Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-24
CATHOLICS PRAY FOR PEACE
AS WELL AS FOR POPE Plus X.
Letter from Bishop oconnor Read in Local Churches Urging
Supplications That War in Europe Shall Cease-Re-
QUEEN Masses for Dead Pontff.

Services in the local Catholic
churches yesterday were marked by
the reading of a letter from Bishop
O'Connor. The letter asked the
priests of the diocese to exhort their
congregations to pray that the war in
Europe shall be soon ended. Bishop
O'Connor's letter was based on SINH
lar request made by the late Pope
Plus x, and written by the pontiff
early this month, but delayed in
transmission to this country
In addition to the reading of the
letter, special prayers were offered for
the repose of the soul of Plus x. Re-
QUEEN masses for the same intention
will be said in all churches.
There will be a solemn high mass
of requiem for the soul of the de-
ceased pontiff offered at St. Patrick's
Cathedral next Thursday. 1t will be
in the nature of an official diocesan
ceremony. with Bishop O'Connor as
celebrant. There will be a special
ritual and the music will be in Gre
gorian chant, in accordance with the
desire of Plus X, who several years
ago asked that all church music be
restricted as far as possible to this
form. Monsignor Charles I'll. Mackel,
rector of St Patrick's Church, Eliza
beth. will preach.
The letter from the bishop is as fol-
lows:
THE disastrous war now deyas-
tating some of the fairest countries
of Europe and the awful loss of life
already incurred, not to speak of the
consequences which it's continuance
will necessarily entail to the inhab
itants of those unhappy lands should
prompt us in accordance with the
celebrations of our Holy Father,
Plus X: ITO lift up our minds and
hearts to Him from whom alone help
can come, Christ, the true prince of
peace, the most powerful mediator
between God and mankind and to
pray that in His goodness and mercy
He may bring this unhappy strife to
an end.
1T Is God alone who can touch the
hearts of men with His grace and re-
move the unhappy causes which
broughD about this unexpected and
disastrous conflict of the nations. We
are all children of the same Father,
to whom we pray every day that
His will may be done on earth as
it is in heaven and the charity of
Jesus Christ. our divine redemer,
moves us today to beg our heavenly
Father to put an end to this terrible
scourge of war and to restore peace
and concord to His people.
KINDLY exhort the members of
your congregation to pray earnestly
in the privacy of their homes and in
vite them to join with you in your
church in public prayer for this in
tention. The litany of the saints or
any suitable form of prayer may be
used for the purpose, and, until fur
Their notice add to the prayers of the
mass the collect PRO Pace" when
ever the rubrics of the Messal will
permit the insertion"
In addition to prayers being offered
for the late Pope, yesterday splendid
eulogies were delivered by the rec
tors in which they recalled the mag
nificence of the character of the de-
ceased head of the church and in
course of which they drew splendid
lessons from his life.
In st. Peters Church, Belleville,
mass will be said every morning this
week at 5:45 o'clock for the intention
of the bishop.
Rev. George L. Fitzpatrick rector
of the Church of the Holy Cross, Har-
rison,s was celebrant today at a
solemn high mass sung in the Har-
rison church for the late Pope Plus
X. The deacon of the mass was Rev
Timothy J. Hurley and Rev Father
Louis, o. S. b., was sub deacon. The
mass was largely attended by mem
bers of the parish.
A mass of requiem for the repose
of the soul of the late Pope Plus Y.
will be offered in the Church of Our
Lady of Sorrows South Orange,
Thursday morning. at o'clock. This
announcement was made at the
masses yesterday by Rev. T. NJ. Dom
ovan, rector. Father Donovan, at
the request of Bishop OConnor, ex-
horted the members of his congrega
ton to offer prayers frequently until
a successor Is elected.
The South Orange rector also asked
his parishioners to pray earnestly
in their. homes that God may bring
the disastrous war now devastating
some of the fairest countries OF
Europe" to an end. Prayers we're Of
fered for this purpose at the services
yesterday and will be continued every
Sunday.
Rev. John f. Boylan, rector Of
the Church of Our Lady of the
Valley, Orange, will be the cele-
brant at that edifce tomorrow
morning at $3.50 o'clock, while at
st. Johns Church, that city, Rev
Nicholas A. Marnell, assistant rector,
will offer a similar tribute tomorrow
morning at $3.50 o'clock. Beginning
tonight at 7:45 o'clock and continuing
every night, general prayers for the
cessation of hostilities will be offered