CIRCULAR TO THE CLERGY AND LAITY OF THE DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 36, 12 June 1891, Page 5

CIRCULAR TO THE CLERGY AND LAITY OF THE DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

Presbytery, BaTbadoes Street, Chriatchurch, Feast of the Sacred Heart, Jane sth, 1891. Deab Reyd. Father and Beloved Bbbthren in Christ, — It affords as very great pleasure to invite your zealous co-opera-tion in giving effect to the desire of our Holy Father Leo XIII., for the solemn Celebration of tbe Ter-Centenary of St. Aloysius Gonzaga. At a time, like the present, when the faith and morals of Christ'an youth are exposed to the insidious and open attacks of the irreligious and worldly spirit which is everywhere rampant, when godlese education saps the spiritual life at its very foundations, and when the tide of wickedness and corruption assumes such gigantic proportions, and threatens euch wholesale destruction, it is refreshing to read the words of Christ's Vicar addressad to Catholic youth throughout the vast domain of the Church. Blessing and sanctioning with his high authority the steps taken to honour the great model of youth — St. Aloysius, the Supreme Pontiff, in his Brief, refers, touchingly, to tbe devotion to this great saint, which he himself had been taught from earliest childhood, and expresses his great joy that the Catholic youth of both sexes are preparing to glorify this Anniversary. Speaking of the gre t blessing Beligion will derive from these devotions, which will honour the great patron of youth and purity, the Holy Father says : " Our young Catholics, while honouring their heavenly patron, cannot fail, as they think of the virtues which rendered his life so beautiful, to find the power and tfncacy of his example. As they learn the natchfulneßsand care with which he guarded his innocence, they will better pnz9 and watch over their own ; the persevering penance with which he kept down lis passio is, the wisdom with which he despised the vanity of the world, the diligence with which he studied, and fulfilled each duty of ob^Jience, and t!ie love with which he loved the Of urch — all these are examples which will biDk deep into the hearts of the young clients during this time of grace. Hence we hold worthy of special praise all (he societies of young

