God, to win souls to Christ in the grea.
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