Year: 1875

CIRCULAR Fok The DIOCESE or EATcHEZ-


Dearly BelOUed-Rosary Sunday, the hrst
Sunday of October, is fixed in our Diocese for
making collections in behalf of the Propags-
tion of the Faith.


You have no doubt read the appeal maze by
the President of the Association, II. de Serdier,
and the forcible statement added TO it by the
Right Rev. Bishop of Wilmington


The obligation of gratitude which Mgr.
Becker sets forth has especial weight In our
Diocese. Fer certainly We should not have
one-ffth of the number of priests, nor OF the
other helps of religion which we nov enjoy, If
it had not been for the assistance given rs by
the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
There is scarcely family or an individual OF
one years residence in the Diocese that Is not
indebted directly or indirectly to that Assocla-
ton for the Sacraments and other spiritual
ministratious.


Consequently every individual ought to show
his gratitude by some contribution every year.
And in every family there ought to be at least
one to become a member OF the Association by
giving the full amount of ffry-tgo cents year
"a cent week J. ard recitiug the brief prayers
required.


Tee conditions and the advantages of mem
bership will be found II the Annals of the
Propagation on the cover


AID let it not be ohjecced that we have
great necessities at hone which require all the
means that We can Obtain. Oar success at
home will not be hindered, bat much advanced,
by our charity in behalf of souls throughout
the world.


Both by faith and by experience, we know
oT Id
chiefly not on the amount of labor nor OF
money employed, but the blessing which
God grants to them. Paul planteth, and
Apollo watereth, but God giveth the increase


Now God blesses our services not in proper
tion to how much we do, bat to the generous
spirit in which We do it. He considers mot
so much the gift of the lover as the love Of the
giver"


And He is particularly pleased with our
manifestation of love when we look above and
beyond the works that most closely concern
ourselves, ard give help TO distant and un
known souls, simply because God loves them,
and tie Precious Blood OF Oar Lord has beeL'
shed for them.


God never allows Himself to be outdone in
generosity, and if we in our poverty show our
selves liberal to His children abroad, He will
more than repay il in giving success 20 our in
teTests at home.


Orr brethren in other parts of the country
have acted in this spirit, for more than once
they have given help to our Diocese although
they lad need of many institutions at home
And their giving to us opened Gods store
house more widely for themselves.


In England everything has to be built up
again, after three centuries of spoliation. But
with all their pressing need of priests and
churches and schools at home, they have estab-
lished college to educate priests for foreign
missions, of which the first fruits are reaped in
our own America. And SO far from this great
work being a hindrance to their home institu-
tons, it W as just about the time of sending out
their first priests to foreign country, that
God enabled tGeia to begin a great university
for themselves.


Our Diocese is one of the poorest in resources
Of all the country. Aud yet, through the
chaEi'yof the Propagation, and of our brethren
il various places, we have bad the blessings of
religion steadily increasing among Us.


If the poorest, let US try to be the
most grateful 10 our benefactors, and the most
compassionate TO others who are poor like Us,
by contributing freely to this Society for the
Propagation of the Faith If we help Others
to do what God made them for, to know Him
and love Him and serve Him in this life, we
may hope to share with them in being happy
with Him forever in the next.


The Rev. Pastors will please read this to
their respective congregations, and forther its
views to the best of their power.


In congre cations where Mass is not said on
Rosary Sunday, the collection will be made as
soon after as practicable. Health and blessing
to you all. WILLIAM HENRY,


Bishop of Natchex.


Natchez, Miss Natrity Of the Blessed TTrgin
Mary, Sept Ssh, 1875.


The appeal of the President of the Assocati for
the Propagation OF the Faith toceIher with Bishop
Beckers letter, referred by Bishop Elder, will be
fonnd on the eighth page of TO Gay MORNING STAR
Editor star.