The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-02-28
Progress of Religion.


Progress of Religion.
Under the guidance of three illus
trious Popes-Leo XIII, Plus X, and
Benedict XV-the Church has shown,
in various forms, the power with
which Christ endowed it for the sal
walton of men. Its inner life has been
strengthened by closer union of all
its members with their head, the
Vicar of Christ. Devotion to the Per
son of our Lord and to His Blessed
Mother has steadily increased. The
piety of the faithful has become
deeper and stronger through frequent
Communion and daily attendance at
Mass. Works of charity have multi
piled and Catholic education has
grown, with fruitful vigor, in all our
institutions. -
We rejoice ,v-it'a our s,rethren Of the
clergy in the splendid results Of their
labors among the people-in preach
ing the Word of God, administering
the sacraments, establishing schools
and building churches.
You, likewise, beloved children of
the laity, we heartily commend for
your faith, for your zeal in supporting
the cause of religion, and for your
hearty cooperation with your pastors
in all good works With great charity
you have responded to their appeals
in behalf of the poor, the afflicted of
every class, and the helpless little
ones of Christ. You have shown your
faith by your works; and God will
surely reward you.
Catholic Education.
We refer with pride and gratitude
to the growth of our Catholic schools.
1t is an evidence of the interest which
you take in the Christian education
of your children. You are convinced,
as we are, that religious instruction is
not only a part of education but the
most important part. 1t is the surest
means of preserving our Catholic
Faith and of training our children to
become good men and good women. 1t
teaches them to respect authority, to
obey law and to be as careful OF the
rights of others as they are OF their
own rights. 1t is the best preparation
for citizenship. BY supporting our
Catholic schools you render most val
liable service both to the Church and
to our country. There is no more
genuine patriotism.
We desire to encourage your efforts
in the cause of higher education. In
order to preserve the good results of
their training in their elementary
schools, our pupils should continue
their studies in Catholic high schools
ard colleges. The time which is nee
essary to complete their education will
be spent with profit. They will gain
thorough knowledge of our holy re-
ligion, together with the instruction
which they need to prepare them fol
any pursuit in practical life.
With view to enlarging the op
portunities for higher education, the
Holy See, at the instance of the Hier
archy, established the Catholic Uni
versity as a center for our schools
and colleges Its development is o
vital Importance for our entire educa
tional system. And we therefore
record our grateful appreciation o
the generosity with which it has beer
supported, through the yearly offer
ings of the faithful, the funds created
by our Catholic associations and thu
endowments received from individual
Catholics of intelligence and zeal.
We take this occasion also to eS
press our hearty approval of tn
teachers who have given their lives
in a spirit of consecration, to tn
work of our schools. We recommen'
them, not alone for instructing man
in knowledge and virtue, but chief
for setting an example of the deve
tion and self-sacrifice on which tn
nation as well as the Church mus
always depend.
Negroes and Indians.
1t is mainly through education tha
we shall improve the condition of tn
Negro and Indian races and enabl
them to enjoy more fully the bles!