The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-07-08
.ENCYCL|CAL ON
DIOCESAN MISSIONS
ITO OUR VENERABLE BRETHREN,
THE ARCHBISHOPS AND BIsH-
OPS OF FRANCE.
Venerable Brethren,

Health and Apostolic Benediction.
In view of the forthcoming Second
Congress which you are about to hold
to promote the work of Diocesan Mis-
sions, we feel that we must send you
the encouragements of our paternal
heart, persuaded that they will incite
you to redouble your zeal for a work
the beginning of which has already
proved so fruitful for the greater
glory of God and the salvation of
souls. You certainly appreciate, Ven
cradle Brethren, how powerful for
awakening and maintaining the
Christian life among the peo-
pie are these sacred crusades
in which prominent preachers
preach to the people, not in the
language of human wisdom, but by
simple discourses suitable to the low
liest, undertake the task of explaining
the eternal truths and laws of the
Gospel which sum up Christian doc
trine and, as soon as they enter docile
minds, become a fountain springing
forth to eternal life. Endeavor, there
fore, to increase the number of the
apostles set apart for this duty as
much as may be needed, so that no
parish in your dioceses may long be
without their ministry. We are aware
that in France men are not wanting
who, after the example of the apostles,
occupied in prayer and the ministry
of the word, devote themselves en-
tiro1v to tho norfoctipo of tho Coip+C
and the edification of the body of
Christ. But, as you know, they are
not numerous enough to go through
every parish and restore the rules
of the Gospel. We would also earn
estly recommend to your pastoral
activity that there should be in each
diocese, formally instituted and fitting
ly strengthened with all the helps of
piety and doctrine, this salutary and
indispensable work for the formation
and direction of Diocesan missionaries.
Such an undertaking is not, it is true,
without difficulties; men and means
are often wanting. But, as you are
we'll aware, it is question of work
so useful for the training Of souls to
piety that it ought to be your work
of prediction. There need be no
fear that it will injure other works;
on the contrary it will help them;
for it is evident that piety, to the
awakening and maintenance of which
missions so efficaciously contribute, is
so necessary to these Christian insti-
tutions that if it happens to fail they
lose that which gave them life and
preserved it. Our affection impels us
to commend also to your attention the
salutary precepts and counsels to
preachers of the divine word which
we not long ago recalled in our Motu
Proprio 'Sacrorum Antistitum.' Do
you yourselves, Venerable Brethren,
carefully bring them to notice at this
congress and see that they are OBJ
served by all in your dioceses, know
ing that your solicitude will bring
little profit to the Catholic cause if
while seeking to multiply preachers
you do not take measures for their
better training.
1--WE pray that God, the Father of
Light, may preside over your deliber-
ations, and shedding upon you the
light of His counsel, may vouchsafe
that you will as soon as possible de-
termine and carry out what will be
most beneficial to the faithful.
Meanwhile, Venerable Brethren, as
a pledge of our fatherly benevolence,
we most affectionately in. the Lord
impart to you and to those who shall
attend the Congress the Apostolic
Benediction.
"Given at ST. Peters, Rome, May
Is, 1911, in the eighth year of our
Pontiffcate.
aDTTTc " DnDT7o