The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-04-28
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is that we have not enough priests
to look after their spiritual interests.
Up to the time of the war, more
over, the only reason we did not Sc
cur more missionaries was on &C.
count of our inability to support them.
To be sure the arm of the Master
will not be staid; to be sure He
wishes the salvation of souls; to be
sure He desires and gives many voca-
lions, but in order to make these vo-
cations fruitful we must have the
means to educate those who possess
them-to make them actual dispen-
sers of the Mystical Body.
To administer the sacraments to
$4,000 Catholics dispersed over such
a wide territory that many of the
Christians can only see the priest
twice a year and that for a day at a
time, l have only fourteen assistants;
of these ten missionaries are Euro
pean and four native.
Moreover, the roads that traverse
the dreary spaces are such that a
good half of their time is taken I'D in
the most wearisome travelling. When,
crushed with fatigue, the poor apos-
ties finally reach their journeys end
it is to take shelter in a wretched
native hut, from which the tenants
have moved the furniture but not,
alas, the dirt or the insect occupants,
in order to make room for the Divine
Guest.
In this hovel, the missionaries
snatch a few hours rest with the floor
for a bed after which they invite the
Guest to descend upon an altar which
may not be more than a table or a
shelf on the wall.
They must then, in a couple of days,
perform a half years ministry, and
it is needless to say that they can.
not supply all the needs of those who
come to them.
The case, therefore, resolves itself
into the simple deduction that more
priests in Korea mean more Chris
tians. But just here comes the re
lection that we may expect nc
European priests to aid us for several
years to come, and we must turn oui
eyes toward native material. With
profound joy l testify to the fact thai
this material is excellent. We fine
plenty of vocations. What Their
stands between us and an adequate
native clergy? Nothing but some
rice.
Since becoming Bishop l have di
rected my most untiring efforts to up
building a seminary for the training
of well-disposed youths. Beginning
with six little Latin students, l have
succeeded in establishing, at Taikou
a seminary which boasts fifty semi
narians, n of whom has been or
dained subdeacon.
My dearth of missionaries allows
only two priests as instructors for tn,
college, and l have been Obliged tt
form the our of study according
ly. Classes may be admitted onl,
once in three years. The class / &C
copied in 1914 was a large one be
cause I counted on the founding of
number of burses which would SUP
port the young men.
My European friends, however, car
not maintain their assistance and m,
perpetual burses, which assur tn
formation of a priest every twelv
years, must look for their supporter
t elsewhere.
Often picture what will take plac
when the soul of the clergy or tn
lay person who has created a. nativ
priest appears before the Judgmen
Seat. Possibly that soul will say:
Truly, O Master, when on earth
!, was lacking in zeal and devotion;
was negligent of my duty; I commit
ted errors throught self-interest or tn
! interest of my family. But You hay