NATIONAL PRAYER

Evening Post, Volume xciv, Issue 73, 24 September 1917, Page 3

NATIONAL PRAYER

SPECIAL CATHOLIC SERVICES.

In all the Catholic churches of the Wellington Archdiocese yesterday the following letter from Archbishop Redwood relating to special services of inter- : cession waa read. Similar services are to be held throughout the Dominion :— "We have to advise you that the Government has resolved to set apart Sunday, 7th October, as a day of National Prayer. It is needless to say that the Catholic body throughout the i Dominion are in full accord with this resolve, and hence we are talcing steps | to fitly carry it out. I ■ "The war, with its sad burden of death and devastation, stiE drags on, and the. dawn of peace is not yet—a dawn destined to rise red with the blood of victory on the battlefield; For such a victory our armies are bravely and heroically fighting, and it is the duty of us non-combatants at home, like Moses on the mountain, to lift up our hands in prayer. In so dire a struggle we need the help and protection of the Lord of Hosts. His hands hold the issue, from Him victory must come. As we thoroughly realise the justice of our cause, namely, to vindicate the violated laws of honour, humanity, and morality, to preserve truth, liberty, and Christian civilisation, and to secure a righteous and permanent peace, we tarn to God with unfailing perseverance as with unfailing confidence. "Accordingly, we ordain that on Sunday, 7th October, in all the churches of the Archdiocese, the principal Mass shall be celebratedl for the above intentions, and we earnestly exhort all the Catholics in ©very parish to make, at some Mass on the same Sunday, a general Communion, and we particularly request the clergy to prepare as many children as possible for Communion on that day with their parents and relations. " Further, we announce to you that the Holy Father has ordered to be added to the Litany of the Blessed! Virgin, both in public and private recitation, just before ' Agnus Dei,' the invocation, 1 Queen of Peace,' ' Regina Pade.' "Finally, we ordain that this letter ba read to the faithful, at least one Sunday before the day appointed for National Prayer."