THE GENERAL JUBILEE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 16, 18 April 1901, Page 4

THE GENERAL JUBILEE.

PASTORAL LETTER BY HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF WELLINGTON.

The following Pastoral Letter has been addres&ed by the Most Rev. Dr. Redwood, Archbishop of Wellington, to the clergy and laity of the diocese :—: — Dearly beloved brwllireu aud dear oliiltliuu in JcoUn CLiiaL, Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIII , announces by his Encyclical, Tempons ijuidem sarra, the extension throughout the Unthonc world of the Jubilee indulgence, which was proclaimed for the city of Rome last year. Accordingly, during the space of six months, computed in each diocese from the day on which the Papal document is officially published by the Ordinary of the Diocese, the faithful everywhere are privileged to gain the Plenary Indulgence of the general Jubilee. This is applicable to all Catholics, even to those who have already gained the Indulgence, either by visiting Rome last year, or by otherwise fulfilling the prescribed conditions in their own exempted localities, such as religious in convents, the aged and infirm in asylums, etc. Last year the aged and venerable Vicar of Christ received from the vast crowds of pilgrims flooking from all parts of the world to the solemn Jubilee ceremonies of the Eternal City, the most consoling testimony of respect, veneration, and love which filial piety could inspire. These grand manifestations of loyal faith will be ever memorable in the brightest annals of the Church ; and they caused the heart of the Sovereign Pontiff to thrill with sweet emotion, as though God would strengthen him by this triumph for future trials. To-day he turns to the nations, to-day he poura upon w* the treasures of infinite mercy ; and it is our great joy to bring to you these glad tidings of graoe and indulgence. While so many Christians, las I will let the saving streams of the Redemption, which the Church sheds upon the world, flow by unprofitably, we most be the more earnest to avail ourselves of them to the utmost of our ability. Come, then, in large numbers to gather this manna of heavenly grace, be more faithful to your prayers, adopt the practices of penance fit to purify your hearts, learn more diligently the truths of salvation, and ward off future punishment by a sincere conversion and the holiness of a life henceforth wholly consecrated to Jesus Christ. And you, pastors of souls, exhort your people not to receive in vain the grace of their Saviour, teach them the nature and importance of the Jubilee. Acquaint them thoroughly with the necessity of praying for the intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff. Prayer ii the great force of this world ; far more than the vain combinations of men it will dispel the lowering storms, and enable the pilot of Jesus Christ to steer bis bark against the strongest winds and the wildest waves into the haven of salvation. The following are our regulations concerning this Jubilee .—. — 1. The Encyclical of the Pope extending the Jubilee to the Catholic world is, on and a f ter the 1-t day of next May, published in the Archdiocebe of Wellington. 2. The period of six months fixed by the Papal document for gaining the jubilee will begin in the prchdioce u e on the li-t of next May, and will end on the lir.^t of next, Novtinber. 3. On the first of May, at six o'clock in the evening, the opening of the Jubilee will be announced by the ringing of the respective churoh bells throughout the archdiocese as for Mass on Sundays. 4. On Sunday, May the sth, theVeni Creator will be sung or recited, before the parochial or principal Mass in the several churches of the archdiocese, and on the Ist of November the Jubilee period will be brought to a close by the solemn Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, preceded by the singing of the Tc Deum with the verse and prayer, Pro gratiarum artione. 5. From the Ist of May to the Ist of November, the priests who celebrate Mass in the archdiocese will, servatun rubricis, add as ora io imperata the prayers of the Mass Pro liemisxione Pcccatoruvi, which begins with the words Mute rents Omnium, Donnnc. 6. We exhort the rectors or pastors of each parish to prepare the faithful for gaining the Jubilee by some special devotion-*, lasting at least eight days. These days must be inaugurated by the singing or recitation of the Ynii Creator, and olosed with the singing or recitation of the Te Dc uvi. 7. During these special exercises there will be every evening an instruction, followed by the Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. B.— VISITS, (a) To gain the Jubilee the faithful must, during fifteen days, either cousecutive or interrupted, mako each day four visits in the churches designated by the Ordinary. (b) For the city of Wellington we designate the Church of the Sacred Heart, St. Mury of the Angtls, and St. Joseph's. For Napier, St. Patrick's and St. Mary's. (tf) In the other localities of the archdiocese, the faithful must visit any one of the churches in which they are accustomed on Sunday to hear Mass, the number ot visits to be si.vty, and to be distributed o\&cjiftun days, consecutive or otherwise. (d) The days may be computed either from sunrise to sunset of the same day, or from Vespers of one day to sunset of the next day, which latter is the ecclesiastical day. This has the advantage of enabling persons to make five or even eight visits on any one day, by completing four visits during part of the natural day (between sunrise and 2 o'clock p.m., the hour for Vespers), and then, after leaving the last visited churoh, by entering it again to begin the four visits for the next day (ecclesiastical day). (c) For religious and persons living in convents or institutions following a community life, colleges, boarding-schools, we commute the visits to the churches into an equal number of visits to the thapel of tho college or community.

