The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-01-31
CHURCHESPLAN
BIBLICAL FETE
Bishops Letter to Be Read
at All Catholic Churches
Tomorrow

serve Biblical Sunday, set aside by
Most Reverend. Maurice F. Nc
Auliffe, bishop of Hartford, to en-
courage greater reading of the
Bible. The regular church calendar
day, Septaugesima Sunday, will also
be observed.
In a letter which will be read
at Masses in all churches tomor-
row, Bishop McAuliffe describes the
Bible as the treasure house of faith
and morals" He calls on all Cath
olics to read portions of the Bible
daily.
The text of Bishop McAuliffe's
letter follows:
EPISCOPAL RESIDENCE
I40 Pennington Avenue
Hartford, Connecticut
January 9th, 1912.
Dear Father:
Sunday, February LIST, will be OBJ
served as Biblical Sunday by the
Catholic Church of the United
States. It Is a day set apart by the
hierarchy of the United States.
The day is to remind us of the
treasure house of faith and morals
contained in the Sacred Scriptures.
The Church has always protected
and guarded the Scriptures. They
are Gods gift to His Church under
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible is the word of God. From
it's opening chapter to the closing
words of st. John in the Apoca-
1ypse it is the story of Gods rela-
tons with man, His image and
likeness. 1t reveals the life of God
His love. mercy, power, goodness
and wisdom. 1t tells us too of mans
elevation to be little less than
the angels and of his subsequent
fall and redemption through Jesus
Christ.
1t is possible to describe the eff
fects of this great book on the lives
of men = its power, JUNCTION and
searching revelation of the soul of
man. The faithful have always been
urged to read it and be sanctified.
The wondrous love of God in every
phase of human life lifts the heart
of man to God as his sustaining
force
This Sunday is Septuagesima
Sunday, the day on which We be-
gin the remote preparation for Lent.
1t is a fitting day to listen to the
voice of the Church and plan a
reading program for the Sacred
Text.
May 7 suggest that the faithful
be encouraged to read every day
for at least a quarter of an hour
the New Testament? The Gospel
of Saint Matthew, the opening book
of the New Testament, tells the
story Of Our Lords life by one of
His Apostles. Careful reading of
these chapters will not only enlight-
en- but also strengthen the reader
with love of our Divine Saviour.
Saint Matthew might be followed
by Saint Luke who is also the mar
rator of the childhood of Christ.
The Acts of the Apostles reveal the
beginning of the Church and the
life of Saint Paul. The other chap
tiers might be read in their order
in the New Testament.
! am sure that there can be no
better instruction for our faithful
people than the word of God Him
self. In these trying times they will
be consoled and comforted by the
Holy Scriptures and made to real
lie the strength and consultations
of our Holy Faith. We may we'll
invoke amid the burdens of life, its
trials, sufferings and disappoint-
ments, the word of Saint John,
Come Lord Jesus, come" He will
answer the petitions of His chill
dren and bless and console them
In every stage of their journey
through life.
Begging Gods blessing upon you
and your flock, am
Sincerely yours in Christ,
MAURICE F.. McAULIFFE,
Bishop of Hartford.