The Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Catholic missions, 1822-1900 PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, U. & A. J902 THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF AND THE CATHOLIC J822—J900 1 ' :) V. THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH AND THE CATHOLIC MISSIONS 1822—1900 CONTENTS I PAGE To the Reader 3 Origin and Development of the Society 5 Aim, Organization and Administration ii Spiritual Favors Granted to Members 17 Approval of Popes and Councils 20 II What the Catholic World has given to the Society and the Missionary World received, 1822-1900 24 What the United States has received from the Society, and what it has contributed, 1822-1900 25 Missions Assisted by the Society in 1900 29 Personnel of the Missions 34 Conclusion 39 Prayer for Missions 40 SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH BALTIMORE, MD., U. S. A. 1902 IMPRIMATUR 88 3ame0 Car&inal ©tbbons Archbishop of Baltimore Baltimore, March 15, 1902 COPYRIGHT, 1902 BY REV. JOSEPH FRERI DescMfsjf THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH The work of the propagation of the faith is as old as the Church itself; its foundation dates back to the day when Jesus Christ said to His apostles : Go ye into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature” On that day, a new idea was ushered into the world, and a new institution of which ancient peoples had not dreamed was called into existence; the idea that all races are called to one faith, and the institution of the Catholic apostolate to accomplish that end; both destined to exist until no one remains outside the fold. The work of supporting the missionary propaganda which began with the apostles and is being continued every day com- prises three historic periods: The first was the period, properly apostolic, the age of special divine manifestation in behalf of the propagation of the faith. During this period the apostles and their first successors preached throughout the world; their missionary needs were supplied by divine assistance, by miracles and by the responsive devotion inspired in their early converts. The second period was that of union and protectorship; that is to say, the temporal powers of the world united to establish the kingdom of Jesus Christ. The era of bloody persecution had closed, the Church was victorious and the Caesars bowed their heads in submission to receive the yoke of the cross; em- perors, kings and republics co-operated with the church in preaching the Christian faith. The popular period of the work of the propagation of the faith is the one in which we are living. It began with the XIX century. The impiety of the XVIII century had already dealt a mortal blow to a number of flourishing missions, when the terrible revolutions which marked the end of this sad epoch effected a radical change in the religious attitude even of Euro- pean nations that had remained faithful to the Catholic religion. 4 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. From this moment their action was distinct from that of the Church, which they henceforth considered an outside and some- times rival power. They were no longer to be depended upon for the extension of the kingdom of God on earth. The period of union and protectorship was over. Then Providence substi- tuted the people for kings. Catholic missions no longer directly supported by sovereigns were maintained by the people. Rich and poor were called to the honor of supporting missionaries of the Gospel and contributing to the development of the Catholic religion in all climes. Several societies were founded during the course of the last century to give form and organization to the charity of the faithful in behalf of missions. Beside the Society for the Pro- pagation of the Faith, the principal others are: The Association of the Holy Childhood; the Association of Oriental Schools in France; the Society of St. Francis Xavier in Aix-la-Chapelle ; The Association of St. Peter Claver in Salzburg; The Leopolds- verein in Austria; the Ludwigsmissionverein in Bavaria. All these societies, not to mention several “ anti-slavery,’’ “ Holy Land” Associations, and societies for home missions have either a limited aim or assist missionaries of a certain nationality alone. The only one truly universal, is the Society for the Propagation of the Faith which furnishes the principal support for the Cath- olic apostolate. In this sketch, we purpose to give, in the first part, the origin and history of this association, its organization and present form, the enumeration of spiritual favors with which it has been richly endowed by the Sovereign Pontiffs and some of the marks of approbation accorded to it by the highest ecclesiastical authorities. The second part will contain a list of the Societies and Relig- ious Orders engaged in mission work, an account of what our Society has done since its foundation for the missions of the whole world, particularly those of the United States and an enumeration of the dioceses and missions now assisted by it. URIGIN OF THE SOCIETY. 5 Origin and Development of the Society. L Origfm* More than half a century ago, Frederick Ozanam, the illustri- ous founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, published an account of the origin of our Society, based on the report of the first reunion of the founders, several of whom were still living. We can not do better than quote the words of the distinguished writer:^ “ The beginnings of the Society were feeble and obscure; such is the destiny of many Christian institutions. God often so pre- pares everything that no one has a claim to authorship and no human name receives the glory. He conceals and distributes their sources like those of large rivers of which it can not be told from what stream they flow. Cries of distress from the east and from the west reached the ears of two pious women in a provincial city and inspired them with the idea which, hap- pily realized, gives help to the missions of two hemispheres. “ In the year 1815, Bishop Dubourg, of New Orleans, stopped in Lyons, on his return from Rome, where he had been con- secrated. Full of anxiety on account of the extreme poverty of his diocese in which he had everything to organize, he earn- estly recommended it to the charity of the citizens of Lyons. In particular, he spoke of his desires to a truly Christian woman, a widow, Mrs. Petit, whom he had formerly known in the United States; and to her he made known his idea of founding a chari- table association for the spiritual needs of Louisiana, fixing the contribution at twenty-five cents a year. The charitable widow at once entered into the bishop’s views and spoke to several other persons on the subject. But numerous difficulties pre- sented themselves. She had to wait for the hour appointed by Heaven and content herself, in the meantime, with collecting modest alms for the Christian settlements in America, which now became the objects of her maternal care. “ About the same time came the cry of distress from the east. In the year 1816 the directors of the Seminary of Foreign Missions, of Paris, sought to revive the union of prayer founded ^ Frederick Ozanam, Miscellanea. 