The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-06-15
SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGA
TION OF THE FAITH,

ciety for the Propagation Of the
Faith rounded out the ninetieth
year of it's existence. Ninety years
represent a long life for a society
as we'll as for an individual. There
are few, if any, charitable organi-
cations in the Catholic Church that
can lay claim to a greater span of
years.
Who can estimate the amount Of
good that has been accomplished
by this Society during its four
score and ten years? Only those
who know how faithfully it has
adhered to its original purpose
realize how valuable is the service
it has rendered to Holy Mother
Church whose welfare has been it's
sole inspiration. When the Socie-
ty was founded it was declared
that it's aim would be to obtain
prayers and aims for the mission
aries who work among pagans and
infdels to propagate the gospel of
Christ and extend His kingdom
upon earth.
The Society for the Propagation
Of the Faith is an international
association whose purpose is to as
sist by prayers and aims the Cath
Ollie missionary priests, brothers
and nuns engaged in preaching the
gospel in heather and non-Cath-
Ollie countries. It may be said with
truth that the impetus to which it
owes it's origin came from Amer
lea. In 1915, at the suggestion of
Bishop Dubourg, Of New Orleans,
a charitable association was found
ed in Lyons, France, by a Miss
Petit for the support of the Louis
lana missions. Through it a small
amount of money was collected
from the friends and acquaintance
of the foundress and forwarded to
New Orleans. In 1920, Pauline
Jaricot, also of Lyons, conceived
the idea of forming an association
whose members would contribute
one cent a week towards the sup
port of the Foreign Missions of
Paris then in great need of fnan-
cial assistance. The success of Miss
Jaricot's efforts led to the amalga-
nation of the two societies which
were formally organized into the
Society for the Propagation of the
Faith on the third Of May, 1922.
It may be interesting to note that
movement is now on foot to in
troduce at Rome the cause of
qualification of Miss Jaricot, who
is regarded as the foundress of the
Society.
The original meeting was at
tended by twelve ecclesiastics and
laymen who laid the foundation of
the new society whose object was
declared to be to help Catholic
missionaries by prayers and aims.
The Society did not aim to assist
Catholic countries, that is to say,
countries in which the Church was
well-established, even though in
need Of help. The object Of it's
solicitude was the missionary
countries where the work of estab-
fishing the Church was hampered
by lack Of funds. The new Or
ganization was approved in 1928
by Pope Plus VII, who enriched
it with indulgences and spiritual
, privileges which have been ratified
. by his successors. AS late as 1904,
Pope Plus x recommended it to
the charity of the faithful, praised
it's work, confirmed it's privileges
and raised the feast Of it's patron,
St. Francis Xavier, to a higher
right.
The work Of the Society is adj
ministered by two central councils,
each of which is composed Of
twelve clergymen and laymen Of
recognized business ability, piety
and zeal. One Of these Councils is
established in Lyons and the other
in Paris. At the end Of January
of each year the offerings Of the
members Of the Society from all
countries are sent to these CEN
! trail Offices and the total amount
is divided among the missions
/ in different parts Of the world
in accordance with their re-
spective needs. The money is then
forwarded to its destination and a
statement published in the can
mails" of the Society. The Society
depends entirely upon the charit-
able offerings of the faithful. Since
lit was organized it collected and
distributed, up to the end Of 1910,