The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-11
AMERICA TO BEAR EUR0PE'S PORTION
 OF PETERS PENCE
Nations At War Unable to Contribute to Meet Elk
 pense of Vatican.

In ordering the annual collection of Peters, Pence, the offering of Catho- lies to the Vatican, on Sunday, Octo- Der 24, attention is called to the fact tha tbecause of the ravages of war European Catholics have not been able to contribute much. this year. and that American Catho olics must give more than they have ever given be- fore.
 Never before in the history of the diocese declares Cardinal Farley, has an appeal been. issued in aid of the sovereign sPontiff.. with such urg- ing and compelling reasons for a 1arg- CT generosity and greater effort on our part to meet the serious and grave needs of the Holy See. Were we simply to offer to the Holy Fath- CT on this occasion the amount of our usual contribution, we indeed would be lacking ;ins ,f1lfal duty, sincere 1oy- a1ty and true devotion to the Vicar of Christ. es In orderA therefore, to realize a sum commesurate with the pressing need of the Holy See and to , impress upon the faithful the necess- ity of an exceptional 1ibera1ity this year we hereby direct that the appeal be made in the form of a general envelope collection
 e'The Pontifcate of Benedict XIV has fallen upon the most trying times as all know. Never in the history of Chr1stendom has such a shedding of blood de1uged the world Needless to say, whatever affhction strikes mankind brings a poignant grief to the heart of the Vicar of Jesus Christ. The claims upon his charity and bounty are greater than at any other period. in the history of the Papacy, and the resources at his command to
 
 ternaI heart are less than the means any other Pontim has had in cen turies- Those people who were most generous in their offerings to the Holy Father in the past are utterly with out means today, while the gigantic war now being waged continues to consume their strength and devo1r their sons
 I've, more favored than the rest of the world in being spared the horrors of war, should be willing to place in the hands of the Father of the faith full a share of our a1rns with which he may be able to mitigate the wants Of the suffering
 saThe world which has been excIud- ing for years the Pope from it's coI1n- sels during it's days of prosperity now from the valley of death and destruc- tion instinctively turns to Benedict xV. Only one year of his Pontif1cate has passed, and he has proved him self so preeminent1y worthy of his high and sacred office that even those who were hitherto profesSed enemies of the Holy See have been won to a point of admiration rarely evidenced in the past century
 s* sThe following expression from 9 distinguished non-Catho1ic source is impressively Interesting: rInternatioY1- al Socialism has failed in this war. It has been incapable to exercise any ac- ton and even if it has been unable to keep up any intercourse among labor corporations of nations at war with | one another. The Papacy is the only | international institution which has been able to keep it's distinct univer- l sal character-'
 To-day the voice of the Sovereign Pontif is again raised and needed | above the dreadful din and storm of | an unheard of war. His prayers for | peace have risen from the lips of mill | ions of his children and not without | avail In the face of what looked like | ] for1orn hope ha has effected what | 10 other power on earth has been able to effect By his appeal to all | he warning heads of nations, from | he Czar of Russia to the Sultan of Turkey, he has brought back to the bosom of their families 150sO0o ex-i prisoners and thus assauged he untold suffering of sore1y eLnbit- cred lives with the peace. and the of God Furthermore, he conditions in detention camps of thou 'ands of prisoners of opposing nal ions.''