6 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. in the preceding century for the conversion of infidels, but disbanded by the French Revolution. To the prayers provided for this purpose indulgences were granted by the Holy See; and an account of the needs of the Eastern missions was published. “These attempts began to awaken favorable dispositions of mind. Three years later a young woman, Miss Jaricot, who was living in Lyons and whose life of active charity recalls the Christian virgins of primitive times, received a touching letter from her brother, a student at the seminary of St. Sulpice, in which he gave a sad account of the extreme poverty of the House of Foreign Missions, and proposed to obtain regular resources for it through the establishment of a charitable asso- ciation. The pious woman responded to this inspiration, and during the year 1820 formed a society whose members contrib- uted a cent a week toward the support of the Seminary of the Foreign Missions. The Association began among the pious working women who honor the rich and popular trade of Lyons by their virtues as they sustained it by their labor. During the last six months of that year the foundress bore the whole burden of her weighty undertaking alone. There was no union of prayer, no festival, no periodical publication. The membership soon rose to one thousand which, though a considerable num- ber, was not likely to increase owing to the narrow scope of influence of the first associates. The offerings collected were sent as a pious memento from the church of Lyons to that old Asia from which she had received the Faith. The amount was four hundred dollars. It is a pleasure to count the first drops of the dew which was to fall later in greater abundance on a field of unlimited extent. “ Meanwhile, the correspondents of Bishop Dubourg, seeing what had been done by Miss Jaricot, continued to cherish the hope of establishing a similar society for the ffiocese of New Orleans, when, at the commencement of the year 1822, they received a visit from the vicar general of that see. His presence inspired the benefactors of Louisiana with even greater fervor of zeal. One condition, however, th,tey constantly repeated: To secure the best foundation an association for the missions should be Catholic, that is to say, intended to assist the aposto- late throughout the world, and not confined to any one countr}^ This idea finally prevailed. A meeting was called, at which Origin of the Society. 7 twelve persons were present; and after being opened by the in- vocation of the Holy Ghost, a priest gave a short account of the progress and sufferings of religion in North America and pro- posed the founding of a large association for the benefit of Catholic missions in the tw^o hemispheres. The resolution was unanimously adopted; and before the meeting was adjourned, a president was elected and a committee of three appointed to prepare a plan of organization. The new enterprise was thus distinguished from all former undertakings by the adoption of the principle of universality; then it was that the Society for the Propagation of the Faith was founded. “ In the designs of Providence who seemed henceforth to con- duct the government of the Society without the aid of man, the first meeting was held, without premeditation, on Friday, May the third, the feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross. It was only when, a short time afterwards, the day of foundation was made one of the two annual feasts of the society that it was noticed that one of our future anniversaries was consecrated to the veneration of the Cross of Redemption whose conquests the humble contributions of the members of the Society are de- signed to extend. The approbation of ecclesiastical authority, without which no new institution, however charitable its pur- pose, can be introduced among a Christian people was solicited. This was obtained without loss of time and so the labors of the founders were consecrated. The receipts were one hundred and four dollars and two cents; the total for the first year amounted to about four thousand. Shortly afterwards one of the founders went to Paris, and through his efforts another central council was established; from that time the Society has included the whole kingdom. “ The following year, 1823, a delegate from the council of Lyons obtained from Pius VII of blessed memory, the indul- gences which permanently enrich the Society. Words of en- couragement were soon received from all the bishops of France, followed by the prelates of other countries. Belgium, Switzer- land, the different states of Germany, Italy, the United States, Great Britain, Spain and Portugal, joined the crusade of charity. Nearly three hundred bishops raised their voices in its favor. Finally, His Holiness Pope Gregory XVI, by an encyclical pub- lished in the year 1840, in which he recommended the Society 8 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. for the Propagation of the Faith to all churches, placed it in the rank of universal Christian institutions. “ So a few meetings conducted without opposition and, so to speak, without debate defined the principles of an association the results of which affect the whole world. In the easy work- ing of this organization which has always been as simple in its development as in its origin, we discern the action of eternal Wisdom whose means are ever simple amid the infinite variety of His works. The same Wisdom has been pleased to manifest Itself in a more striking manner still through the repeated marks of approval pronounced by its mouth piece, the Church. A mysterious power has been given to us, and the Spirit of our Saviour has descended on our unworthy offerings, by the bless- ings of the Pontiffs, the Holy Sacrifices offered wherever an altar is raised, and the prayers of martyrs who never die without remembering their benefactors. Such is the providential char- acter of the work; the part which God has taken and the one which He has left to us. In the beginning there were only the pious desires of two humble Christian women; but these two servants of God became the interpreters of two quarters of the globe. What can surpass in power so great a faith and so great a hope? And yet, these would have been of little avail with- out the charity which united them with the two interests of which they were the expression and which prompted them to a repeated sacrifice of self for the common good. The contact of these two sparks enkindled the flame. The Society was thus brought into existence and thus it grew: such were its origin, its power and the condition of its future progress. It continues to exist only by forgetfulness of personal predilection and national susceptibilities, by union in the collection and catholi- city in the distribution of its resources.” Such, then, is the true narrative of the origin of the work known as the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Its prominent features, as summarized by one of its first presi- dents, were its universality as regards both its benefactors and its beneficiaries, its daily prayer for missions, its periodical publication of missionary news, and its weekly cent collection. Its patron St. Francis Xavier, its two solemn feasts and its or- ganization of two central councils, were instituted almost from the beginning. And the description of its origin applies to the Society to-day or to any point in its history, for by merely Progress of the Society. 