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FEBRUARY 17, 1934
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
NINE
Bishop Smith's Lenten Letter
Calls for a Lenten Crusade
to Cleanse Motion Pictures
Special Ler'rn Lelle- of the
Most Rev. Alphonse J. Smith.
Bishop of Nashville.
Dearly Beloved Brethren:
The holy season of Lent, the
Church’s time of prayer and penance,
is again approaching. It behooves us
therefore, as children of the Church,
to consider seriously the meaning of
Lent, and what we must do during
this time.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of
God, and His justice, and all things
else shall be added unto you,” said
our Divine Saviour in His sermon on
the Mount; and again, in that same
sermon, as the fourth of the Beati
tudes, He says, “Blessed are they that
hunger and thirst after justice, for
they have their fill.” (Matt. VI, 33—
V, 6.) In these words, our Lord tells
us what must be our one aim and
ambition in life, the one thing after
which we must seek, after which we
must hunger and thirst,—the king
dom of God,—His justice; the king
dom of God in heaven, eternal hap
piness, the eternal life of glory in un
ion with God, and His kingdom on
earth, the life of preparation for hea
ven, the life of grace, the spiritual
life, the life in which God comes first.
For these, our Blessed Saviour says,
we must seek first, yes, and more, we
must hunger and thirst after them.
What more striking words could He
use to express the zeal and energy
with which we must ever work for
the one thing necessary, our eternal
salvation? He does not hesitate to
promise that, if we do so, all things
else will be added.
Knowing all this to be true, com
ing as it does from Him, who is the
Son of God, Truth eternal, neverthe
less we so easily forget it, or disre
gard its full import. Living as we do
in a world which is interested only
in time and the material things of
time, we are too apt to think of this
life before the life eternal; to place
the happiness of time before eternal
happiness; to value the material goods
above the spiritual; to seek first the
kingdom of this world, and not the
kingdom of God and His justice.
Hence the wisdom of the Church in
setting aside each year the forty days
of Lent, to give us the opportunity of
renewing our appreciation of things
spiritual and eternal. During these
days, the Church directs us, by pray
er and meditation, by penance and
good works, to seek with renewed
energy, the kingdom of God and His
justice, to increase in our souls that
hunger and thirst after God and His
justice
It is most necessary that we take
this time of Lent seriously and en
ter into the real spirit of the Church;
that, with the Church, we withdraw
for a time from the world and its dis
tractions, to give ourselves whole
heartedly to God and the important
work of saving our souls, for, “What
will it profit a man to gain the whole
world and lose his soul.” (Mark VII,
36.)
and His justice, all things else will
be added.
The time of Lent is a time of grace.
God is especially generous with those
souls who are generous with Him.
He never allows anything done for
Him to go unrewarded. Hence, an
honest effort made for God’s sake
during Lent may be just the tiling
necessary to obtain from Him the
grace necessary for our salvation, and
who knows but the refusal to do for
God during this season of Lent may
be just the obstacle that will de
prive us of the grace that is neces
sary.
During Lent we must pray, we
must pray much. Let me quote from
the words of our Holy Father spok
en to the world this last Christmas:
“If you ask me the one thing neces
sary for obtaining God’s help,” he
said, “I shall answer, pray; and if
you ask what then, I shall say again,
pray; and if you ask me what is the
third^ thing, I shall a third time,
pray.” Therefore particularly during
Lent, this time of prayer, pray much,
in public and private devotions, pray.
Attend the Lenten devotions of the
Church; attend daily Mass; receive
Holy Communion daily if possible, at
least as frequently as possible all
during Lent. If you do so, God’s
grace will certainly not be wanting,
and on the word of Christ Himself,
if you but seek the kingdom of God
Then let me, add a word, a most
earnest word of pleading, to all the
Catholics of this diocese, to remem
ber the spirit of the Church during
Lent, which forbids all worldly forms
of pleasure and entertainment dur
ing this season of penance. There
has been a growing tendency on the
part of some to disregard the prohi
bition of the Church in this regard.
I am sorry to see so many, who are
beginning to think very lightly of
disobeying the Church in this mat
ter. They seem to think that because
others, who know nothing of Lent,
their friends and companions, the
members of the social set in which
they move, have such entertainments
during Lent, they must participate.
They seem to think there is nothing
very wrong in all this. We shall not
speak of the wrong, the disobedience
to the Church, the scandal that is giv
en. Let me but remind such, who
look upon Lent so lightly, that they
cannot expect God to be very gener
ous with them in the distribution of
His graces, and who knows what the
loss of God’s grace may mean to
them?
Another word, which to my mind
is most important to stress particu
larly this year, is the prohibition of
the Church during Lent regarding
theatres and moving picture shows.
These too are not in harmony with
the spirit of Lent, and if we cannot
make the sacrifice of giving them up
during this time of penance and self-
denial, we cannot look to God for
His help and His grace when needed.
