ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15341, 2 October 1917, Page 5

ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

At St. Mary’s Church on Sunday, at all the Masses a pastoral letter was read fronr*Archbishop Redwood, in which lie informed the' priests and laity of the Archdiocese of Wellington that the National .Government had recommended that 7th October, should be signalized throughout the -Dominion as a day of universal prayer, in order to beseech God that might take* pity on His people and so end the carnage of human lives that for three years has soaked the sqfl of Europe in hlood. The Rev. Father O’Connell at the 7.30 appealed to the big congregation present to put forth a special and fervent effort to comply fully, with the wishes of the Archbishop by going to Holy Communion in a body, which is, according to his Grace, the most effective form of prayer the faithful can indulge in. Benediction in the evening, the Rev. Father O’Connell again 'occupied the pulpit, and based a very eloquent discourse on the text of the Archepiscopal letter. He spoke of the' horrors of war and its prolonged duration, and said it behoved every Christian to play the part of Moses on the mountain, whilst the Allied Israelites, fought valiantly on the plain, and that all should join heartily in one huge petition to the Almighty that His anger may be allayed, and that the warring nations mights cease their mutual slaughter and reestablish peace once more upon the earth. In scathing language he condemned efforts to stir up sectarian bitterness and religious strife, and advised hie hearers to dp or say nothing that would add fuel* to the fires of hatred, which was a vice always to be deprecated, but especially now, when it concerned ,all, not only from Christian motives, Amt from political, .national, nay Imperial "reasons, since a 'United effort of all, regardless of creed or colour, was needed to beat back the com-' mpn foe, win the war, and secure the stability of the Empire. In conclusion, he cited excerpts from the , prayer for peace which his Holiness the Pope composed at the beginning of the war and ordered to be recited at Benediction in every Catholic church throughout the world whilst the war lasted, that it might soon end in such a way as would restore and secure abiding peace among the nations of the world.