9 altering the amount of its labors, as new requirements arose, it has continued in the same harmonious spirit and missionary zeal which brought about its institution at the hands of Mme, Petit, Miss Jaricot, and the little band of helpers who most pro- videntially founded this world-wide and divinely guided society. IL Progress of the Society from J822* The seed planted in such soil could not help growing. Cath- olics of every country were invited to unite in the forward movement for missions, and naturally the old Catholic countries of Europe were the first to respond. At first there was hesita- tion among them here and there; but once the unpartisan spirit of the Society was understood, they ended by acknowl- edging that the interests of the Catholic missions in new lands and countries, required the co-operation of the faithful in the old. National prejudices were set aside, and the fusion of many local works into the general society gradually followed. Even missionary countries gave the society a good number of associates. To implant a fruitful missionary spirit in its bene- ficiaries, it has been the constant practice of the Society to ask help, even from those who are receiving it. Little by little, as the need for assistance diminishes, the country in which the faith has been established and preserved increases its support to the continued extension of the missions of the Church. The readiness to train and send out missionaries so that others may enjoy their spiritual blessings, is perhaps the best guarantee of the genuine establishment of the faith in any locality. How far the purpose of the Society in this direction is effective may be seen by the report published each year in the June number of the “ Annals ” of the help contributed even by countries in which the Church is as yet scarcely settled. As early as 1833 some of the faithful in the United States sent their first contri- bution which amounted to the modest sum of six dollars to the Society. Ten years later the contributions gathered among American Catholics, reached the sum of about one thousand dollars. The figures we give below show the development the work of the Society has experienced in this country since its first settlement. In 1822 the Society collected from all sources a little more than four thousand dollars.* The sum was divided in three parts, of which one was assigned to the Eastern missions, the other lo The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. two to Louisiana and Kentucky. The following year the dio- ceses of Baltimore and Cincinnati also received help; and as fast as new dioceses were erected they were added to the list, and withdrawn only when fairly self-supporting. From 1822 to 1900 the Society has spent nearly $6,000,000.00 in mis- sionary work in the United States. The tables below will show how it has been distributed. In 1827 we find Africa included in the apportionment of mis- sionary funds, and Oceanica represented by the Sandwich Islands mission. Only five years after its beginning the Society had fulfilled the Catholic character its founders gave it from the first; and to-day it aids more than 300 dioceses, vicariates and prefectures in every part of the world. A most valuable record of its progress may be found at the headquarters of the Society in Lyons; not in their books, but in the thousands of mementos of missionary activity and endurance gathered from every quar- ter of the globe. Instruments of war and peace, instruments of torture, and relics of the martyrs make a collection that repre- sents heroic achievements worthy to rank with the first ages of Christianity.^ Among the thousands of missionaries assisted by the Propa- gation of the Faith, many have already won the palm of mar- tyrdom, both men and women. Two were placed on our altars by the present Pontiff, Leo XIII, in 1890; the Blessed Perboyre, C. M., martyred in China in 1840, and Blessed Chanel, S. M., who suffered at the hands of the savages of the island of Futuna, Oceanica, in 1844. The cause of several others is under con- sideration in Rome. From 1822-1900 the Society has distributed $65,690,017. We record below the part each country has taken in furnishing this sum, and in what year the Society was established there; which with other statistics will give a compact and suggestive idea of its development. We also give below, the list of missions with approximate number of rnissionaries the Society is assisting at present. It is impossible to reckon the number of those who have received help from, the Society since its foundation. ^ Any of our readers who pass through the city of Lyons should by all means visit this most precious and sacred collection, No. 12, rue Sala. A collection of the same nature may be vfeited at Paris, in the Seminary for Foreign Missions, 128 rue du Bac. Aim of the Society. II Aim, Organization and Administration of the Society—Spiritual Favors Granted to Members. I* The Aim* The Society for the Propagation of the Faith must not be con- founded with the “ Roman Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith,” ^ whose name it bears, but of which it is merely an humble auxiliary. The Congregation of the “ Propaganda,” as it is called, is a department of the general administration of the Church, estab- lished by Gregory XV, in 1622, to direct, supervise and assist the missionaries who preach the faith in countries where pagan- ism, schism and heresy prevail. This congregation sends out missionaries either directly or indidectly, establishes dioceses, vicariates and prefectures apostolic ’ and directs the affairs which they may have with the head of the Church. The Congregation of the Propaganda has been richly en- dowed during the several centuries of its existence, but has been deprived of its resources, little by little, especially since the Italian government has seized its funds without regarding their international character, origin and aim. The revenues of the Propaganda which amount to about $135,000.00 hardly suf- fice to support its numerous personnel, its college for the edu- cation of young men of all nationalities and its university where they learn ecclesiastical science, its printing establishment where religious works in nearly all languages are printed, etc. Cath- olic missionaries who cannot gain their support among the people whom they are evangelizing are therefore supported by ^ The name of Roman Congregation is given to each of the various departments of the Ecclesiastical Administration at Rome which attends to the affairs of the Church. Vicariates and prefectures apostolic are countries or parts of countries in which an episcopal see has not yet been established and which, con- sequently, do not form a diocese. A vicariate apostolic is governed by a bishop; a prefecture apostolic, by a simple priest, who may be author- ized to administer the sacrament of Confirmation. 12 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. charitable associations founded for this purpose; and the prin- cipal of these is the one the history of whose origin has just been given. Widely different from the numerous Protestant societies, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith takes no part in select- ing missionaries nor in appointing them their field of work, nor in training them for it, and it does not concern itself with the interior administration of missions. The aim of our Society therefore is to support missionaries who are chosen, trained and sent forth on their mission by the usual authorities of the Church, n. Organization* The Members.—To be a member of the Society for the Propa- gation of the Faith, it is necessary to make an offering of prayer and alms, as follows: I. To recite daily for the intentions of the Society an “ Our Father and “ Hail Mary,’ with the invocation “ St. Francis Xavier y pray for us.