CIRCULAR LETTER CONCERNING THE BATHURST SEMINARY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 190, 17 November 1876, Page 8

CIRCULAR LETTER CONCERNING THE BATHURST SEMINARY.

" A few words to the Catholics of the Diocese of Bathurst on the new Ecclesiastical Seminary, the foundation-stone of which is to be laid on the I9fch November. "You have of late heard much about the Ecclesiastical Seminary. But do you know what is its object ? What its necessity ? How ib concerns you ? "In the first place, with regard to its object, it is to be an institution wherein young men are to be trained for the priesthood. Everyone knows that learning and virtue are necessary to a priest. Without learning he would not be fit to teach others (Timothy ii, 3). Without virtue he would be a wolf in sheep's clothing (Matthew vii, 15). To form her priests in these two necessary qualities, the Church has instituted ecclesiastical seminaries (Cone Trid, xxii, 19). Herein her young Levites are subjected to a long course of study and practised in the virtues essential to their state. This, then, is the object of the new Seminary ; to train up such of your children, as the Holy Ghost may call, to be worthy ministsrs of Christ. " But some may imagine that, though this is a very good thing in itself, yet it is not a matter of necessity. If you should think co, you are greatly mistaken. The Ecclesiastical Seminary is not a matter of mere choice or convenience. It is a necessity, a great necessity. Other institutions may also be required. What, for instance, should you do, if you had no schools to educate your children, no churches, wherein to worship God P But would not the case be a thousand times worse if you were left without the ministers of Christ ? Who would teach you the way to heaven ? Who would remind you of your duties to God P Who would offer for you the sacrifice of the altar? Who would rfliere your conscience of the heavy weight of your sins ? Who would come to you iv sickness and in pestilence, to console jou, to raise your hopes towards a better life, to hold the Crucifix before your eyes, to bid you tru»t in Jesus and Mary, and to

strengthen your departing spirit with tha ..sacraments of the Church t Do not then say that the Seminary, iv which your future priesthood is to be educated, is not necessary for you. This would be the same as enjing that you have no need of Christ Himself ; for who is the Catholic Priest but His representative on earth ? " But you may say : Have we not done without seminaries up to this ? Why not also in the future ? Now, no doubt God in His mejcy has supplied you with priests in the past. Bub are you, therefore, to make no provision for the future ? Would it not be unreasonable to expect that the home countries will always continue to supply^ our wants ? Does not history teach ub that no church can nourish without a native priesthood? Australia is growing into a great nation. -Her population is daily increasing ; and with it increases the demand for priests. If the glory of God is anywhere concerned, it is surely concerned in Australia. The words of our Divine Lord are especially true to this country : * The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers ate f9w' (Matt. xix. 27). LooJ^ around you ! Do you not see vast tracts of country, with scattered population, depending on the ministrations of a few priests P Do you not see the dearest interests of religion everywhere at stake ? Do you not see the spirit of indifferentism c very where waxing strong ? Do you not see the vast majority of those outside the true fold rapidly verging towards infidelity ? Do you not see the efforts of public men, and of an infidel press, to banish the idea of God from the school, and to draw the world back again to the darkness of Paganism P And are we to stand by with folded arms, and behold the dearest interests of Christ and His Church put to the. test, without making an effort ? Are. we to expect that those at the other end of the world will send, us leaders to fight our battles, when we have it in our power to procure them from among our* selves ? Would not this seem like tempting. God, and provoke Him to abandon us? If, then, you have the interests of religion at heart; if you desire to see. the cause of Christ triumph, strive to do your utmost to promote this great work. • " Are you a Catholic ? " If so, you are concerned in its welfare. Whether you are young or old, whether you are rich or poor, this Institution concerns you, and concerns you most intimately. Do you wish to show your zeal for God's glory ? Do you wish to propagate. His holy gospel? Dp you wish to save those soultf for which Christ has shed His precious blood ? Come forward, then ! Here is your opportunity ! All those interests are concerned in this institution. Aid it in every way you can. Contribute °-enerously towards it, according to your means. • Encourage everyone over whom you have influence to take its interests to heart. Pray earnestly that God may bless it, and make it prosper. And when you are dead and gone, your posterity will feel its influence; and it will continue to spread the blessings of our holy religion over th« land."