But another reason for this word of
pleading with the Catholics of the
diocese. The picture shows of the
country today are, with few excep
tions, so bad, that they have become
a positive menace to the morals of
the people of our country. The bish
ops and the priests of the Church,
yes, all right thinking men and wom
en, who have at heart the moral well-
being of the people, are raising their
voice in protest against this evil. It
is hard to understand how anyone,
with any sense of morality left, can
go to many of these shows, and not
see that they commit sin. It is par
ticularly difficult to understand how
parents, who are still anxious for
their children’s spiritual and moral
welfare, can allow them to attend
these pictures without even a thought
of what the picture might be. If the
Catholics of our country, if all the
decent minded people of this land,
hope to stop this evil, which is break
ing down the standards of morality
of our people, there is only one way
in which they can do so, and that is,
refusing to go to see them. Begin
this crusade during Lent. It will like
wise be a move in the right direction
towards cleaning up these show
places, which are the occasion of sin
and destruction to so many people to
day.
Heads Philosophers
She Rev. Dr. Francis A. Walsh,
0. S. B., of the faculty of the
Catholic University of America,
who ifras elected President of the
American Catholic Philosophical
Association at the society’s ninth
annual convention recently held
in Pittsburgh. Dr. Walsh suc
ceeds the Rev. Dr. Charles C.
Miltner, C. S. C. (Underwood
photo.)
Charlotte*s C. D. of A.
in Several Activities
Religious, Social and Busi
ness Events on Program
Lectures on Social
Justice in Carolina
Father Beshel Starts Series
at Goldsboro, N. C.
As for the regulations of the
Church regarding fast and absti
nence, these are the same as last year.
Those who are obliged by these laws
must observe them unless excused.
The Church in her tender solici
tude for her children’s welfare nev
er asks them to do what they cannot
do. Hence she has always recogniz
ed certain reasons as being legiti
mate excuses for not observing the
fast and abstinence of Lent.
Sickness, which includes the time
of convalescence; a weak physical
constitution, which does not permit
fasting; the time of bearing and nurs
ing children, these are valid reasons
for excusing from fasting.
Likewise hard work, which may be
either physical or mental, and which
is a tax on the strength of a man or
woman.
Poverty, which prevents either in
dividuals or families from procuring
a sufficiency of the proper kind of
food required by the law, is also a
valid excuse.
At this time, more than ever, the
Church is anxious for the welfare of
her children. She does not wish to
make more difficult the hard lot qf
those who, on account of the pres
ent depression, are really suffering.
Hence all those, who, owing to the
exigencies of the times, find it real-
The Citizens & Southern
National Bank
Augusta, Ga.
"NO ACCOUNT TOO URGE
NONE TOO SMALL”
(Special to The Bulletin)
GOLDSBORO, N. C. — The Rev.
John A. Beshel, a member of the
North Carolina Apostolate, on Feb
ruary 2 and 3, gave here the first of
a series of lectures on Social Justice
which will be given in various parts
of the state. The program has been
arranged by the Most Rev. William
J. Hafey, D. D., Bishop of Raleigh,
in order to impress on the minds of
the people the principles of social
justice and their application.
Father Beshel, who is a veteran of
the World War, serving with the
310th Field Artillery, 79th Division,
specialized in sociology and the prin
ciples of social justice under the Rt.
Rev. Msgr. John A. Ryan, Phd.D.,
D. D., of the Catholic University of
America, one of the • most distin
guished authorities in the field.
\—
SODALITY PUBLICATION
AT GESU SCHOOL. MIAMI
CHARLOTTE, N. C.—The January
meeting of Court Charlotte Catholic
Daughters was devoted to a program
featuring Fr. Charles O. S. B., and
his lecture on the Mass, illustrated by
motion pictures.
Court Charlotte sponsored the Watch
Hour in St. Peter’s Church on New
Years Eve from eleven o’clock until
midnight. The music was furnished
by the children’s choir. The services
was most impressive and there have
been many expressions of apprecia
tion from the large number who at
tended, particularly the non-Catho-
lics.
At a special January business meet
ing plans were outlined for pre-
Lenten work. Fr. Ambrose, chap
lain, particularly commended the
work, of the Welfare Committee
under the leadership of Mrs. Frank
Stewart. This committee is caring
for the poor and the needy sick of
the parish. The Courtesy Committee
reported calls to all new comers to
the parish, and flowers and visits to
the sick members of the Court. Mrs.
Heindle, chairman, asked the Catholic
Daughters to provide transportation
to Mass once a month for a Catholic
family living fifteen miles from
Charlotte. Members offered to bring
this family in to Mass every other
Sunday.
The Hospital Committee reported
plans for a large subscription social
party. The proceeds to be devoted to
the Sisters at Mercy Hospital.