Catholics who ore organising themselves to promote more and more the solemn and devout celebration of this festival." 'As we have been asked," he says, " for the great good of souls, to enrich and honour this feast with the heavenly treasures of the Ctaorcb, we have judged it well to accede to these pious requests. For this iea-ton, by the mercy cf Almighty Gjd, and aided by the authoriy of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, to all and each of the faithful of both feres, who, having taken part every day in the prayers of the Triduum, or five times at leist ia those of the Novena celebrated before the feast of St. Aloysius on days appointed by the Ordinary (Bishop) of the place, aud who, on the day of the feast or on one of the mentioned days of their choice, having, truly penitent, confessed and communicated, shall pay a devout visit to a public church or oratory in which the feast of St. Aloysius is celebrated, and •hall there pray piously to God for the concord of Christian Princes, for the extirpation of heresies, for the conversion of sinners, and for the exaltation of our holy mother the Church, we grant mercifully in the Lord a Plenary Indulgence. To those of the faithful and also to the little children, according to their capacity, and to their parents who have given their names to be put under the patronage of St. Aloysins, provided that they assist in the manner just mentioned at the triduum and the novena, we grant, in the customary form of the Church, an indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines. We grant that all these indulgences shall be applicable by way of suffrage to the souls in Purgatory — the present decree availing for this year only." Hence, the object in view is to enable Catholic fathers and mothers, all the world over, to consecrate their children to St. Aloysius and confide them to the care of this angelic patron of youth. The Pope has granted by a decree of the " Bacred Congregation of Bites "an extraordinary privilege for the solemnity. The Mass of Bt, Aloysius may be said in the church of the Roman College, where his relics lie, for eight consecutive days, but, what is a greater privilege still, for three days in every Church in the Catholic world. The consideration of the heroic sancity of St. Aloysius brings us to direct your attention to the Source or Treasury whence he drew the grace and strength to practice those sublime virtues which shine forth so brilliantly in bis spotless life. It was in the School of the Sacred Heart tbat the saints learned their sublime lessons of holiness. "It is in this Aiorable Heart," says St. Peter Damian, " we find an inexhaustible mine of the most precious gifts. There we find arms to defend ourselves, powerful help against temptations, remedies for our wounds, the sweetest consolation in oar sufferings, the purest delights that man can taste in this valley of tears." From the loving furnace of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the saints were inflamed by tbat ardent charity which consumed their hearts and stimulated them to labour to reproduce, in their own lives, the characteristic virtues of their Divine model — detachment from creatures, zeal for the salvation of souls, and love of the cress. Throughout the Catholic world we perceive the children of the Church hastening to have recourse to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for succour and protection. There they hope to find a sure asylum and safe refuge from every danger, there also the never-failing fountain of Infinite Love and Mercy, the overflowing source of every grace and blessing. Children of the saints let us imitate them by entering into the mysteries of the love of our Adorable Saviour, and by endeavouring to respond, as far as in us lies, to the desire of bis Sacred Heart to enkindle in the hearts of others an ardent zeal for the extension of His kingdom on earth. Let us hasten to this same Divine Heart and we too "shall draw waters with joy from the fountains of the Saviour." Foremost, amongst the means calculated to propagate devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the work of the "Apostlesbip of Prayer," now happily established in nearly every parish in the diocese. This "Holy League" we wish to see maintained and encouraged with increased zeal and vigour. Catholics, who have tbe interests of Jesus at heart, will not fail to avail themselves of the facilities which association to this Holy League affords them for the propagation of devotion to the Sacred Heart in their families. " Let us pray for each other that we may be saved,'" says the apostle. Yes, let ns by prayer and example be the means of increasing tbe n embers of devout clients of the Sacred Heart enrolled under the banner of the Apostleship of Prayer. By it every action becomes a new aid to the Church, a new shield lifted against her enemies, a new help to souls perishing on earth and suffering in purgatory. An additional motive to stimulate us to zeal for the spread of devotion to the Heart of Jesus, is the obligation we feel to make reparation for the outrages, insults, sacrileges and blasphemies heaped upon this Divine Heart a» patient, loving, and forgiving, notwithstanding the ingratitude and wickedness of men. Let us then consecrate to the Sacred Heart, especially during this month, tbe works of zeal in which we are engaged. Let us seek the blessing of the Prince of Pastors upon the flocks entrusted to our care. Let parents and pastors zeaiously and lovingly co-operate in consecrating to Jesuß tbe litlle'children fcr whom his Sacred Heart yearns. To secure for them a good sound Catholic education, to guard them sedulously from the perils to which they must be exposed by any system of education which excludes or ignores the Divine,

Author of their being, is to place them on the path which will load them to the IS acred Heart. In fine, we invite you to co-operate with us, in commending to the Sacred Heait of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the necessities of Holr Church, the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff, the well-being of our beloved bishop, anl the welfare of the diocese. We sincerely trnst that every child of the Obarch will approach the Holy Sacraments of Pc lance and Holy Bucbariat during this month, especially consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. To give practical form to the wishes of the Holy Father we desire: — 1. That a Triduum be made in all the churches and convents (where possible) commencing on Thursday, Jane 18th, and termina* tion on the Feast of St. Aloysius, June 21st, and that this Feast b« celebrated with the utmost solemnity. Permission for Benediction om each day of the Triduum and Exposition on one of the days is hereby granted. 2. Tbat a General Communion, io which it is hoped that every adult in the parish williparticipate take place on Sunday, June 21st (where convenient). 3. On Sunday, June, 2lst, Closing Ceremony of Triduum, and Consecration of Children. 4. That parents, guardians, and teachers be exhorted to join in this consecration. We trust, dear Rev. Father, that yoa will exhort your flock to enter into the spirit of this celebration. Impress npon them the strict obligation of approaching the Holy Sacraments. Given at Cbristchurch on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, and appointed to be read in all the churches and chapels of the diocese. Earnestly begging your prayers that we may be all united in one heart and one mind in the loving hearts of Jesus and Mary. — We remain, Yours humbly in the Lord, Stephen Ccmmings, S.M. N.8.-All Diocesan Returns (Holy Places, Seminary Fond, Peter Pence, etc.) should be sent as early as possible to Very Rev. Father A.. Aubrey, 8.M., Pro-Cathedral, Christchurch.