The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-02-12
THE MISSIONS.

Rome divides the world into Catho-
lie countries and Missionary countries.
The missionary countries are those
where heresy, schism, infidelity and
paganism prevail. All missionary
countries are governed by the Congre-
cation of the Propaganda which is
composed of "a Cardinals, most OF
whom reside in Rome. One of them
is Perfect or President. Cat present
Cardinal Gotti holds this offce.) There
are also consultors, secretaries, inter
prefers, etc.
At the meetings questions concern.
ing missions and missionary societies
are examined. They may concern the
spiritual or temporal welfare of the
missions, the creation of new mission
airy diocese, the appointment of Per-
fects, Wears, Bishops, the settlement
of difficulties, and also the regulation
OF missionary societies. In all cases
the decisions are referred to the Holy
Father for final approval. All heads
of missions are required to send fire.
quent reports of their work to the
Congregation at Rome.
There are about 1887 million of
souls in this world. OF these only
one-third are Christians, and among
Christians about one-half are Catho-
lies. While interest in foreign mis-
sions is only now awakening among
American Catholics, Protestants, few
years ago, completed the first century
of their systematically organized work
for missions. 1t is undoubtedly true
that Protestant contributions exceed
the money collected from all sources
by Catholics for Foreign Missions. We
should emulate this example, but the
fact itself, only increases our admira-
tion for Catholic missioners who, with
comparatively scanty means, effect
marvellous results.
The sources of help upon which
Catholic missionaries draw, are:
1. Mission Aid Societies, notably
the Lyons Society for the Propagation
of the Faith; the Holy Childhood AS
sociation; the Association of Oriental
Schools in France; the Society of st.
AdfI0I III IuC
Association of st. Peter Claver in Salz-
burg; the Leopolds-Verein in Austria;
the udwigsmissionverein in Bavaria;
several anti-slavery and Holy Land AS
sociations, and some home societies,
existing within the territorial limits
of the missions themselves.
2. The treasures of religious or.
ders which are sometimes applied to
their foreign missions.
3. Mass stipends forwarded from
the more prosperous dioceses of the
world.
4. Individual donations from rela-
tives or friends of the missioners; or,
as frequently happens, from strangers
who have become interested in some
published appeal favoring some or
other special mission.
The present war has withdrawn or
greatly diminished what help came
from these societies, so that the mis-
sion world turns to peaceful America
for the aid that she alone is in posi-
tion to give.
The modern missioner's task is very
diAicult for several reasons:
1. The times are past when whole
nations embrace the Faith, and con-
verts must now be made one by one;
2. Formerly the great Catholic
colonizing powers supported the Mis-
isions literally, but this is not the case
today;
8. While in earlier times the mis-
sions all emananted from one Church,
at present there are hundreds of sects,
each claiming to represent Christian
ity, and this, as all missioners testify,
is one of the greatest hindrances to
our success.
4. Commercial enterprises have
made the heather people acquainted
with civilized white men whose lives
are not always exemplary, and whose