The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-09-24

needs. We have not, | am convinced,
delivered the message of our needs
to the people. We have not by person
al conduct suggested in the most dis
interested way the needs of charity.
Let our needs be known, agreed upon,
and catalogued, and then authority
may open up a school to which each
individual, capable of contributing to
charity, will be invited.
I'VE must not bYintrigue or entreaty
ask for our needs; but rather we must
with authority teach the duty of gen.
crosby to works of charity. 1t is mar
velous what Catholic charity has done
in our own country, but it seems al
most miraculous when we consider
that the resources of this work came
from the minority of Catholics, and
in this minority comparatively few
rich Catholics have participated &C
cording to their means and obligations.
1t is a matter for sincere congratula-
ton and rejoicing that the efforts OF
the last few years have elected many
generous requests. There is no need
to plead or beg if we but state our case
and make our needs known and lay
stress upon this Christian obligation.
The pulpit and press must enter
into partnership in teaching the duty
of charity Let our people not be
asked to give the loose change which
they carry about with them to chart
ty. This is to aid the cause of charity
as one would a beggar who approached
asking for help. Rather let our Cath
Ollie people be told that in the quiet Of
their homes they should sit down and
by mathematical calculation take
into account their total revenue of the
year. BY conscientious judgment,
they should decide on percentage of
their income for charity. The state by
legislation fixes the tax on incomes.
The church asks for a self-imposed tax.
Generosity and love of neighbor will
direct you.
"The faithful have the wonderful
example of the clergy of the United
States. There is not a more generous
class in all the world. Do our par
ishes follow the example of our priests?
Every parish should realize it's obi
cation of giving a certain portion of
it's total revenue for the year to char
ity. One-fourth of all parish revenue
in the early church was set aside for
charity. Is it not a fact that the par
ish whose vision takes in the diocese
and recognizes it's obligation to the
general interests of religion is able
to do most within it's own parochial
limits? Even the smallest rural par
ish that is striving heroically for re-
sources should make the investment,
the divine investment, if you will, of
contributing something to charity each
year.
Every religious community of what
ever order or congregation should rec
ognize the necessity of intentional
charity. The laws of the church may
be considered rigorous in forbidding
religious communities to contract
debts without due guarantees. but ev-
cry religious house, every institute, ev-
cry congregation and every order
which in spirit of generosity sets
| aside for the poor and needy sick a
certain percentage of it's annual rev
, enue will call down many blessings
from heaven. This will in no way in
terfere with the spirit of poverty
which finds it's expression in the per,
sonal privations Which religious, es-
pecially Sisters, SO cheerfully face.
This generosity of religious commune
ties to charity can he. observed with
due consideration for the regulations
/, of each institute"