The Catholic Paper

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 21, 31 May 1923, Page 15

The Catholic Paper

A WEEKLY MISSIONARY BLESSING THE HOME. Cardinal Maffi, of Pisa, in an address on the importance of the Catholic press said to the priests; “Yon preach on Sunday, but the newspaper preaches every dan and every hour. You address the faithful in the church, but the newspaper follows them to their homes. You speak for half an hour or an hour and quit, but the newspaper never quits.” This should make it plain to all readers that the Catholic press is of absolute necessity. And these words of Cardinal Maffi should encourage every Catholic to assist in the spreading of the Catholic press. Archbishop Moeller of Cincinnati, in a letter to the clergy and laity says; “Fathers anti Mothers, we strongly urge you not only to do your duty by subscribing to the Catholic papers, but also by reading them. If you notice in them anything that yoti judge of interest or benefit to your children fail not to call their attention to it, or direct them to read it. Cultivate in your children a love for reading Catholic literature. For thus your sons and daughters will become better acquainted with the Divine teaching of the Church, her laudable practices and her wonderful activity in every praiseworthy endeavor. We also recommend that teachers, when they see in Catholic papers or magazines anything of particular interest to the children, have it read to them in class hours.” An experienced priest said : “In my experience as a. priest I have found that the weekly advent of a Catholic newspaper is one of the greatest helps that a priest can have in his parochial work. A Catholic family that reads a ' Catholic weekly will not be numbered amongst the absent ones at the Sunday Mass.” Another pastor says: “Truly, and indeed as Pius X. of blessed memory has rightly stressed, a Catholic paper is a weekly missionary in a Catholic home. Next to the Grace of God I ascribe the marvellous success, spiritually and financially, of this parish to the Catholic press.”