The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-04-27

tains a mine Of information about
the career and teachings Of our
Blessed Savior, and wealth Of
spiritual JUNCTION that cannot be
obtained from the reading Of any
other book no matter how excel
lent it's contents.
There are some Catholic laymen
who carry copy of the New Tes-
lament around with them just as
they carry their rosary and have
recourse to it at leisure moments.
As historical record it is more
interesting than any similar work
ever written because the life and
labors Of our Lord are therein de-
picted by His inspired writer's.
Constant reading Of the New Test
ament familiarizes one with the
thoughts and language Of our
Lord, and certainly there is no
more elevating doctrine found
anywhere than that which is set
AoA III Al IOo PhSCo.
To encourage Catholics to read
the Bible different Popes have
enriched the practice with indul-
gences. The late Pope Leo XIII,
in an audience granted on Deem
Der Ii, 1898, to the Cardinal Pre-
feet of the Congregation of Indul-
gences and Sacred Relics granted
to all the faithful Of both sexes
who piously and devoutly read
for a quarter Of an hour each day
the Holy Gospel, the edition
whereof is recognized and ap-
proved by legitimate authority, an
indulgence Of three hundred days
for each reading thereof; and to
those who shall have continued the
above reading each day for a
month he grants Plenary Indul-
gence on any day within the
month when they shall have ap-
preached the Sacramento Of Pen
ance and Holy Communion, offer
ing their prayers to God in &C.
cordance with the intention of
His Holiness. This indulgence
is applicable to the holy souls in
Purgatory.
Our Holy Father, Plus x, re-
Gently addressed the members of
the st. Jerome Association in the
following words which should
encourage every Catholic to read
the scri ptures:
'tyGladly do I give my blessing,
and that with both hands and a
full heart, for I do not doubt that
this work will produce the richest
fruit and is already blessed by
God. The more we read the Cos
pei, the stronger our faith be-
comes. The Gospels are writings
that are valuable for everybody
and under all circumstances. I
have lived among the common
people and know what they want,
and what pleases them. Tell them
the simplest Bible stories, and you
will have the most attentive lis
teners, and effect blessed results.
Your purpose is to spread the Cos
pels; you are doing a noble work.
"Some people think that the
peasants with their plain everyday
way Of thinking would not profit
by the reading Of the Scriptures.
This is incorrect. The average
peasant is a shrewder thinker than
we may suspect, and knows how
to draw the correct lessons from
the Scriptures, often even better
than many Of the preachers.
'But it is not only the common
people and the lower classes who
will profit by the reading Of the
Scriptures. No matter how many
prayer books and books Of devo-
ton there may be, none is better
than the Gospels. This is an un-
surpassed book of devotion, the
true bread Of life. 7 grant an es-
pecial blessing to all who preach
the Gospel; who read and hear
it whether on a Sunday or week
day. I bestow my blessing on all
the members of the ST. Jerome So
ciety and all who cooperate in
the sacred work Of spreading the
Gosne1s.