El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-07
POPE CALLS FOR
PEACE PRAYERS
Asks All Catholics to Bend
Their Efforts Toward the
Ending Of Big War.

Paris. France March 6.-An appeal TO
al Catholics in neutral and Delligerenl
countries to pray Tor peace assiduousiy
during the Lenten season ana 10 give
aims for the aid Of the "unfortunate
sons Of those who died in this horrible
war" has been issued by pope Benedict
On the occasion Of Lent the the SOW
ereign pontiff has addressed to cardinal
vicar Pempih the following letter.
AS the universal pastor Of souls we
could not without failing in the duties
in point with the sublime mission Of
peace and love which God has entrusted
us with remain Indifferent to the dire
full conflict which is rendtng Europe
and remain silent
1T is for this reason that at the be-
ginning Of our ponrlficate, In the an
guish which filled our heart ln the
presence Of such an awful spectacle, we
tried ON several occasions through our
cNhOrtatiOns and cOunscls 70 persuade
the belligerent nations TO lay down
their arms and adjust their dissensions
in "a way compatible with human d.
nifty. by means OF an amica5le entc
we threw ourselves, as il were. as
tween the belliEcrcnt peoples as a
father between his sons i'm a struggle.
We conjured them in the name of that
God whose justice and charity are in
finite TO rcnounce their designs of mu-
tual destruction; to make known, once
for an. with clarity, in a direct or indi-
rect manner, the desires OF each Of the
in the limits Of justice and possibility.
the aspirations of the people. and ac-
ceBting. If need be, for the sake Of
equity and the common good Of ma
lions. the obligatory and necessary sac
rifices Of pride and particular inter-
ests.
PaternHI Voice Unheeded.
such was, and such remains. the
only way Of settling the monstrous con-
flict according TO rules Of justice and
of arriving at a peace which would be
advantageous. not alone TO one Of the
parties, but to all and which would be
Just and lasting.
"Our paternal voice, unhappily. has
not been needed up to the present and
the war continues furiously with all its
horrors.
Notwithstanding that we cannot and
must not keep silent 1t is not permit
ted to the father, whose sons are en-
gagged In fierce battles among them
selves. 10 cease warning them because
they do not heed his exhortations and
tears.
Appeal Made An Impression.
ION the other hand you know that /
our repeated appeal Tor peace did not !
obtain the desired effect IL had. how /
ever. a profound. echo in and permeated f
like n balm the heart Of the belligerent
peoples ana. moreover, that Of the peo-
piles OF the entire world and awolIc /
lively and ardent desire to see the /
bloody conflict settled as soon as pos (
sible.
IT. lr not DNEHl Die LOT us NltIelO orc
20 refrain from raising our voice once I
again against this war which appears 10
us as the suicide of civilized Europe.
We-must not neglect TO suggest and in /
dictate when circumstances permit, any
answer which would be likely 10 con
tribute TO attaining this much desired
goal
Women Pray for Pence.
a favorable occasion is offered us
by some pious women who have mani
Tested an intention to form among
themselves, In view Of the approaching
holy 80 days, a spiritual union of prayer
and modification i'm order to obtain 1
more easily from the infinite mercy Of P
God a cessation of the frightful calami-
ty. We have often raised constant
prayer and the Christian penancc as the
only comfort for our heart. as for every (
human heart in the distress euEendered
by this horrible fratricidal war and as a
very efficacious means for imploring
from the Lord the peace to which we
aspire.
Asks All Catholics to Pray.
We therefore, feel confident that not
only at Rome, but i'm all Italy and i'm
the other belliEerent countries. Catholic
families. especially during the next days
coHsecratcd by the church TO penauce.
VIII retire within themselves far from O.
worldly spectacles and amusement I'm
morefervent and more assiduOus prayer
and in the practice OF Christian morti-
fcation. This viii make more agreea-
bic 10 the Lord the supplication Of his
sons.
The mothers wives, daughters and
sisters Of cOmbatants measure the inn
mensity OF the calamity evidenced by
this horrible war. We exhort them in
a most especial way to make use of the
example they set and Of the power they
exercise I'm their homes in order to
bring the members Of their family to
offer to God in this prOpitiOus time. in
these days Of salvation. a continuous
and more fervent prayer and present to
his divine throne the Offering Of vol
untary sacrifices which appease his gust
wrath.
Furthermore. the Catholic families
Of all the belligerent nations will an
swer more fully our desire if they de-
vote more particularly to such pious
occupation the day which is cOnsecrated
TO sublime commemoration, Of the Cod
man In these hours which his divine
charity has made eternally memorable.
They win ask him through the in
tcrcession Of his mother Of suffering
but also mother Of iudomitable courage
and queen Of martyrs; they will ask
him, who has Wiiled 10 redeem through
his suffering and make brothers all the
sons Of Adam grace to bear with mag
nanimity and Christian resignation the
anguish and very painful losses caused
by the war. They viii beseech him to
bring to an end the trial already so long
and terrible
And also because aims serve TO re-
deem the sins and appease divine jus
tice, we should wish that every family
in measure propOstionate TO its re-
sources, make an Offering of "A mite in 1
charity for distribution to the poor and
unhappy so dear to the redeemer. 70
succOr especially the unfortunate sons
Of those who died in this horrible war.
I'm the hope finally that 10 these I
works OF Christian piety they viii de-
vote themselves. prompted By a tender
sentiment Of human compassion and
more strongly still by the charity which
must unite the sons Of the same heav-
emily father. the families of the neutral
Countries. we with our whole heart
grant you and ali the Catholic women
and families whom We have just men
tiOned our apostolic benediction"