The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-02-22
BISHOP ALLEN
ISSUES LETTER
TO THE CHURCH
SPECIAL COMMUNICATION CON-
cERNING OFFERINGS RECEIVED
IN THE CHURCHES OF THE do
CESE DURING FIRST LENTEN
SUNDAY.

Bishop Edward P. Allen of the Mo-
bile diocese. has issued the following
letter which viii be read in all the
churches of the diocese this morning
The Bishops Letter.
My Dear Brethren In Christ
The offerings received in the
churches of the diocese on the first
sunday in Lent will be used, as the
third plenary council Of Baltimore di-
reefs, to help the home and foreign
missions. The object for which this
collection is made-the preservation
and the propagation of the faith-ap-
peal to the heart of every loyal Cath
Ollie
You. dear brethren, live near
church where every Sunday you may
assist at holy mass, receive the Sacra-
ments and hear the Word of God. I
hope you have a proper appreciation of
these blessings and are faithful in us
ing these means of sanctification.
Many Catholics, living in places re-
mote from a church are not blessed
with these privileges; they seldom
have an opportunity of assisting at
mass, of receiving the sacraments or
listening to the Word of God.
These, our Catholic brethren, far re-
moved from the influence of the church
and surrounded by influences hostile
to the Catholic religion, are in great
danger of losing the gift of faith.
Alas! many in former years have lost
that PR celess treasure.
1t is our duty to assist our brethren
who are in danger Of losing the faith
and we ought willingly to make gem
erous sacrifices to bring back those
who have strayed from the fold If you
value the holy sacrifice and the sac
raments you will contribute cheerfully
and generously to this truly apostolic
work
In addition to the duty of preserving
the faith of our Catholic brethren,
there is for US a grave obligation to
preach the Gospel to the vast multi
tudes in the diocese, who are stran-
gers to the Catholic faith or who know
it only as misrepresented by it's enc
mics. For more than two million souls
yet outside Of the church, we shall
have to render an account to the
Prince of Pastors "And other sheep I
have, that are not of this fold; them
also must / bring; and they shall hear
my voice, and there shall be one fold
and one shepherd" John x-16.
It is, dearly beloved brethren, our
0uly 10 give TO ALL W1lIln the 1lI1ILS
of the diocese, an opportunity of hear
ing the Gospel of Jesus Christ whose
sacred heart yearns to lead all into
one fold under on shepherd.
But our charity like our faith should
be Catholic and It should extend to
the foreign as well as the home mis-
sions We should help to sustain those
heroic souls who are making many
personal sacrifices to fulfill the COM
mand of Jesus Christ to His Apostles:
GO We into the whole world and
preach the Gospel to every creature"
Mark xvi:15. BY contributing accord
ing to your means to this annual coll
lection you become sharers in the
merits and rewards of these apostolic
laborers. All are not called to preach
the Gospel, but all may by prayers and
generous aims. help to spread the faith
and bring relief to many souls spirit
ually destitute Let all be glad to help
in this blessed work. eff you have
much, give abundantly; If you have
little take care even so to bestow will
lingly a little" Tobias i've.
This letter should be read on the
Sunday before the collection and on
the day itself. Praying that the bless