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Needs of the Faithful
5. These matters concern the proper
upbringing and application of the clergy to the sacred ministry. But the needs
of the faithful demand your efforts no less. In their regard, what has
precedence is that children and ignorant people are properly to be taught the
elements of our most holy religion; this calls for the unremitting diligence of
the pastors. Then, where it is publicly permitted, instruction is to be
organized for youth so that they will not be compelled to frequent the athletic
facilities of heretics or attend schools where Catholic discipline is not
mentioned unless to be calumniously derided, and this to the great detriment of
faith and good morals. - Besides, since minds are strengthened and stimulated
by counsel and reciprocal example to do and suffer great things for religion,
you will merit well on that account if you encourage and persuade laymen,
especially the young, to join Christian societies. We have frequently praised
them in exhortations as institutions that strive to care for the needs of
religion and improve the advantages of the poor; at the same time, they
diminish the appeal of those associations that abuse the title of public
charity, since they are very much opposed to the welfare of Church and
State.-Also do not fail to realize how much influence for good and evil,
especially in these our times, magazines and similar popular writings have
acquired. Use these weapons in defense of the Christian name, with the
leadership of the episcopate properly preserved and with all respect due the
civil power. Finally all Catholics should remember that it is of the greatest
concern to the Church what kind of men are elected to
the legislature. Thus, preserving the rights of civil law, everyone must strive
to elect those who join zeal for religion to their zeal for public affairs. This
will come about more readily if each individual obeys the supreme authority
governing the state and if everyone continuously advocates those things We have published not long ago in encyclical letters
concerning the Christian constitution of the state.
6. For the rest, may suitable love and
concord of minds flourish among you by thinking alike with one soul and one
mind.6 For this reason we strongly recommend that you share your plans
frequently among yourselves and hold episcopal synods in various places to
satisfy the obligations of your sacred office. You have with you the Legate of
the Apostolic See, who will tell you Our mind and Our
counsels. Then too, because of the paternal love with which We
embrace you, you have Us at all times ready to lend aid to your work.
7. May God very graciously grant you
the gifts of His heavenly blessings, which supply the strength needed to fill
the pastoral office in a holy and proper way. As a promise of these gifts,
Venerable Brothers, We very lovingly impart the Apostolic Blessing to you, your
clergy, and the people who have been entrusted to your care.
Given in Rome, at St. Peter's, July 2, 1894, in
the seventeenth year of Our pontificate.
LEO XIII
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