The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-12-26

it is not through their enjoyment that
man can live happily. For on Gods
authority we know, so far are wealth,
glory, pleasure from bringing happi-
ness to man that if he wishes to be
truly happy he must avoid them all
for the love of God; Blessed are ye
poor Blessed are We that
weep now. Blessed shall you
be when men shall hate you, when
they shall separate you, and shall re-
proach you and cast out your name
as evil" Est. Luke vi, 20-22). That
is to say, through the sorrows, cares,
and miseries of this life, if we support
we obtain access for ourselves to those
perfect and everlasting good things
(which God hath prepared for them
that love Him" q Cor. ii, 81. But
this important doctrine of the Faith is
neglected by a great number and is
altogether forgotten by many. 1t is
necessary, venerable brethren, to re-
vive it amongst all men; in no other
way will men and human society have
peace We therefore exhort those who
are afflicted by cares of any kind not
to fix their gaze on the earth, on which
they are pilgrims, but to lift it up to
Heaven, whittier we are going: For
we have not here lasting city; but
we seek one that is to come" Gle
brews xiii, 14). And amidst the adj
1ynrcifiaC hIrx 1yI1i frin fhniYs
stancy in His service let them often
reflect what a reward is reserved for
them if they come victorious out of
the conflict: For that which is at
present momentary and light of our
tribulation, worketh for us above
measure exceedingly an eternal
weight of glory" QI Cor. iv, 10.
Finally, to endeavor with all possible
activity and energy to make faith in
the supernatural revive amongst men,
and at the same time the appreciation,
desire, and hope of things eternal
this, venerable brethren, should be
your first object, and also that of the
other clergy and Of all our spiritual
children who, bound together in vari-
GUS associations, strive to promote the
society. For, in proportion as this
faith increases amongst men their i'm
moderate desire of pursuing vain
earthly enjoyments will decrease,
charity will revive, and tumults and
social conflicts will gradually subside.
Fruits of the Pontificate of Plus x.
And now, if we turn our thoughts
from civil society to the Church's own
affairs, there is certainly some ground
why Our mind, troubled by the great
calamities of the day, should be, at
least to some extent, cOmforted. For
besides the manifest proofs which pre-
sent themselves of the divine power
and indefectibility of the Church, no
little consolation is given to Us by
the splendid fruit of his active zeal
left by Our predecessor Plus X, after
having added to the lustre Of the
Apostolic See by the example of a
holy life. For, thanks to his work, We
see the religious spirit stirred up
everywhere amongst ecclesiastics !;
piety excited amongst the Christian
people; Catholic action and discipline
promoted in Catholic societies; here
episcopal Sees established, and here
their number increased; arrange
ments made for the education of young
clerics in accordance with the strict
| requirements of Canon Law and as
needed owing to the nature of the
times; all danger of rash innovations
removed from the teaching of the sa'
cred sciences; musical art made to
serve worthily the majesty of sacred
functions; the decorum of worship
pers increased; and Christianity wide
| ly propagated by the new missions OF
heralds of the Gospel.
These are indeed great merits OF
Our predecessor in regard to the
Church, and posterity will gratefully
bear them in mind. Since, however
the field of the good man of the house
is always, God permitting, exposed tC
the wicked arts of the enemy, the fear
| lest an abundance of cookie may in
jure the good fruit should never pre-
vent work being done there. There
fore, taking as addressed to Ourselves
what God said to the prophet, 10,
have set thee this day over the ma
tionS and over Kingdoms, to root VI
and pull down.. and to build
and to plant" (Jeremias i, 10), so fal
as lies in Our power, We shall take
the greatest care, until it please the
Pastor of Pastors to demand from Us
an account of the exercise of the min
istry entrusted to Us, to avert what
ever is evil and to promote what is
| good.
| In addressing to you, venerable
brethren, this first Encyclical Letter
| We think it well to touch on certain
of the chief subjects to which We
have decided to devote Our special
attention, and through your efforts tc
help Our work by your zeal the de
sired fruit will be secured earlier.
Discord to Be Avoided.
| First of all, since in every human
| society, for whatever purpose formed
it is of the utmost Importance thai
the members should work strenuously
together to attain the same object, we
must exert ourselves by all means al
our disposal to put an end to dissen
sion and discord, of whatever kind
amongst Catholics; to guard against