^' Once for all, the Our Father and Hail Mary recited during morning or evening prayers may be applied for this intention. II. To give five cents a month or sixty cents a year in alms for the missions. Membership is always individual and voluntary. It exists as long as the above requirements are complied with, and does not depend upon association in bands or otherwise. But the usual method for gathering the contributions of the faithful is to form the members into Bands of ten, of whom one acts as Promoter, in order to incorporate it with the parish work and to obtain as far as possible the co-operation of the clergy and the most zealous of the laity; and it relies principally upon the Promoters to make this great charity known to the faithful. The duties of the Promoter having charge of a Promoters and qj. collect their offerings, and to cir- Bands of ten. among them the Annals of the Propagation OF THE Faith, which is sent every two months. The offerings are turned over by the Promoter to the Parochial Director, if the Society is established in the parish. Otherwise they are sent to the General Di- rector, St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, Md. Promoters are provided with membership certificates to be given to new members, and cards, on which to record collections. On the faith- ful diligence of Promoters rests the success of the work. Organization of the Society. 13 In some parishes, the Society has been connected with some other society already existing; in others, it has an organization of its own having its monthly or bi-monthly meetings, when dues are paid. Annals are distributed, appropriate instructions are given and prayers recited, and means are devised to further the work of the Society. In those places where a branch of the Society is not thus established the faithful may become members by saying the re- quired prayers and forwarding their offerings to general head- quarters.'^ Beside the benefactors who contribute only sixty cents a year, there are two other classes: The Special Members are those who contribute the sum of six dollars ($6.00) a year, representing the amount collected in a Band of ten. Special Members receive a copy of the Annals every two months. Special Members Life Members. Life Members are all such persons as contribute at one time a sum of money not less than forty dollars ($40.00) to the Society. Life Members also receive a copy of the Annals every two months. All Catholics Catholics of any age and of both sexes may join may be members Society, and deceased persons may also be en- rolled. Both living and dead associates share in the merits and prayers of missionaries, and in Masses said by them. The Society gladly receives sums of money intended by the donors for any particular mission or missionary and forwards 'the same at once to its destination in any part of the world. Nevertheless, knowing the relative needs of the different mis- sions and being thus able to dispense the alms in proportion to its wants it prefers to control their distribution. The American branch of the Society has been incorporated under the laws of the state of Maryland* under the name of ^ Address, Propagation of the Faith, St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, Md. ^ The main object in having the society incorporated being to enable it to receive legacies, we give herewith a form of bequest: “ I hereby give, devise, and bequeath unto The Society for the Propa- gation of the Faith, of Baltimore City, the sum of Dollars, {if real estate describe the property and its location,) to be used and expended for the appropriate objects of said corporation,” 14 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. “ The Society for the Propagation of the Faith of Baltimore City.” The trustees are: His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore. Most Rev. M. A. Corrigan, Arch- bishop of New York. Most Rev. W. H. Elder, Archbishop of Cincinnati. Most Rev. P. J. Ryan, Archbishop of Philadelphia. Most Rev. J. Ireland, Archbishop of St. Paul. Very Rev. A. Magnien, S. S., D. D. Rev. G. W. Devine. Rev. O. B. Corrigan. Rev. T. J. Broyderick. Rev. C. F. Thomas. III. The Administration* Founded by the laity, the administration of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith is almost entirely in tHeir hands; but a few priests have an active part in its councils. There are two central councils ; one in Lyons where the Society was founded and one in Paris, the seat of so many charitable and apostolic works. These councils are self-recruit- ing and the services of their members are entirely gratuitous. The laity who compose them are men known for their position in business and society, their experience in administration, their talents and their piety. The duties of the councils are to centralize the offerings and distribute them among the different missions after comparative examination of the petitions made every year. Only the re- quests of bishops, vicars apostolic and superiors of religious orders in charge of missions are considered by the councils, and such petitions, whether acted on favorably or unfavorably, must be renewed every year. The division of funds is made by common consent of the two councils; but, for the transaction of ordinary business, the two central councils have divided the missions of the world between them. It is needless to state that the desires of the Holy Father as well as the data furnished by the Congregation of the Propaganda are considered in the distribution of alms. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, unlike other societies of the same nature, does not deal in investments and has, therefore, no permanent fund; Catholic missions are always at the mercy of the faithful and at the beginning of each year the total sum of money collected during the past year is distributed. It is a law of the Society to make its affairs public. In con- Administration of the Society. 15 sequence, it has never aroused the suspicion of civil authorities, of missionaries or of the faithful. The Society for the Propa- gation of the Faith has ‘always been, to the full extent of its power, ready to assist all Catholic missions in whatever part of the world they may be situated or to whatever nationality the missionaries evangelizing them may belong.^ However, as soon as missions are in the least degree able to help themselves, though they may be barely able to exist by their own efforts, it withdraws its aid, because demands are many and resources are inadequate. It is not the aim of the Society to assist what are generally known as Catholic countries, however great their needs may be; for that reason, France, Italy, Austria, Spain, etc., have never received any help from it. The Annals.—Members of the Society are acquainted with the news of missions through a periodical called the ‘'Annals of the Propagation of the Faith.” In the beginning of the Church, the Apostles also published Annals under the form of Epistles in which the narrative is interspersed with lessons on dogma, morality and discipline. The Annals of the Propagation of the Faith is also a proper name for the Acts of the Apostles^ which relate the first events in the history of the Church, its struggles and its triumphs; and give a picture of the birth of Christian communities and the persecution directed against the Cross and its intrepid pioneers. The successors of the Apostles followed their ex- ample and their solicitude never diminished in recording the works and sufferings of missionaries. At all times, under one form or another, the Annals of the Catholic apostolate have related the details of the often bloody progress of the Faith. About the close of the XVIII century, a collection of “ Lettres edifiantes et curieuses ecrites des Missions Etrangeres ” (Edifying and entertaining Letters from the Foreign Missions) was published. These letters, nearly all of which have been written by Jesuit missionaries, met with great success; a new edition had just appeared when the Society for the Propagation of the Faith was founded. The example given was followed, and the “ Annals ” of the new society formed a continuation of the Lettres Edifiantes. ^ The list given below, p. 29, is clear evidence that the nationality oi