Page 53 - pastoral-letters-sjm
P. 53

th
                               7  Pastoral Letter – 1895


              THE WORK OF THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH
                                AND THE MISSIONS



                               GIUSEPPE MARELLO
                                   Bishop of Acqui

                     To the Venerable Clergy and Beloved People
                              of the City and the Diocese
                  GREETINGS AND BLESSINGS IN THE LORD

                   Venerable Brothers and Beloved Children in Christ

                 In a recent Encyclical to the Bishops of the Catholic world,
            the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  Leo  XIII  again  appeals  to  their  zeal  so
            that they may work diligently with him in favor of the Apostolic
            Missions.  He recalls that in a previous letter addressed to them
            in 1880, praising the pious Work of the Propagation of the Faith,
            he  rejoiced  in  the  considerable  increase  of  this  meritorious
            Work, adding that ever more urgent needs require of the faithful
            an ever greater thrust of generosity.  Thus he presents his hopes
            and plans to hasten that time promised by God when there will
            be  only  one  Flock  and  one  Shepherd,  and  expresses  the
            solicitude and care that he turns with particular affection in these
            days  to  the  peoples  of  the  East,  he  asks  the  Bishops  for  their
            efficacious cooperation with these words: "Venerable Brothers,
            make every effort so that, among the faithful entrusted to your
            care, the Association of the Propagation of the Faith may have
            the greatest possible development.  Indeed, we are sure than an
            increasing  number  of  faithful  will  volunteer  more  generous

                                                                             53
   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58