The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-06-07
LETTER Of Pope BENEDICT Xv.
Continued from page ~

Cardinal-Archbishop Of Baltimore, and
to the rector of the university, our
Venerable Brother, the Titular Bishop
Of Germanicopolis. While praising
them, however, we do not forget your
own energetic and Jealous labors, well
contributed in no small measure to
the development of this seat of higher
studies, both ecclesiastical and secu-
lar. Nor have we any doubt but that,
henceforth, you will continue even
more actively to support an institu-
ton of such great usefulness and
promise as is the university.
We make known to you also how
deeply we rejoice to hear that popu-
lar devotion to Mary Immaculate has
greatly increased in view of the pro-
posal to build on the grounds of the
university the national shrine of the
Immaculate Conception. This most
holy purpose merited the approval
and cordial praise of our predecessor
of happy memory, PiuX X. We, too,
nave ulN dy IOpCu Illdt dl lIlc Sdl 1lcSI
possible date there would be built in
the national capital of the great re-
public temple worthy of the celes-
tial patroness of all America, and that
all the sooner because, under the spe-
cial patronage Of Mary Immaculate,
your university has already attained
high degree of prosperity. The uni
versity, we trust, will be the attrac-
tive center about which will gather all
who love the teachings of Catholic
ism; similarly, we hope that to this
great church as to their own special
sanctuary will come in ever greater
numbers, moved by religion and piety,
not only the students of the univer-
sity, actual and prospective, but also
the Catholic people of the whole
United States. Oh, may the day soon
dawn when you, venerable brethren,
will rejoice at the completion of SO
grand an undertaking! Let the good
work be pushed rapidly to completion,
and for that purpose let everyone who
glories in the name of Catholic con-
tribute more abundantly than usual to
the collections for the Church, and not
individuals alone but also all your So
cieties, those particularly which, by
their rule, are bound to honor in a
| special way the Mother of God. Nor
in this holy rivalry should your Cath
Ollie women be content with second
place, since they are committed to
| of fhn ol1 Of Mos
Immaculate in proportion as it re-
bounds to the glory of their own sex.
Pope's Gift to Shrine.
After thus exhorting you, it be-
hooves us now to set an example that
will lead our hearers to contribute
with pious generosity to this great
work of religion, and for this reason
we have resolved to ornament the
high altar of this church with a gift
of peculiar value. In due time, we shall
send to Washington an image OF the
Immaculate Conception made by our
command in the Vatican mosaic work
shop, which shall be at once proof
of our devotion towards Mary Immac-
ulate and our good will toward the
Catholic University Our human so.
ciety, indeed, has reached that stage
in which it stands in most urgent
need of the aid of Mary Immaculate
no less than of the joint endeavors
of all mankind. 1t moves now along
the narrow edge which separates Sc
curity from ruin, unless it be firmly
re-established on the basis of charity
and justice.
In this respect, greater efforts are
demanded Of you than of all others
owing to the vast influence which you
exercise among your people. Retain
ing. as they do, a most firm hold on
the principles Of reasonable liberty