CHURCH
764
CHURCH
offered spontaneously and voluntarily. Reproaches
against those who may perchance show themselves
less liberal, are to be avoided under pain of suspen-
sion" (cap. xvii, 1).
Blessings of Giving. — The truth that it is more blessed to give than to receive is also insisted on by the synods. Speaking of contributions for the edu- cation of candidates for the priesthood, the pastoral letter of the Fifth Provincial Council of Baltimore (1843) says: "It is by placing the ecclesiastical insti- tutions in the respective dioceses on solid founda- tions, that you will secure for yourselves and your children the perpetuity of the blessings wherewith it has pleased God to enrich you in Christ Jesus. Those to whom the wealth of this world has been given, cannot better employ a portion of it than in provid- ing for the education of ministers of the altar. We are far, however, from meaning to undervalue the offerings which faith may inspire for the erection of temples to the glory of God, or charity may present for the clothing and maintenance of the orphan. We exhort you brethren to follow the impulse of the Holy Ghost in the various good works for which your charitable co-operation is solicited, and to remember in the day of your abundance, that whatever you set apart to the glory of God, in the exercise of charity, is so much secured against the caprice of fortune. 'Be not then high-minded, nor hope in uncertain riches, but in the living God (who giveth us abun- dantly, all things to enjoy), do good, be rich in good works, distribute readily, communicate, lay up in store for yourselves a good foundation against the time to come, that you may obtain true life' " (I Tim., vi, 17-19). Again the Fathers of the Sixth Provin- cial Council (in 1846) write: "On you it depends to give, especially to those who labour in word and doc- trine, that support which will leave them without .solicitude for the things of this world, that they may wholly apply themselves to the exercise of the holy ministry. We beseech you, brethren, to know them who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, that you may esteem them more abundantly in charity for their work's sake. To you we look for means to educate youth for the ecclesiastical state, that when fully instructed in the duties of their holy vocation, and trained in discipline, they may become fit ministers of the Church, and adorn it by their piety and zeal, as well as by their talents. You should aid in the erection of the temples in which you and your children are to worship, and see that the house of God be not unworthy of the sublime functions which are to be performed in it. Of the worldly goods which God has bestowed on you, you should set apart a reasonable portion to be specially devoted to His glory; and you should rejoice at the opportunity thus afforded you to manifest your gratitude for His bene- fits." The Fathers of the First Plenary Council of Baltimore (1852) joyfully acknowledged the generos- ity of the faithful: "The wants of the Church in this vast country so rapidly advancing in population and prosperity, impose on us, your pastors, and on you, our children in Christ, peculiar and very arduous duties. We have not only to build up the Church, by the preaching of the Gospel, and the inculcation of all the virtues it teaches, but also to supply the material wants of religious worship in proportion to the unexampled rapidity with which our flocks in- We have to establish missions in places
where, but a few years since, none or but few Catho-
lics wire to be found, and where now the children of the Church cry with clamorous importunity for the bread of life. We have to build the Church, where bi Fore God's name was not publicly worshipped ; and to multiply His temples where they no longer suffice for the constantly increasing wants of the faithful. We have to provide a ministry for the present anil
future wants of the country, and in this matter we
have to contend with difficulties which are unknown
in countries where religion has been long established,
and where the piety and zeal of past generations have
furnished ample means for this most important ob-
ject. We have to provide for the Catholic education
of our youth. We have not only to erect and main-
tain the church, the seminary and the schoolhouse,
but we have to found hospitals, establish orphanages,
and provide for every want of suffering humanity,
which religion forbids us to neglect. We thank the
Giver of all good gifts for the extraordinary benedic-
tion which He has hitherto bestowed upon our efforts,
and those of the venerable men whose places we fill.
We rejoice at having the opportunity of bearing pub-
lic testimony to the generous assistance which we have
received from our flocks in our respective dioceses.
Much however as has been done, much still remains
to be accomplished. Our churches are nowhere equal
to the wants of the Catholic population, and, in many
places, are far from being sufficiently spacious to
afford one-half of our people the opportunity of at-
tending Divine worship. We therefore exhort you,
brethren, to co-operate generously and cheerfully
with your pastors, when they appeal to you in behalf
of works of charity and religious zeal. In contribu-
ting to Divine worship, you make an offering to God
of the gifts He has bestowed on you, and a portion of
which He requires should be consecrated to His serv-
ice, as a testimony of your continued dependence on
His sovereign mercy. We hope that the example of
your Catholic forefathers, and even of some among
yourselves, will be generally felt and not infrequently
imitated; and that here as well as elsewhere, the
Church will be able to show the proofs of her children's
faith in the numerous temples raised to the honour of
God's name, in the beauty of His sanctuary which the
true Christian will ever love, and in the ample and
permanent provision made for the maintenance of
public worship."
Restrictions on the Clergy. — While vigorously insisting on the duty of giving on the part of the laity, the Church demands on the part of the clergy that moderation and prudence be exercised and that abuses be avoided. The First Synod of Baltimore, in 1791, warns priests to avoid "all appearance of avarice or simony". In the Canadian Council of Halifax, in 1S57 (Prov. I), it is decreed: "In the administration of the sacraments care must be taken lest anything be done that savours of the horrible crime of simony or avarice or filthy lucre, and the sacraments must never be denied to any one under the pretext that he has not made the customary offerings. If any priest acts otherwise, he is an unfaithful dispenser, he makes light of the ministry of Christ, he scandalizes the little ones; and such a delinquent should know that he may be severely punished according to the judgment of the ordinary" (Deer. 4). The Plenary Synod of Ireland, at Thurles in 1S50, contains a similar decree (Deer. 5): " In the offerings made by ancient and received usage in the administration of certain sacraments, let the parish priests beware lest anything be done that may savour of simony or avarice. Let the sacraments never be denied under the pretext that offerings have not been made; otherwise the delinquents may be disciplined according to the bishop's judgment." The following decree (111 is found in the statutes of the First Provincial Council of Westminster (1S55): "Where the custom obtains (which is indeed ancient
in England), of giving presents to individual priests at Easter and Christmas, such offerings belong to
them. But let every pries; be on his guard lest he fall under suspicion of receiving anything in view of the sacrament of penance administered by him." In 1854, the First Council of the Colonies of England, Holland and Denmark passed the following decree (Art. vii, 2): "Let every ordinary determine the sti-