missionaries is not considered when apportioning funds. i6 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. In the beginning, they were merely an epistolary intercourse between missionaries and their friends, superiors, relatives or benefactors, giving an account of their situation, their labors, their success and whatever they considered worthy of any atten- tion. These letters seemed to encourage the zeal of priests for the missions and sustained or awakened the charity of the faith- ful. The first number appeared in 1822 in the form of a modest pamphlet circulated among the members of the newly founded jassociation. It contained a long letter about the missions of iLouisiana and another about those of Kentucky. Since then, the “ Annals ” have appeared regularly; they have preserved the same character and very nearly the same modest form without any pretence to literary or scientific achievement. Neverthe- less, the humble publication renders an important service to the work of missions, not to speak of the valuable information con- tained therein concerning the religious history of the country whose evangelizing it narrates. Indirectly, it wins apostles who, upon reading it, are inflamed with zeal for the kingdom of God: and men and women are moved to go forth to carry the good tidings of salvation to distant lands. Undoubtedly, no one becomes an apostle without a divine call; but that call is manifested by exterior signs of which the most usual are example, in the first place, seconded by a knowl- edge of the needs of souls. Example awakens generous emulation. How many levites, how many priests and how many virgins have felt their souls moved at the recital of the work of missionaries, and abasing themselves in humility and prayer have arisen, saying : “ I, too, wish to be an apostle!” Where are the needs of souls por- trayed in livelier and more pleading colors than in the letters which fill the “ Annals.” As an eloquent orator has said: “An astonishing and glorious fact marks the close of the century. Speculators and economists laud the resources, salubrity and charms of a country to attract colonists ; and they do not always succeed. The publications of the Propagation of the Faith speak of nothing but privations, peril and struggles; the more they darken the picture, the more they kindle the zeal for mis- sions, especially if they open the sombre perspective of martyr- dom.” The “ Annals of the Propagation of the Faith ” first published Spiritual Favors granted to Members. 17 in French soon appeared in the languages of the countries where the Society was established. The first English edition dates from 1840. At present, 300,000 copies of this publication are printed bi-monthly in several languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, FlemisE, Basque, Maltese and the dialects of Brittany. An American edition is published in Baltimore, Md. IV. Spiritual Favors Granted to the Members of the Society. In pursuance of the paternal solicitude of the Sovereign Pon- tiffs, the Society has been enriched with many spiritual favors. Some are common to all benefactors; others are special favors granted to ecclesiastics. A. Spiritual Favors Granted to all Benefactors. Those who comply with the two conditions mentioned above, daily prayers and yearly offering of sixty cents, may gain the following indulgences: I.—Plenary Indulgences. On 3D May—The Feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross (the day on which the Society was established); On 30 December—The Feast of St. Francis Xavier, the patron of the Society; On 25TH March—The Feast of the Annunciation; On 15TH August—The Feast of the Assump- tion, or any day within the Octaves of these Festivals. On 6th January —The Feast of the Epiphany; On 29TH September—The Feast of St. Michael. On all Feasts of the Apostles. Every Month—On any two days chosen by the Associates. Once a Year—On the day of the general commemoration of all the deceased Members of the Society, and on the day of special commemoration of the deceased Members of the Committee or the Band to which he belongs. On the Day of Admit- tance INTO THE Society. At the Hour of Death, by invoking, at least in their heart, the sacred name of Jesus. Members gain the favor of the privileged Altar for every Mass said in the name of an Associate for a deceased Member. In order to gain these Plenary Indulgences, it is necessary to go to confession and receive communion, to visit the parish church and there recite some prayers for the intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff, Children who have not made their first communion can gain these indulgences by performing some pious work appointed by their confessor. Persons who for any lawful reason are unable to visit the church, can substitute for this visit any other pious work, or prayers appointed by their confessor. Members of religious houses, colleges etc., can gain the same indulgences by visiting the private chapel of the establishment, provided the other conditions are fulfilled. i8 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. II.—Partial Indulgences. Seven Years and Seven Quarantines every time an Associate per- forms, in aid of the Society, any work of devotion or charity. 300 Days every time an Associate assists at the Triduum on the 3rd of May and the 3rd of December. 100 Days every time an Associate recites Our Father and Hail Mary, together with the invocation of St. Francis Xavier. All these indulgences, both plenary and partial, are applicable to the souls in Purgatory. B. Special Favors Granted to Ecclesiastical Benefactors. I.—To every Priest who shall be charged in any parish or establish- rcent to collect alms for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, or who, either from his own resources, or otherwise, shall contribute to the funds of the Society a sum equal to the subscription of an entire band of ten: 1st. The favor of the privileged Altar three times a week. 2d. The power to apply the following Indulgences :—To the faithful at the hour of death, a Plenary Indulgence; to Beads or Rosaries, Crosses, Crucifixes, Pictures, Statues and Medals, the Apostolic Indulgences; to Beads, the Brigitine Indulgences. (Vid. Comm, in Facultates Apost., editio quarta, p. 319.) 3d. The faculty of attaching to Crucifixes the Indulgences of the Way of the Cross. (Vide Comment, in Facul. Apost., p. 366.) II.—(a) To every Priest who is a Diocesan Director, or a Member of a Committee, appointed to watch over the interests of the Work: (b) To every other Priest who in the course of the year shall pay to the account of the Society a sum equal at least to the amount of one thousand subscriptions ($600.00), from whatever source derived: 1st. The same favors enjoyed by Priests in the preceding category. 2d. The favor of the privileged Altar five times a week personally. (Brief of Pius IX, December 31, 1853.) 3d. The power to bless Crosses with the Indulgences of the Way of the Cross, and, moreover, the power to invest with the Seraphic Cord and Scap- ular, and to impart all the Indulgences and privileges granted to such investi- ture by the Sovereign Pontiffs. (Vid. Comm, in Facult. Apost. and Manual of the Third Order of St. Francis.) 4th. The power to bless, and invest the faithful with, the Scapular of Mt. Carmel, the Immaculate Conception, and the Passion of our Lord. (Vid Comm, in Facult. Apost., p. 345.) In case the collection of the special subscriptions should be for the moment incomplete. His Holiness prolongs the privileges of the Priest who shall have brought in the entire amount the preceding year, up to the current account. (Rescript of Leo XIII, June 16, 1878.) III.