(/) During these visits tho faithful must pray for the intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff, that is, for the exaltation of the^ Church, the extirpation of heresies, the concord of Catholic princes^ and the salvation of the Christian people. No formula of prayer is prescribed. Generally speaking-, five Pat'-rx and five Ayes are recited. (<7) Confessors are empowered, even outside the Confessional, to grant dispensations from the visits to prisoners, invalids, and those prevented by other legitimate reasons from making the visits by prescribing for them some other good work, (70 During the period of the Jubilee thief solemn processions may bp mHd<* from snmp fiTfd plpr>o fn tbo r\i oirrn^i-rwi '"hurchp" or church, under the guidance of ih«» pastor, or soirv one deputed by him for thp purp<w nM rnfh of thee p"T«- ''"'-• ! vj^i*-o nhn.ll, for those who assist at them, count for twenty individual vihit*. Of course during these visits prayers must be said for thf intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff. The like reduction of the number of the regular visits holds good for the members of sodalities, confraternities, colleges, and schools, who under the guidance of their pastor or his deputy visit the appointed churches or ohurch in procession or in a body. 9. CONFESSION and COMMUNION.— ( a ) During the Jubilee period all the priests of the archdiocese approved by us can absolve, pro hac vice in fom dumtaxat con&cientia, from censures and reserved cases even specially reserved to the Sovereign Pontiff or to us, except in the cases indicated as exceptions in Numbers 111. and X. of the list of faculties granted to confessors during the time of the Jubileo by the Papal document extending the Jubilee. The Sacred Penitentiary has empowered confessors, during the Jubilee period, to exercise repeatedly the extraordinary faculties granted to them, in behalf of the tame penitent who has not yet fulfilled all the enjoined works for gaining the indulgence of the Jubilee. {V) Confessors can, moreover, commute simple vows even confirmed by oath and reserved to the Sovereign Pontiff, except the vow of perpetual chastity, the vow to enter a religious order approved by the Church, and vows made in favor of a third party and accepted by the same. (<;■) Nuns, novices, and all persona living in community can, for the confession of the Jubilee, choose their confessor from among the priests approved by us for the confession of nans. (d) Sorrow for sin, a good confession, and the worthy reception of Holy Communion are essential requisites for gaining the Jubilee. The Easter Confession and Communion is a distinct obligation which does not patisfy for gaining the Jubilee. (<') Children who have not made their First Communion may gain the Indulgence by performing such other works as their conlessor may prescribe for them. 10. We exhort all the priests of the archdiocese to read attentively the Papal Document, whioh we transmit to them in the Latin text. 11. The clergy are requested to read theee Regulations from the several abaru. and to causo a copy of them to be placed in a conspicuous place in their respective < hurebes and chapels. Ihe grace atul blest-ing ot Our Lord Jtsus Christ be with you all Anna, Given at Wellington on this loth day of April, 1901. ►fr. FRANCIS, Archbi.-hop of Wellington.