A Vanishing Tea was planned and
Mrs- C. A. Williams gave the first
of the series at her home on South
Try on Street, Friday afternoon, Janu
ary 19.
The Catholic Daughters sponsored a
play, “Buddies”, presented by the
Dramatic Club of Belmont Abbey, at
The Little Theater. The proceeds
were donated to the O’Donohue
School Fund. A committee appoint
ed by Mrs. Jennings, worthy Grand
Regent, represented the Catholic
Daughters and assisted at the Presi
dents Ball in honor, of Mr. Roose
velt’s birthday, January 30.
On Monday evening, January 22, at
the home of Miss Mary Williams on
Dilworth Road, the Catholic iDaugh-
ters gave a handkerchief shower to
Mrs. Hoole and Mrs. Regan, two of
the members who are leaving the city
to make their homes in other states.
These two members of Court Char
lotte have always taken a very
active part in all activities of the
parish work and their going away has
caused much regret. Mrs. Hoole, has
served very ably as chairman of pub
licity since the organization of Court
Charlotte. The affectionate good
wishes of all the Catholic Daughters
go with Mrs. Hoole and Mrs Regan,
that they shall be happy in their new
homes.
Baltimore University
Honors Father Placid
Leon De Aryan U.
L. H. D. Degree
Confers
(Special to The Bulletin)
BELMONT, N. C.—The Rev. Fa
ther Placid, head of the Department
of English at Belmont Abbey Col
lege, has been granted a degree of
Doctor of Literature by Leon De Ar
yan University of Baltimore, in rec
ognition of literary work done by
him in the feld of poetry—its com
position, its criticism, its reading and
interpretation over the air.
Father ’ Placid was bom in Brook
lyn, New York, 1897, and educated in
the Catholic parochial schools of
Newark, N. J., at St. Anselm’s Col
lege, Manchester, N. H.’, and Belmont
Abbey College. Post-graduate work
followed at St. Vincent’s College, La-
trobe, Pa., the University of Notre
Dame and Catholic University, from
which last institution Father Placid
received his Master of Arts Degree.
His dissertation was on Bill Arp, the
Southern humorist.
Father Placid is a member of the
Catholic Poetry Society of America,
critic of the North Carolina Poetry
Society and associate editor of the
North Carolina Poetry Review. He
has been proposed for membership in
the exclusive poetry society of Amer
ica by Benjamin Musser and second
ed by John Richard Moreland, both
poets of national renown.
Father Placid is the author of
“Pageant of the Beads,” a long po
em; “Benedict,” a life in verse;
“Paintings and Other Poems”; “Sil
ver Maid and Other Poems”; “Track
less Fugitives”, a novel; “The
Thompsonians,” essay, and “Notes for
a Survey Course in English Litera
ture.”
Father Placid plans to attend Duke
Universitly next summer, to do spe
cial work leading to the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy.
Belmont Abbey
College
Belmont, N. C.
High School and Junior
College.
Accredited by N. C. State
Board
Pre-Medical, Pre-Legal and
B. A. Courses.
New Gymnasium and Athletic
Field
For Information Apply to
REV. F. RECTOR
ammiimmimiiimiiii
(Special to The Bulletin)
MIAMI Fla. — The Madonna of
Florida, official organ of the St. Au
gustine Sodality Union, was edited
and published this month by Gesu
High School here. The publication
carried stories of activities of the va
rious sodalities throughout the Dio
cese and state, and was ably and in
terestingly done.
ly difficult to observe the laws of fast
and abstinence during Lent, are not
required to observe these laws. This
is no new dispensation. It is simply
the expression of the mind of the
Church, which has always taken in
to consideration the needs of her chil
dren.
Therefore, let me make this clear,
and all the pastors are requested to
explain this fully to their people. All
who, under present conditions, on ac
count of unemployment, or lack cf
means, or for any other reason, aris
ing from the present hard times, find
themselves unable to observe the
laws of fast and abstinence during
this Lent, are hereby absolved from
this obligation without any further
question.
\ This of course, does not excuse any
one from the observance of Lent.
The spirit of Lent is a spirit of pray
er and penance. Everyone can ob
serve this spirit, even though they
cannot keep the letter of the law.
Other acts of mortification, self-de-
nil and self-sacrifiee can be substi
tuted for fasting and abstinence, if
these are impossible, and thus will
the spirit of Lent be observed with
equal profit.
This letter is to be read at all ths
Masses on Sunday, February 11, and
the faithful are to be exhorted to
keep this Lent in the best possible
manner, according to the spirit of the
Church, so that it may be for all,
what it is intended to be, a season
rich in God’s grace and blessing.
ALPHONSE J. SMITH,
Bishop of Nashville.
Nashville, Tennessee.
February 6, 1934.
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