—Every Priest who shall contribute once for all out of his private resources, a sum representing the amount of one thousand subscriptions ($600.00) shall enjoy, during his life, the favors granted to the Priests who are Members of a Committee. Feast Days of the Society. 19 Feast Days of the Society. In order to bring down the blessing of God on the Work and on the Missions, the Society has selected, as times of special prayer and Thanksgiving: I. The third of May, feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross, the an- niversary of the foundation of the Society in 1822. II. The third of December, feast of St. Francis Xavier, patron of the Society. All the missionaries assisted by the Society give to their benefactors a share of the merits of their apostolic labors. They are also asked to pray and offer up occasionally the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for them. This means that innumerable prayers are said, and several thousands of masses celebrated every year, by the missionaries, for the intention of the living and repose of the souls of the deceased members of the Society, 20 The SociEtY for the Propagation of the Faith. Pontifical Acts, andTestimonials of Archbishops and Bishops in Favor of the Work. Pontifical Acts.—This short sketch of the Society for the Pro- pagation of the Faith would be incomplete without the testi- monies of approval which the highest and most venerable authorities of the Catholic Church have bestowed upon it at all times since its origin. The Society was canonically established by Pope Pius VII, in 1823, the year following its foundation; all the popes without exception who have succeeded him in the see of Peter have con- firmed this judgment by giving the most sincere evidence of their approbation and appreciation to its great work of helping missions. Pope Leo XIII, has always shown the greatest good-will toward it; in his encyclical, “ Christ! nomen,” of Dec. 24, 1894, he recommends it to the attention of the episcopate. His Holi- ness, at the same time, repeats the marks of favor granted by his illustrious predecessors to the blessed work, saying: “To bear the name of Christ to new peoples and daily to ex- tend His kingdom amongst nations, to draw within the fold those who are straying outside, and to bring back to the bosom of the church those who have become hostile to it, is undoubt- edly one of the most sacred obligations of the sublime charge confided to us. Inspired by apostolic charity, this duty has long been the subject of our thoughts and of our earnest solicitude. Therefore we have never failed to favor and to multiply those holy missions which spread the light of Christian faith amongst those that walk in darkness, and we have never ceased in our efforts to stimulate the charity of the faithful by whose alms the missions are sustained. This we did in an especial manner by our encyclical: Sancta Dei Civitas, the aim of which was to increase the love and generosity of Catholics for the noble work of propagating the faith. On that occasion, we were pleased to exalt by our recommendations, a Society of which the humble beginnings have been succeeded by a rapid and marvelous de- velopment; a Society upon which our illustrious predecessors, Pius VII, Leo XII, Pius VIII, Gregory XVI, and Pius IX Pontifical Acts in Favor of the Society. 21 bestowed praise and spiritual favors; a Society which has given such efficacious aid to the missions throughout the entire world and which promises them still more abundant assistance for the future.” National Councils.—A large number of provincial and national councils have likewise published decrees in favor of the devel- opment of the Society. We quote those of the Plenary Councils of the United States. The First Plenary Council of the United States held in Bal- timore, in 1852, wrote^ to the central councils of the Society: “ The six Archbishops and twenty-six Bishops assembled by the authority of the venerable successor of St. Peter have decreed by unanimous consent that the Society for the Propagation of the Faith shall be established in all their dioceses. ...” The Second Plenary Council held in the same city, in 1866, decreed* that: “We must, by all means, further the organiza- tion of societies which promote piety and religion and the ex- tension of the church. Among these we mention first of all that for the Propagation of the Faith which is truly Catholic and from which the church in America has received so many and so great benefits.” At the same time, the fathers of this council wrote to the headquarters of the Society as follows : “ The Bishops assembled in Plenary Council have a lively sense of the debt of gratitude imposed on them by the liberalities of Catholic charity concen- trated in your hands We openly acknowledge that your offerings have had a considerable share in the development of our church. . . . Henceforth, the church of the United States will endeavor to occupy in your reports a place more worthy of the rank assigned to it by the extent of its territory, the abundance of its resources and the wonderful increase given it by the Almighty.” Finally, the Third Council of Baltimore* held in 1884 recom- mended the Society in still stronger terms to the charity of the faithful, obeying in this the orders given to the bishops by His Holiness Leo XlII. Following the example of their predeces- sors, the fathers of the council again decreed the establishment ^ Annals, 1852. " Cone. Plen. Balt. II, Tit. X, Cap. Ill, 8. ® Cone. Plen. Balt. Ill, Tit. VIII, Cap. Ill, p. 259. 22 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. of the Society in all dioceses in which it did not already exist. His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons, in the name of the council, wrote a long letter to the directors of the Society. We extract the following passage: “ Gratitude imposes on us the pious duty of publicly recognizing the signal services the beneficent Society for the Propagation of the Faith has rendered to the young Church of the United States. If the grain of mustard seed planted in the virgin soil of America has struck deep roots and grown into a gigantic tree, with branches stretching from the shores of the Atlantic ocean to the coasts of the Pacific, it is mainly to the assistance rendered by your admirable Society, Gentlemen, that we are indebted for this blessing. “ Assembled for the third time in Plenary Council, the Arch- bishops and Bishops of the Republic of the United States feel a justifiable joy in thinking of the co-operation which you have never ceased to extend to the apostles of the Catholic faith in the New World, from the year 1822 to the present day; and the sums which during that time you have allotted to the different dioceses and missions of this vast country, are a striking proof of the zeal and charity with which you never cease to aid us.” Other Councils.—In 1895, the archbishops and bishops of Aus- tralia assembled in plenary council, after having issued a decree similar to those of the American councils, wrote to the head- quarters of the Society as follows : “ Assembled in Council, we consider it our duty to express our admiration for the great work which you direct with as much zeal as prudence. This work is, indeed, so important for ex- tending the benefits of our holy religion and bearing the truth to peoples that are still buried in the shadow of death, that it can not remain indifferent to those who have the salvation of souls and the glory of our Divine Master at heart; may God continue to bless your efforts. Gentlemen, and make your noble enterprise prosper more and more. Permit us also to express our gratitude for the help which, in the past, you have given to our faithful in this distant country. We are not ignorant of it and we can never forget it.” Collective Letters from Bishops of Various Countries.