PASTORAL LETTER OF JOHN JOSEPH, BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND FAVOUR OF THE APOSTOLIC SEE, BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 50, 30 September 1892, Page 27

PASTORAL LETTER OF JOHN JOSEPH, BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND FAVOUR OF THE APOSTOLIC SEE, BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH.

To the Clergy, Secular and Regular, and Faithful, of the aald DioeaM —Health aod Ben«diotion in the Lord, Dearlj belored brethren and children in Jetai Ohriit • Holy Writ declare, that "The life of man upon earth ii a warfare," and our own daily experienoe but too follj confirm* the troth of this inspired oracle. Do we not forcibly feel that we have need of some stroog armour, mighty weapons, to stand agaioit the deceit* of the deTil 7 Do we not realise with the Apostle of the Gentiles that onr wrestling is not only against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of the world of this darkness— against the spirits of wickedness in the high places T Do we not know that in this deadly warfare we mast inevitably be defeated, unless we take onto ourselves the armour of God, having our lotos girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of justioe, and our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace r How can we extinguish the fiery darts of the most wicked one unless we pat on the shield of faith, take unto out. eelves the helmet of salvation, and the word of the spirit (whioh it the word of God) by all prayer and supplication t flphes. vi., 11-18, Like an ever watchful general, our Holy Father the Pope, Christ's Vicar on earth, continually urges us to " be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of His power." He bids us arm ourselves with the only weapon wherewith we can triumph in our great spiritual struggle through life. He reminds us of the continued trials of Holy Church, her severe and prolonged assaults. He shows us Christian piety, public morality, and faith itself, daily exposed to the greatest dangers, and, most afflicting and mournful fact of all, the oouotleaa soola redeemed by the blood of Christ Jesus caught, as it were, by the whirlwind of an erring age, driven from bad to worse, til] they rush headlong ioto everlasting destruction. War, he tells us, is made upon the most sacred dogmas of the Church, against God and His Christ, all this with the impudence of audacity, and with criminal malice, as though the Divine work of Redemption itself were to be destroyed from its foundation— that work which, indeed, no power on earth or in hell can utterly abolish or destroy." Wherefore he imploies us to seek for a remedy there where our forefathers sought and found it of old— namely, in prayer. He goei further, and puts before us the very form of prayer which history proves has always been co powerful over our enemies, whether visible or invisible. This form is the beautiful devotion of the Rosary. More than onoe has he raised bis apostolic voice in favour of a devotion already so dear to every Catholic heart. Several magnificent enovclieals have gone forth to the whole world, showing most eloquently the efficacy of this heavenly inspired form of prayer and sopplication. Some of them have been already made known to you. Towards the close of last year we received from Rome another, in which our glorious Pontiff, Leo XIII., solemnly exhorts us to gather around the altars of the Immaculate Mother of God and weave and offer to her, like devoted children, the mystic garland of the Rosary. As this Encyclical reached us too late for the month of October for which time it was written, we deem it our duty to publish it tots year with that on our glorious patron, St Joseph. At the came time it occurred to us that, by gathering together and sending to you all that our Holy Father had previously said on this subject, we should perform an act which would prove as pleasing as profitable to both our devoted priests and people. In so doing, it is our wish, which we know will be gladly hailed as a command,' that these Encyclicals be read, in their entirety, to the faithful on the Sunday immediately after their reception and during the oourse of the month of October. They will surely prove ample and most fruitful matter for the instruction and edification of our flock, during thati which, for us, in this Southern Hemisphere, might well be cherished as the European month of Mary. It were almost superfluous to add that the directions of the Sovereign Pontiff as to the daily recital of the holy Rosary, either at Mass or before the Most Blessed Sacrament exposed, must, where at all possible, be carried out to the letter, and that the beautiful prayer to 8t Joseph should be said as part of the devotions of the month of October. For us, dearly beloved brethren and children in Christ, the wishes of the Vicar of Christ Jesus are more than enough ; and yet our chief Pastor and common Father lovingly holds out to us the further inducement of the richest indulgences granted to all who will be faithful to this cherished devotion of the holy Rosary. We appeal to you, Rev Dear Fathers, to enumerate these indulgences, all of which may be applied, by way of suffrage, to the poor souls in Purgatory, and to avail yourselves of this and of every other so favourable an occasion to impress upon the minds of your flock the excellence and advantage of praying for and giving to the suffering souls the many indulgences Holy Mother Church places at our disposal. Remind them that devotion to the departed ones should be both practical and intensely dear to every Catholic heart. Not only should the charity of Christ Jesus urge us to this, but the interests of our suffering brethren, as well as our own, should urge us to the same.

