The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-09-28

ministrations to contribute to the
maintenance of the seminary in
which they are trained for fruit
full labor.
Apart from this, however, there
is another means by which those
whose worldly circumstances per-
nit may take more personal in
terest in the work of providing
priests for the Church. There are
many well-to-do Catholics who
could, without much self-sacrifce,
undertake to defray the expense
of putting through college and
seminary a deserving young man
who, otherwise, would never be
able to reach the goal Of his am
bition. The cost, all things con-
sidered, is not so very great; it is
not beyond the reach of many who
could well afford to devote a por-
ton Of their earthly goods to this
noble purpose.
In this connection it may not
be uninteresting to record the ac-
ton Of a Catholic husband and
wife in the Southern states. They
had no children of their own; but
they resolved to educate a young
man for the priesthood and
straightway put their pious reso-
luton into effect. They were not
endowed with much Of this world s
goods. In fact, they were in poor
circumstances when they under
took the work, but God blessed
their efforts on behalf of religion
and gradually their means in
creased and they were able to do
even more than crafty their
original ambition to educate one
young man for the priesthood. To-
day, owing to their self-sacrifcing
zeal and generosity, six priests are
laboring in Southern dioceses who,
under God, owe it to this jealous
couple that they are able to fol-
low their sublime vocation. Could
better use than this be made of
worldly riches?
We have heard of one or two
other instances in which Catholics
who could afford it undertook to
educate young men for the priest
hood On condition that, after Or
dination, the young priests would
pay back, in whole or in part, the
sums expended for their scholastic
maintenance When this money
was returned to the orr ginal
donors they Immediately devoted
it to the education Of others and
in this way were able to keep a
student in the seminary all the
time.
There are among Catholics
many who could initiate such
worthy examples by coming to
the assistance of young men who
are struggling under financial diff
ficulties to follow their vocation.
Many who are now content to
make meagre contribution each
year towards the seminary fund
could have the high honor of Civ.
ing priest to the Church, if they
would only make up their minds
to return to the Lord in this man
ner 1.-THE of the worldly wealth
with which He has blessed them
There are many young men who
need such benefactors; but who
will volunteer to open the way for
them to the realization Of their
fondest hopes?
,, Every intelligent Catholic
: knows that there is no work in
y which he can interest himself
, that will be productive of greater
7 glory to God or will contribute
more to the welfare of religion
Almost every diocese in America
needs more priests; the need is
very great in these western
: states. Many people are deprived
Of the ordinary advantages of re
ligion because priests are too few
to supply the demands made upor
them. The Bishops are anxious te
. provide priests for their people
but their means are limited, espe
, cially in the poorer dioceses, anc
= it is pity that Catholics who are
! : blessed with even moderate
i share Of the worlds goods, ano
who have no boys of their own tt
devote to the service Of the altar
do not give more generously fol
q the alienation of this crying nee6
: of the Church i'm this western land
In nearly every community
: there are men who could very