The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-02-25
ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. PAUL.
Letter of the Most Reverend
Archbishop.
The Collection in Aid of Home and
Foreign Missions for 1911.

To the Clergy and Laity of the Arch
diocese of ST. Paul:
Beloved Brethren: The collections
taken up at the several masses of the
Second Sunday of Lent, March 18th,
will be set apart for the benefit of
Home and Foreign Missions.
The amount contributed last year for
these purposes by the faithful of the
Archdiocese was $2,790.33. Of this
amount, a small part was allotted to
impoverished missions in the Archdio-
cese itself, while the remainder was
divided between the Commission in
charge of missions among the Indian
and the Negro populations of the Uni
ted States, and the Society of the Pro-
pagation of the Faith in Paris, whose
charity reaches out to missions among
the heather in all parts of the world.
Within the limits of the Archdiocese
there are districts where Catholics are
so few in number that without some
slight assistance chapels cannot be
built, nor can priests be had to bring
thither the ministrations of religion.
We are not allowed to overlook the
needs of such districts. A diocese is a
family, where the father must think of
all his children, where brothers must
share with brothers.
Often l have written of our duty to
missions among the Indian and the
Negro populations of the United
States, as we'll as to those among the
heather in the world at large. The i'm
portance of such missionary work in
the interest of souls and of Holy
Church, l am sure, is we'll understood
by the clergy and laity of the Archdio-
cese; and they will, without further
words from me, prove the faith that is
in them by glad and large-hearted Of
ferings in favor of that work.
Usually, when Catholics make con-
tributions to purposes of religion, their
personal benefit is intended; and they
cannot be said to act from charity to-
tally unsefish and disinterested. This
is true, in a notable manner, of such
contributions as are made for paro-
chial purposes. The parish and its
works belong to the people of the par
ish, and subserVe their personal well
fare The support of ones parish is an
act of justice; it allows no room for
pure charity, the aim of which is some
thing beyond oneself, to which one is
drawn exclusively by the love of God
and the love of the neighbor for Gods
sake. But to contribute to the mis-
sionary work of the Church away from
ones own home is to go beyond ones
personal benefit, following the man
date of pure charity and meriting the
high reward belonging to such charity
The missionary work of the Church
should be the dearer to us, and the
more sacred, that it lifts us above our
selves-into the regions of that most
sweet and unselfish love which was
the inspiration of Bethlehem and OF
Calvary.
Let us learn we'll the great truth
springing from the profound depths OF
holy faith. The true measure of the
spirit of religion in our hearts is what
we are able to do from pure love OF
God, from pure zeal for His glory
without single glance towards sell
or towards aught that concerns self.
This letter will be read in all the
churches of the Archdiocese on the
First Sunday in Lent, as well as on the
Second Sunday, the day prescribed fol
the taking up of the collection.
We pray God to bless the clergy ant
the laity of the Archdiocese.
= JOHN IRELAND.
Archbishop of st. Paul.
st. Paul, February %, 1911.