—^After the Popes and Councils, the heads of missions and bishops from different countries have repeatedly expressed their deep sym- pathy and appreciation for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Pastoral Letters in Favor of the Society. 23 The Bishops of Canada, the East Indies, Japan, Corea, China, Southern Africa, etc., have on different occasions, given their blessing and manifested their profound gratitude. Pastoral Letters.—What shall we say of the pastoral letters of bishops in favor of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, that “ marvel of the XIX century,” in the words of a venerable American prelate, ‘‘ the most eminent which the religion of Jesus Christ has inspired in recent times,” that work “ eminently Catholic,” as it has so often been qualified by the chief pastors? Not only from missions but from all quarters of the Christian world, from France, Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United States, Mexico, the Argentine Republic and other South American republics the central councils are continually rewarded by the most gratifying letters. Unable to quote all the testimonies of the episcopate which are numbered by hun- dreds and form the Golden Book of the Society, as it were, we shall conclude with the eloquent words of an illustrious prel- ate, Bishop Freppel: “ May God’s kingdom come! May it come for those infidel peoples still living in darkness and in the shadow of death! May it come for those idolatrous races who know not Jesus Christ, who are deprived of the light and the con- solations of the Faith; who have not, like us, those divine rem- edies against sin that the Church offers to her children! May it come also for those countries in the east which are being moved at this moment by the life-giving breath of God; may it come for those perishing branches which for centuries have been detached by schism from the trunk of Catholic unity! And, finally, may it come for our separated brethren in both the old and new world who have retained but a few shreds of doctrine and some semblance of Christian life! Adveniat regnum tuum! Then, when that glorious day shall have dawned upon the world, that day of spiritual birth for some and of resurrection for others, if we would wish to know the source of these divine blessings, we shall find, I say, as the principal instrument in God’s right hand, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. This kingdom of God on earth will be its terrestrial crown, whilst awaiting the time when it shall please God to grant its active and zealous members their eternal reward.” APPENDIX. I. What the Catholic world has given to the Society and the Missionary world received, 1822-igoo. II* W^hat the United States has received from the Society, and what it has contributed, 1822-1900. III. Missions assisted by the Society in igoo. IV. Personnel of the Missions. L What the Catholic world has given to the Society and the Missionary world received, J 8224900* Received by the Society. ^blished. 1822 France, French Colonies $42,076,905.00 1825 Belgium 3,701,140.00 1827 Germany and Austria 5,862,666.00 1827 Italy 5,260,135.00 1827 Switzerland 775,457-00 1827 Balkan States 287,943.00 1833 United States 1,120,421.00 1833 Canada, Mexico, West Indies 1,143,476.00 1833 Great Britain and Ireland 2,301,764.00 1837 Holland 1,167,634.00 1837 Portugal 445,371.00 1837 Russia, Poland 68,754.00 1839 Spain 523,608.00 1840 Central and South America 515,706.00 1843 Oceanica 85,875.00 1848 Asia 74,068.00 1857 Africa 256,536.00 Countries not named 22,558.00 Total $65,690,017.00 Distributed to the Missions. America, $ 9,973,916.00 Europe, 9,799,854-00 Asia, 25,932,446.00 Africa, 8,815,953.00 Oceanica, 6,011,630.00 Special Gifts sent to missions as directed by the donors. Transportation, and Trav- eling Expenses of Missionaries, Publica- tions, and Management of the Society. . . 5,156,218.00 $65,690,017.00 24 Received and Contributed in the United States. 25 IL What the United States has received from the Society, and what it has contributed, J 822-1900* Arranged by Dioceses* In the following list we give the amount of help received by the dioceses of the United States from the Society, together with the amount each diocese has contributed to the work. Several dioceses which were self-supporting when created, appear to have received nothing; but it must be borne in mind that the help assigned to the diocese of which they were originally a part, was shared by them. It may be safely asserted that there is not a single portion of the Church in the United States which at one time or another has not been helped by the Society. In this table of sums given to the United States the figures in- clude only the money given to diocesan authorities, and to Religious Orders, for use in specified dioceses. Money received from the Society.* From to Diocese. Money contributed for the Propagation oftheFaith,1833-1900 1847 1866.. 143,884.00.. $35,124.36 1857 1869.. 41,600.00. . 1823 1865.. 56,757.80. . 1870 1900.. 36,800.00.. 1829 1864. . 52,839.20.. 141,178.07 1856 1867. . 4,800.00.. 9,316.28 1874 1900. . 36,000.00. . 2,960.75 1847 1866. . 110,214.20.. 1853 1884.. 40,200.00. . 1828 1891. . 199,795.00. . 5,392.53 1897 1900.. 2,200.00.. 45.00 1844 1866.. 99,655.80. . 1823 1869. . 118,569.00. . . . . .Cincinnati 1847 1876.. 62,644.00.. 24,876.27 1868 1869.. 3,200.00.. 1887 1892. . 6,680.00.. 1,319.73 1854 1887.. 37,000.00. . 2,147.24 1891 1894.. 3,600.00.. 9,128.93 1868 1^8.. 4'r,040.00.. 1828 1887. . 113,453.20. . 15,263.58 1838 1866. . 119,398.20. . tl5,700.00.. 22,255.94 tl,408.851890 1892.. 1854 1869.. 30,600.00. . Erie 10,024.19 1890 1894.. 13,140.00.. 1,079.80 1858 1869.. 34,400.00. . 6,451.87 1846 1888. . 249,210.20. . 1868 1888. . 25,656.00. . 4,863.46 * The first and last years of receiving aid are given. This does not always imply that it was received in every intermediate year. t Inclndini; half of Nouthjirn Minnbsota, X875-X887. See St. Cloud. 26 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Money received from the Society. From to Diocese. Money contributed for the Propagation of the Faith,1833-1900 1845 1866. . 51,028.00. . . 28,389.29 1885J 1900.. 19,200.00. . . 1834 1869.. 237,978.40. . . 13,698.34 1876 1900.. 70,400.00. .. 1880 1881.. 2,000.00... 1868 1887.. 15,720.00. .. 1856 1883.. 118,490.00. . . . . .Leavenworth 1889 1890.. 800.00. . . 15.60 1844 1892. . 105,120.40... 4,817.55 1822 1867.. 159,816.40... 12,132.37 1854 1885.. 61,380.66. . . 1844 1866.. 56,432.80... 23,585.85 1828 1891.. 109,492.60... 1849 1877.. 99,800.00... . . .Monterey and Los Angeles 6,837.53 1839 1887. . 100,767.80. . . 1,499.66 1839 1900.. 193,438.40. .. . . .Natchez 8,257.48 1854 1900.. 163,000.00... . . .Natchitoches 7,502.42 1847 1892.. 120,842.00... . . .Nesqually 1,369.85 1854 1866.. 23,600.00... . . .Newark 41,595.58 1822 1872.. 124,160.60... . . .New Orleans 37,576.39 1827 1866.. 112,345.00... . . .New York 132,209.97 1868 1893. . 43,400.00. . . . . .North Carolina 98.14 . . . Ogdensburg 3,760.81 1859 1883.. 60,360.00... . . .Omaha 4,261.11 1844 1891.. 171,294.00... . . .Oregon City 6,324.94 1877 1877.. 1,000.00... . . .Peoria 93.00 1829 1859.. 51,161.40... . . . Philadelphia 25,032.06 1843 1868.. 85,600.00. .. . . .Pittsburg 16,826.33 1856 1867.. 18,900.00... . . .Portland 20,661.70 . . .Providence 24,000.72 1841 1891.. 126,863.20... . . .Richmond 4,988.37 1868 1869.. 4,000.00... . . .Rochester 10,547.45 1860 1876.. 36,200.00. . . . . .Sacramento 6,142.95 1826 1888.. 