The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-02-13
DIOCESE OF ST. CLOUD
Diocesan Correspondent Rev. CAaa
A. Mayer. The Cathedral DC. Cleud.
COLLECTION IN AID OF HOME AND
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
st. Cloud, Mimi,
Feb. 10, 1916.

Feb. 10, 1916.
Beloved Brethren:
In obedience to Decree of the
third Plenary Council of Baltimore,
we order that on the second Sunday
of Lent land in stations, as soon as
possible) collection be taken up at
all masses in aid of Home and Foreign
Missions. One half of the proceeds
will be sent to the Commission in
Baltimore, whose special charge it is
to aid missions among Indians and
Negroes in the United States; and
the other half to the Society for the
Propagation of Faith, to aid missions
among heathenS in the remotest parts
of the world. 1t is right and just that
Lent should begin with works of char
ity which are practical signs of self
denial and a more difficult kind of
penance than fasting and abstinence,
besides being most pleasing to the
Merciful God Whose pardon we crave
to obtain.
We wish to impress upon priests and
people the Importance of the collection
for missions. This collection repre-
sents pure, unselfish, disinterested
charity. Here we show our highest
love for God and earnest zeal for the
salvation of souls, redeemed by the
precious Blood of Christ. Millions of
souls are still in darkness and in the
shadow of death; is it not our duty
to help them? Christ said to the
Apostles Go We into the whole world
and teach all nations The Church
has always been obedient to this COM
mand, but she is frequently hampered
in her missionary work by want of
necessary means.
There were times when European
missionary societies generously assist
ed the first Catholic settlers of this
new country, but conditions have
changed. At present American Catho-
the funds necessary to keep up the
missions, while nearly four-fifths are
collected in Europe. But what help
can be expected this year and in the
near future from those nations that
are now involved in the most fearful
war ever recorded in history? What
will become of the Foreign Missions,
if those countries that enjoy peace and
prosperity will not make special eff
forts to save them? AS things now
stand, number of fourishing Mis-
sions will have to be abandoned to the
great loss of immortal souls. If ever
obligation rested upon a country to
work wide and large for the saliva
ton of souls, surely that solemn obi
cation rests upon the Church of Amer
lea. Every natural blessing has been
ours: political freedom, boundless re-
sources, and energetic people. Our
own churches and institutions, built
up in short space of time, are marv-
els of history. But we must look fur
Their. God opens opportunities for the
spread of the Gospel at home and
| abroad, such as have never before ex-
listed. Shall we refuse to aid the self
sacrificing, Woodworking missionaries
among the Indians and Negroes of
our own country, and those among the
| heathens in the remotest corners of
| the world, 1t is true, we admire their
zeal and self-sacrifice from a distance,
and we pray for their success, but
this is not enough; we must, by our
generosity, tighten their burden, lessen
| their suffering and augment their
apostolic success Almost everyone
| can do something for this noble and
most meritorious work. You may not
be able to fast, but it is in your power
| to do a work of charity, for which
this collection offers you the best op-
portunity. Last years collection is a
credit and great honor for the Dio
cese of st. Cloud. 1t amounted to
$3,405.67, the largest collection ever
taken up. Besides this large collec
ton, few of our best and most pros
porous parishes contributed four times
the amount above named for missions
in China, collected by one missionary
whose eloquent lectures portrayed the
conditions and possibilities of missions
in that vast oriental empire. This
shows how we'll our good people I'm
derstand the object of such collec
tons. The proceeds of this collection
may be forwarded to the Bishops
Office before March 90, 1915. A print
ed list of contributors will be pub
lished and mailed to the Reverend
Pastors.
The small contribution on Coco
Friday is for the Holy Land or Custo
. dams of the Holy Sepulchre. Coz
bless you all!
+ JAMES TROBEC,