Invite tbe faithful to enrol themselves in some of the many Contra* ternitiss, Sodalities of our Blessed Lady, the Apostlesbip of Prayer, and other pious associations, wherein we can do so muoh good for ourselves and for the souls in purgatory. And now, dearly beloved brethren and children in Christ, we must call your attention to other important subjects. In a circular sent to the clergy last month we made known to yon the result of some of the deliberations of the Catholio bishops of New Zealand, more especially on the important subject of the ednca* tion of our dear children. We now urge and implore yon not to let this circular remain a dsad letter. 1, Bo unceasing in your generous efforts to maintain— and, when not already existing, to establish— thoroughly efficient Catholic sohools in your several districts. Never suffer your children to attend godless sohools whilst a Catholic school exists in your locality. %. Help your priests to obtain a full and oomplete census of all Catholio* in your respective parishes. 3. See that are qualified to vote have their names duly registered. 4. B« faithful to your religious duty of helping into Parliament those only who will publicly pledge themselves to support our just claims for the Christian education of our children. 6. Whilst recalling to parents and guardians their obligation to provide wholesome literature for those under their charge, and remove from them all that is unwholesome, the bishops remind them of tbe strong recommendations of our Holy Father tbe Pope to support the Oatholio Press. The Press being a most powerful instrument for good or evil, reason and faith point out to Catholics their duty to encourage that which is an instrument for good — viz, the Catholic Press. 6. We are glad to hear that many of our people take in the excellent publications of the Mettenger of the Soared Heart and the Auttralian Annals of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. We should rejoice to know that tbe admirable publications of tbe Dublin Review, the Month the Catholic World, the American Quarterly Review, the Aye Maria, etc, were more widely read by our peopleNo Catholic home should be without one or more of thesa ably written periodicals. Though it may seem somewhat invidious to single out one among all that are excellent in their kind, we will venture to say that tbe Aye Maria— to which several of our diocesans already subscribe — is bjth highly instructive and entertaining. It contains contributions on religious, literary, and general information by writers of no little renowo. A well-bound volume of the Aye Maria would be a most appropriate premium in our schools for their annual or other distribution of prizes. We cannot conclude this Pastoral without reminding you of a great and holy work wbicb has been for some years in our midst. You have doubtless heard of tbe great good that is being done by the religions of the Gwd Shepherd at Mount Magdala. Since this wonierful institute has been established in New Zealand, it has sheltered and preserved no fewer than 157 penitent girla. Eighty are still in tbe asylum, some of thesa from the very beginning. Many have settled down with their families or in goad situations, where they are giving every satisfaction. Tba work done by the heroic daughters of tbe Good Shepherd is not of local, but of colonial importanoa; as a matter of fact, there are at present more from the archdiocese of Wellington and the diocaee of Danedio than from the diocese of Ohristchnrcb. Nevertheless, as it is nearer our own homes, we all more readily realise the immense ajaoant of good tbat the devoted religious are doing. Had they brought back but one strayed sheep to the fold we should have reason to be thankful ; but when we know that they have rescued so many, our gratitude to Almighty God, and to His consecrated spoosea, should be unbounded. If it is of faith that there " shall be more joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance (L. c. xv., 7) than upon ninety-nine just," what must be the joy of God and His angels over so many who have been brought from their evil ways, into which, perhnps, they werß led by the fault of others more than their own ? Doubtless the holy religious have many a comolation in the midst of their arduous labours, bat they are overwhelmed with the weight of an enormous debt, which, through no act of tbeir own, hangs over their establishment and grounds. With toa scanty accommodation for the actual inmates, they have no means of extending the building, which is still in a most unfinished state ; nor can they entertain the bare thought of any extension with a debt of £12,000 over their beads. They ara most grnteful— and so aie we— to those who, without distinctijn of raoa or religion, have hitherto, and generously, come forward to help them in tbeir noble work. If the charitably disposed throughout the Colony would take so great an undertaking to heart, and vie with each o her in giving a helping hand, this debt, though seemingly great, would soon be a thing if the past. If. in each parish in New Zealand, a few zealouß souls would organise a house-to-house collection, we feel confident that tbe debt would soon be extinguished. One or two noble-minded men, not even members of our holy Church, have generously offered to give a most liberal donation provided five or Bix more will follow their good example. Let us hope and pray, dearly beloved, that onr dear Lord will soon

