The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-03-13
SUNDAY, THE TWENTY-FlRST OF
MARCH, A DAY OF PRAYER FOR
PEACE AMONG NATIONS.
To the Clergy and the Laity of the
Diocese of ST. Paul.
Beloved Brethren:

Beloved Brethren:
The Pontiff of Rome has summon
ed to united prayer the Church of
God; and response is made through
the entire world. The nations are
battling in war, the like of which,
in the vastness of it's armies, in the
murderous violence of its clashings,
was never seen in history Peace
amid men-the peace, for which the
Saviour made beseechings, which
should be the possession of men and
of peoples, were His commandments
the overruling law-has departed
from earth. What will the Pontiff do,
who by Office is the Father, the Prince
of peace, the Vicar, the visible Repre-
sentative of the Saviour Himself, but
set into motion the spiritual forces
of the sacred Kingdom, entrusted to
his guidance, the forces of humiliation
of souls before the throne of the
Almighty God, the forces of devout
and feryent supplication, to the intent
that what men and nations by them
selves will not, or cannot do, be done
through His merciful omnipotence,
and wars and rumors of wars be com
manded to cease. This is what Bene
dict XIV does by his solemn pro-
Glamation of day of prayer through
out the entire world-for the nations
of Europe, Sunday, the seventh day
of February; for other nations, Sun
lou Erck oF
To the appeal of the Sovereign
Pontiff the clergy and the laity of the
Diocese of st. Paul will give cheerful
obedience, and on Sunday the twenty
first day of March, the prescriptions
of the Sovereign Pontiff will be fol
lowed out in all parochial churches,
and, equally, in all chapels of con-
vents and of institutions, where
usually on Sunday Mass is said, and
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
is given. And for all Catholics of
the Diocese cherished day this must
be, a thrice-holy day. For great
purpose do we pray-the cessation of
the horrors of a fearful war, the peace
of nations. And, then, on that day,
special dignity and reverence will
grace our supplications which, while
ours, are at the same time those of
the millions of other Catholics, those
of the Catholic Church, of Christ
Jesus Himself, its invisible Head. An
occasion 1t should be of very special
fervor and devotion.
We pray to the Almighty God that
the war, now raging among nations,
be brought to close. 1t is His will,
His command that we do pray, there
by recognizing His supreme sovereign
ty, and honoring Him with our love
and confidence. And our prayers will
be heard-in the manner which He
deems most conducive to His own
greater glory, and the ultimate
greater welfare of men and of nations.
In everything" writes the Apostle,
''by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your petitions be
made known to God" The Saviour
Himself tells US: ASK and it shall
be given you: seek and you shall
find: knock and it shall be opened
unto you. For everyone that asketh,
receiveth: and he that seeketh, find
eth: and to him that knocketh, it shall
be opened"
The ways of God. whether in the
happenings He orders, or in those He
permits, we know, are the ways of
justice, of mercy, of wisdom. We,
lowly. creatures, are unable to read
His DEGREES, and discover at once
whittier they lead. For who hath
known the mind of the Lord, or who
hath been His counsellor" Yet we
pray, so far as our inferior lights do
guide us-assured that our supplica.
tions are always welcomed by Him.
that, If not as we fain would have
them, yet in manners more salutary,
our supplications are heard, our peti.
tions are granted.
The ceremonies and devotions that
should mark the observance of THE
Sunday of Peace" the twenty-first day
of March, are indicated in the letter
of the Cardinal, Secretary of State
to His Holiness.
+ JOHN IRELAND,
Archbishop of st. Paul.
ST. Paul, March 10th, 1915.