The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-03-10

sad when some very rich Catholics
give for good purposes not even as
much as the really poor; how poor
will such men appear before the judg-
ment seat of God; how will they bear
their remorse in the pains of purga-
tory for all the opportunities lost be-
cause the love of money had lnude
them partly blind Dear Brethren,
consider now, and not only after
death, your riches in the light of
Christ, and be generous in building
up the Church in this new country.
Contribute willingly and cheerfully to-
wards educating young men for the
holy priesthood, SO that we may soon
have priests enough for the whole do
cese; make sacrifices for establishing
Mission Churches where Catholics are
few in number; make sacrifices for
parish schools, in order that the chill
dren of this diocese may have an OPP
portunity of receiving thorough Cath
Ollie education; make sacrifices for the
Ollie hospitals, which give help not
only in bodily sufferings, but are much
instrumental in removing religious
prejudice and in leading souls back
to God. But let our charity be not
satisfied with contributing to local
needs, but help to spread the kingdom
of God also in heather countries.
Moreover, we have the poor always
with US; that is, we have every day
many opportunities of practicing tenn
poral and spiritual works of mercy
st. Leo the Great thus speaks in one
of his sermons: "By many .testimon
les of the Holy Scripture we are
taught how great is the power and
merit OF almsgiving; for it. is certain
that every one does good to his own
soul as often as he mercifully assists
others III their distress. If we believe
that whatever we give to the needy
we give to our own selves, our gen.
crosby will be prompt and joyful. We
acquire for ourselves a treasure in
heaven whenever we feed Christ in
His poor. God has blessed you abun
dainty with temporal goods in order
that through your works of mercy the
poor be relieved of his needs and you
be freed from multitude of sins. Q
wonderful providence and goodness OF
God Who wills that by one act OF
mercy two be assisted, the poor and
ourselves"
Z. Finally, beg all of you to medi
tate often on our Saviour in His pow
erty which He chose for His bride
when in His infinite kindness He be
came man. Think often of the poor
stable in Bethlehem; think often OF
His word: The foxes have their
holes and the birds have their nests
but the Son of Man has not WHEREOF
to lay His head" Consider often the
Saviour on the cross, stripped and suf
fering, who in the end had no grave
| of His own, but was buried in the
tomb of another.
Rich and poor should often consider
these truths; the poor will then be en-
couraged and strengthened to follow
| with joy their Saviour on the hard but
royal road of poverty; the rich will
then become truly humble while they
compare their own well-being with the
| poverty of their Lord and Saviour
Then both, the poor and the rich, viii
experience that blessedness which ou
Lord has announced, saying: BLESSED
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is thu
kingdom of Heaven" Then both will
learn, not only to obey the command
ments binding under pain of sin il
the use of their temporal goods, blu
rather to be guided by the superb
bundant love of Christ.
Especially in times like ours, whel
materialistic tendencies lead so man,
souls to eternal perdition and caus,
here on earth great social evils, it i
most necessary that chosen souls learl
from the Son of God, in His sell
chosen poverty, the true worth of TEN
poral goods.
May the grace of God and the low
of Christ, especially during the hol
season of Lent, enlighten you all tina
you may truly seek the eternal goods
become rich in grace, well grounded il
faith, rooted and founded in charity.
The Grace of God the Father an
the charity of Jesus Christ and tn
love of the Holy Ghost be with you al
This Pastoral Letter shall be rea
at the Parochial Mass on the first Sur
day of Lent.
X VINCENT WEHRLE, o. S. B.,
Bishop of Bismarck.
Bismarck, the 10th day of February
1917.