Evening journal., 1913-04-15
INDULGENCE
FOR CATHOLICS
Bishop Monaghan Announces
Details of Jubilee Now
in Progress
EAn RIsHnp MnNAGHAN-

In all the churches of the Catho1c |
diocese of Wilmington on Sunday, |
was read Bishop John j. Monaghan's |
announcement of the jubilee indul- /
gence granted the Church from March I
80 to December S. the Feast of the |
Immaculate Conception The Bishops !
letter designates the Cathedral, st. !
AIMS and st. Mary's churches to be
visited twice to obtain the indulgence. |
The letter follows
1, Bishops Residence. No. 1901 Della
ware Avenue, Wilmington, Della
ware.
April 9Th. 1918
Reverend and Dear Father In
commemoration of the Sixteenth Cen
tennary of the Edict of Peace promul-
gated by the Emperor Constantine the
Great. which put an end TO the cruel
prosecutions waged against the
Church for three centuries. our Holy
Father, Pope Plus X, by Apostolic
Letter dated March Stn, 1913, has
graciously granted TO the universal
Church the privi' ge of Jubilee In
diligence. to be gained this year from
Low Sunday. March 3Oth, to Decem-
Der Sth. the feast of the immaculate
Conception.
In publishing this great blessing
W llit NOIlnf Oul ilOlN EAAlii o1gos
The commemoration of the great
and happy event through which. six
teen centuries ago Peace was final
ly given to the Church, while 1t fills
all Catholics with the greatest joy and
calls them to works of piety, moves
Us to open the treasures or celestial
gifts that choice and copious fruits
may accrue from that solemnity.
Nothing indeed could be more hitting
and opportune than the celebration OF
the Edict promulgated at Milan by
the Emperor Constantine the Great,
following close upon the victory over
Maxentus obtained under the glori-
Gus Standard of the CrOss-the Edict
which put an end to the cruel perse-
cution of the Christians and placed
them in possession of the liberty
bought at the price of the blood of the
Divine Redeemer ano the Martyrs.
Then at last the Church Militant gain
ed the first of those triumphs which
throughout its history have invari-
ably followed prosecutions of every
sort, and from that day ever increas-
ing benefits have accrued to the hu-
man race. For men, abandoning by
degrees the supersttious worship of
idols, in their laws, customs and in
stitutions followed ever more the rule
of Christian life, and so it came to
pass that justice and love hourished
together on the earth. Therefore We
think il appropriate that on this
happy occasion on which sucn a great
event is commemorated prayers
should should be multiplied to God, to
His Virgin Mother, and TO all the
Blessed, especially to the Holy
Apostles. that all peoples, renewing
the dignity and glory of the Church,
may take refuge in the bosom of this
their Mother, may root out the errors
by which insensate enemies of the
Church strive to shroud its splendor
in darkness, may surround the Ro.
man Pontiff with the highest homage,
and, with their minds at rest in per-
feet trust, may see indeed I'm the
Catholic religion the defense and safe
guard of all things. Then will II be pos
sible to hope that men, again fixing
their eyes on the Cross, the sign OF
salvation, will be able completely to
overcome the enemies of the Christian
name and the unbridled lusts Of their
hearts. To the purpose, then, that
the humble prayers tnat should be
offered on the occasion or this solemn
commemoration throughout the Cath
olic world may rebound 70 the greater
spiritual good of the faithful, We or
dain that they be enriched with a
Plenary Indulgence in Jubilee form.
urgently exhorting all the children OF
the Church that they unite their
prayers and their works of piety to
Ours. to the end that by means Of
the spiritual favour of Jubilee offered
to them these may bear the greatest
possible fruit both to the pront OF
souls and the advantage of religion.
Relying therefore on the mercy
OF Almighty God and on the authority
Of the Blessed Apostles Peter and
Paul. and having consulted Our Ven-
erable Brethren, the Cardinal In
uuisitors General of the Holy Roman
Church. of that power of binding and
loosing which to Us though unworthy
has been entrusted. We by this pres
ent Letter grant and impart, in the
form of a general jubilee. a Plenary
Indulgence of all sins to all and sun
dry of the faithful Of both sexes,
whether resident in this dear City of
Ours or coming to visit It, who In
this present year, from Low Sunday,
when the secular celebrations intend
ed to commemorate the Peace of the
Church begin, 60 the feast of the inn
maculate Conception of the Virgin
Mother Of God inclusive, twice visit
each Of the Basilicas Of St. John
Lateran. st. Peter Prince OF the
Apostles and ST. Paul outside tho
Walls; who there. according to Our
intention, for some time pour forth
their prayers to God for the prosper
ity and exaltation Of the Catholic
Church and of this Apostolic See. for
the extirpation of heresies and the
conversion of all who are in error
for concord amongst Christian
Princes and peace and unity amongst
ell the faithful; who, having properly
confessed their sins. refresh them
selves during. the period indicated
with the celestial banquet; and who
furthermore, each one according tC
his means, give aims to the needy
or. If preferred, assign II for some
pious purpose To those, however
who cannot visit the City, We grant
the same Plenary Indulgence pro
vided. during the same interval. the,
visit six times in all a church oi
churches in their own locality, to bs
designated by the Ordinary, and per.
form in their integrity the Other
works of piety which we have above
specified. Further, we permit tha
4 this Plenary Indulgence may and car
be applied by way of suffrage to the
souls who have passed from this life
united TO God by charity