inspire a few more generous minds to co-operate in a work whioh mast be to dear to the heart of Him who shed the vary last drop of His precious blood for those whom the Sisters of the Good Shepherd would always weloome to Mount Magdala. Would that it were in our power to lighten their burden without making any other appeal I The limited means at our disposal will not, alas, allow ns to do what we fain would . However, we will gladly devote to tbe wants offhii great institute the proceeds of the collection to be taken up in the diocese on Bosary Sunday, Ootober 2, in behalf of the diocesan chaff* ties. At the same time, we most earnestly exhort priests and people to be more than nsually gensxo^* on thisoocasion. Beaembsr, dearly beloved brethren mod children in Christ Jesus, that what yon do for the poor children of the Good Shepherd you are doing for God Himself. What more deserving objects of charity can yen desire than to help those whom Christ Jesus declares He came especially to seek out and save ? Who more poor and needy than those; the outcasts of society ?Is not' alms bestowed on such the best way to fulfil the duty we owe God and oursdvetT Bemember the words of the inspired penman :— " Alms deliveretb from death ; and the same is that whioh purgeth away sins, and maketb to find mercy and life everlasting. Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor ; the Lord will deliver him in the evil day." Again :—•' Ec that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord and He will 'repay him:" Whilst •' He that stoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor shall also cry himself, and shall not be heard.*' "He that giveth to the poor shall not want ; he that despiseth his entreaty, shall suffer indigence. Reject not the petition of the afflicted and turn not away thy face from the needy. Give alms out of thy substance." This charity, dearly beloved, is God's own command : ** According to thy ability be msrciful. If thou have much give abundantly ; if thou have little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little ; for thus tbou storest up for thyeelf a good reward for tbe day of necessity. For alms deliver us from sin, and from death, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness. Alms shall be a great confidence before the most high God to all them that give it." Let ns, dearly beloved, ponder over and take to heart these consoling words of the God of all consolation, the Good Bhepherd Himself : " I was hungry and you gave Me to eat ; 1 was thirsty and you gave Me to drink. I was a stranger and you took Me in ; naked, and you clothed Me • sick, and you visited Me ; I was in prison and you came to M«. Then shall tbe just answer Him, saying : Lord, when did we see Thee hungry, and fed Thee? thirsty, and gave Tbee to drink f and when did we sea Tbee a stranger and took Thee in ? or naked and clothed Thee ? . . . and the King, answering, shall say to them : Amen, I say to you us long as you did it to one of these My least brethren, you did it to Me." We feel sure, dearly beloved, that you will not resist this fervent appeal of our Blessed Lord Himself in behalf of those who are so dear to His Sacred Heart for, "to do mercy, pleaseth the Lord more than victims." Following justice and mercy here, yon shall find justice aod glory hereafter. Having read this pastoral on the Sunday preceding Bosary Sunday, the collection for Mount Magdala will be announced for tbe following Sunday, October the 2nd, or the first time after when tbe priest shall visit tbe outlying districts. This collection should be forwarded to us as soon as possible. During the month of October, Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament may be piven after some appropr.ate devotions in honour of our Blessed Lady, every afternoon or evening, provided the rubrics be faithfully carried out and tbe faithful attend in sufficient numbers. Given at our pro-Cathedral, Cbristohurch, on this the 21st day of September, in the year of our Lord, 1892, being the feast of St Matthew, the Apostle, and appointed to be read in all the churobes and chapels of the diocese (he first Sunday after it shall have been received. Once read, it should be placed, together with tbe Encyclicals of oui Holy Father, in a conspicuous Bpot within the churob. f John Joseph Gbimbs, S.M. Bishop of Christchurch.