The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-10-03
National Shrine Of the
Immaculate Conception

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Apostolic Letter of Our Holy Father,
the late Pope Plus x, in Favor Of
the National Shrine of the Inn
macaculate Conception.
Many thousands of Catholic wom-
en- in the United States who have
taken so generously to heart the
great work Of the National Shrine
of the Immaculate Conception at the
Catholic University, will be delighted
to read the beautiful apostolic letter
of our late Holy Father, Plus x.
given to Bishop Shahan on the occas-
sion of his recent visit to Rome.
When Bishop Shahan laid this great
religious project before the Holy
Father. in the presence of Cardinal
Gibbons and other distinguished &C.
the Holy Father was Wis
IDLY pleased and declared that not
only would he commend the new
Church to the generosity of the Cath
Ollie people of the United States. and
particularly to all Catholic women,
but that he would also be pleased
himself to subscribe towards the
erection Of this splendid national
And he was as good as
his word, for he was graciously
pleased to hand to the rector of the
University the large sum of four
hundred dollars as his personal gift
towards the Shrine. On this occas-
sion he encouraged greatly the Rec
tor Of the University of America to
pursue steadily the completion of an
edifice which would at once be a most
noble monument in honor of Mary
Immaculate. the patroness of the
Catholic church in the United States
and of the University, and would also
accommodate the growing student
body of the University. while furnish
ing a religious centre for the great
public events, which now take place
at the University with increasing
frequency. Much interest attaches
to this apostolic letter of Plus x, as
1t is probably one of the last great
public documents to which he af-
fixed his name. Following is the
text of the letter:
To Our Beloved Son, James Cardinal
Gibbons, of the title of Santa
Maria in Trastevere, Archbishop
of Baltimore.
Pope Plus the Tenth.
Beloved Son: Health and Apostolic
Benediction:
Many pious Catholic women have
by their intelligent zeal added anoth-
er remarkable proof of the numerous
evidences of active charity which we
so frequently receive from the United
States.
We have been informed that they
created an association for the collec-
ton of funds to build on the grounds
of the Catholic University Of Ameri-
ca a church which shall foster the
piety of the youthful students and
meet the spiritual needs of the vicin-
ity. How highly we esteem this pro-
ject we need not say, since nothing
could be more useful to the church
or further more helpfully the well
fare of the republic. Both Church
and State are. indeed. deeply indebt-
ed to those who guide the youthful
mind at an early age to the places
where it may be more fully and eff
f1caciously imbued with that holy
fear of God which is the beginning
Of wisdom.
It is most desirable, therefore, that
all Catholics should promptly and
generously contribute toward the
happy completion of this church,
which SO many praiseworthy Catholic
women have undertaken. In this
way will arise a masterpiece of re-
ligious architecture which will lift
heavenward the minds Of every stu
dent who enters it, make him thirst
for wisdom from above, fill his heart
with the same, and preserve it re-
ligiously while he lives.
May these holy prayers be heard
drought the Immaculate Mother Of
God, in whose honor it has been de-
cided to build this church. and may
her motherly eyes watch day and
night over the Catholic University at
Washington!
Meanwhile as a pledge of divine
favor and of our benevolence. We
give you, Beloved Son, the Associa-
ton of ladies above mentioned, and
your Clergy and faithful, with all
Our heart, the Apostolic Benediction.
Given Rome at st. Peters, the Sth
day Of July, 1914. the 18th year Of
Our Pontiflcate.