107,330.00. . . . . .St. Augustine 3,813.49 1889 1890.. J13, 140.00... . . .St. Cloud J2,163.72 1868 1872. . 6,600.00... . . .St. Joseph 448.50 1827 1872.. 196,155.60. . . . . .St. Louis 25,307.21 1850 1872.. 95,785.00. . . . . .St. Paul 21,861.86 1872 1887. . 16,400.00... . . .Salt Lake 29.80 1874 1897. . 33,080.00... . . .San Antonio 8,114.01 1853 1884. . 45,600.00 .. . . .San Francisco 16,435.15 1851 1900. . 167,700.00. . . . . .Santa Fe 14,446.14 1850 1889. . , 100,491.80. . . . . .Savannah 7,340.28 . . .Scranton 368.74 1889 1894. . 13,900.00. .. . . .Sioux Falls 1,724.93 . . .Springfield 18,641.91 . . .Syracuse 7,215.21 . . . Trenton 1,667.24 1869 1900.. 97,500.00... . . .Tucson 6,665.55 1850 1879.. 58,205.00... . . .Wheeling 2,412.78 1887 1895.. 7,640.00... . . . Wichita 767.59 1868 1892.. 16,920.00. . . . . . Wilmington 2,807.22 1893 1900. . 23.327.36. . . . . .Winona . , Alaska 3,120.09 1847 1893.. 141,400.00... Totals.... $5, 290, 801. 36 . . .Vancouver 97.00 $1,120,420.84 !j: Including half of Northern Minnesota, 1875-1887. See Duluth, Received and Contributed in the United States. 27 The following sums, without being assigned to any particular dioceses, were given to Religious societies for use in the United States, beside what they have received from the Society through the bishop in whose diocese they were working. Jesuits, $ 263,089.04 Lazarists, 158,800.00 Oblates, 45,657.60 Dominicans, 5,320.00 Benedictines, 6,000.00 Congregation of the Holy Cross, 18,657.40 Redemptorists 11,088.00 Fathers of Mercy 7,980.00 Total, $ 516,592.04 Total giyen to the United States, .... $5,807,393.40 Total receiyed from the United States, . . 1,120,420.84 What the United States has received from the Society, and what it has contributed, 1822-1900. Arranged by Years. From the following tables it appears that the United States has re- ceived from the Society an average sum of more than seventy-four thousand dollars a year for nearly eighty years. Received. Year. Contributed. $ 3,757.20 1833, 5.300.00 1823, 6.940.00 1824, 10.340.00 1825 8.740.00 1836. 20.700.00 1837. 23,000.00 1838. 24.368.00 1829. 23.394.00 1830. 25.294.00 1831. 23.960.00 1833. 19.604.00 1833. 20.564.00 1834. 29.053.60 1835. 44.133.60 1836. 37,916.30 1837. 53.501.60 1838. 68.035.00 1839. 135.573.80 1840 123.261.00 1841. 127,360.40 1843. 136,259.60 1843. 131.433.80 1844. 107.400.00 1845. 116,328.30 1846. 87.980.00 1847. 6.00 1,033.10 834.00 875.49 816.99 15.30 1,655.30 886.40 810.67 28 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Received. Tear. Contributed, 95,316.00 1849 709.12 80’ 735.00. . . . 1850 765.00 78'287.00 1851 600.00 103'l01.00 1852 16,026.41 126;452.00 1853 127,439.20 1854 11,337.32 10i;084.60 7,235.91 105,761.40 10,328.65 99,404.60 13,713.12 115,288.20 1858 30,612.18 173,'623. 80 152,342.20 1860 118,014.00 1861 8,529.02 130,802.00 1862 119,800.00 1863 117,600.00 1864 124,450.00 1865 7,462.43 115;660.00. . . . 10,361.17 97,260.00 100,290.00 1868 10,209.52 99 ; 975.00 13,162.89 41,000.00 87,200.00. . . . 1871 98,200.00 1872 16,684.97 75,600.00 1873 74,000.00 1874 10,274.14 73,040.00 82,200.00 13,173.60 67,440.00 60,600.00.... 1878 57,080.00 1879 7,128.66 52,200.00 1880 56,600.00 1881 51,600.00 1882 41,601.36 59,360.00 1883 26,731.69 66,000.00. . . . 1884 15,609.33 60,840.00 1885 17,456.84 66,000.00 14,786.54 61,400.00 1887 42,964.18 42,440.00 1888 52,759.22 40,080.00 1889 41,687.82 42,740.00 1890 39,092.76 33,920.00 1891 40,303.85 23,000.00 1892 35,907.58 16,700.00 1893 44,753.58 13,300.00 1894 25,065.68 10,800.00 1895 34,707.39 8,500.00 1896 32,855.54 11,312.50 1897 34,196.31 10,900.00 55,511.79 10,292.86 1899 69,402.49 11,022.00 1900 71,229.35 516,592.04 Additional to Religions Orders. $5,807,393.40 $1,120,420.84 Missions Assisted by the Society in 1900. 29 ni* Missions Assisted by the Propagation of the Faith in J900* The following statistics were compiled from the Directory of Missions issued by the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda {Missiones Catholicae: Romae, 1901,) supplemented by the publi- cations of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. In spite of the great care with which they were prepared there may be some errors and in a few cases the figures are only approxi- mative. It was especially difficult to give an accurate account of the missions in the Turkish Empire where ecclesiastical juris- diction is personal instead of being territorial. In some cases we were unable to obtain the number of schools and charitable institutions. This list which comprises the missions now assisted by our Society includes the greater part of the mission field of the Catholic Church. AMERICA. Priests Chari- Dioceses. Catholics. Miss’n’y. Native. Schools. ties. Canada. Athabasca*Mackenzie . ... 13,000 28 10 2 Indian Missions 6,500 26 ? ? New Westminster . . . . 28,000 30 5 18 3 Pembroke . ... 40,000 14 24 86 4 St. Albert . . . . 16,000 37 8 25 6 St. Boniface . ... 39,000 57 52 112 7 St. George’s (Newfoundland). . . 7,000 8 20 Saskatchewan 9,800 23 i 28 2 Vancouver (Ecclesiastically in U. S.) 9,000 14 11 4 United States. Alaska 18 5 2 Boise, Idaho 10,000 9 15 8 4 Brownsville, Texas Cheyenne, Wyo 63,000 20 2 14 1 6,000 13 2 8 1 Helena, Mont Indian Territory 46 19 12 19,000 49 46 1 Natchez, Miss 20,000 32 5 28 2 Natchitoches, La 30,000 19 2 18 Rocky Mt. Missions 20,000 84 . . ? '? Santa F6, N. M 133,000 60 7 20 3 Tucson, Ariz, 40,000 25 16 5 West Indies. Roseau, Virgin Islands .... 50,000 24 29 3 Jamaica 13,000 11 19 2 Curacao .... 38,000 32 22 5 Central America. British Honduras 13 1 28 ? 30 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. AMERICA—Continued. Priests. Chari- Dioceses. Catholics. Miss’n’y. Native. Schools. ties. South America. Dutch Guiana, Surinam 17,000 26 18 2 French Guiana, Oyapok . . . 29,000 22 5 N. Patagonia 40 33 8 S. » 13,000 EUROPE. 16 11 3 Balkan States Antivari 11 2 12 ? Armenian Missions 270,000 480 Athens 17,000 5 17 15 4 Banialuka 53,000 4 45 11 4 Bukharest 120,000 42 5 39 1 Candia 800 10 6 1 Constantinople 45,000 100 180 80 20 Corfu 4,000 3 5 5 1 Durazzo 2,300 2 15 6 V Jassy 74,460 38 11 6 2 Nicopolis 13,000 18 1 9 1 Philippopolis 15,000 15 12 32 5 Salonika 10,000 58 1 9 7 Santorin 500 6 2 1 Scopia (Uskup) 15,000 3 14 10 ? Scutari 27,000 30 30 8 2 Serajevo 170,000 156 22 1 13 Syra 8,000 7 15 14 ? Tine ; 4,000 6 21 13 1 British Isles. Menevia (Wales) 8,000 42 18 22 2 Plymouth 14,000 55 56 36 3 Ross 52,662 26 14 3 Denmark. Copenhagen 7,926 29 16 31 11 German Empire. N. German Mission 34,000 20 8 20 5 Saxony 150,000 39 12 21 19 Norway. Christiania 24 2 18 11 Sweden. Stockholm Northern Africa. 1,800 AFRICA. 10 4 9 7 Abyssinia 1,955 7 18 2 ? Benin 16,400 27 24 16 Cimhebasia, Lower 120 8 1 Dahomey 5,200 22 15 ii Delta of the Nile. 8,000 35 11 7 Egypt 56,180 94 11 84 20 Erythrsea 7,900 53 4 8 Galla 7,000 20 7 9 2 Gold Coast 5,650 16 13 9 Guinea, French 1,100 8 8 2 Ivory Coast 380 16 7 4 Kabyles Mission 582 40 3 24 21 Missions Assisted by the Society in 1900. 31 Dioceses. Northern Africa, Cont. AFRICA.—Continued. Priests. Chari- Catholics. Miss’n’y. Native. Schools, ties. Kamerun 2,420 9 30 Niger, Lower 1,200 9 5 8 “ Upper ... 450 14 10 4 Sahara 561 30 5 2 Senegambia-Senegal . . . 15,000 52 *6 53 36 Sierra Leone 2,800 7 6 3 Sudan 2,000 14 10 4 Togoland 1,300 12 20 5 Tripoli 5,750 11 11 2 Equatorial Africa. Cimbebasia (Upper) 7,000 17 7 ? Congo (Lower French) 1,500 20 3 12 6 “ (Upper “ Ubangi).. 2,000 23 11 18 Congo Free State 3,516 62 14 3 Congo (Lower) 5,689 21 16 ? “ (Upper) 2,376 16 14 6 Cunene 3,450 20 2 22 8 Gabon ... 12,000 35 1 25 6 Nile (Upper) 3,530 11 3 1 Nyassa 190 10 2 ? Tanganyika 1,689 17 34 2 Uelle 600 12 4 2 Unyanyembe 1,133 14 6 2 Victoria Nyanza (North) ... 39,586 32 8 4 “ “ (South) 1,290 14 5 ? Zambesi 1,200 17 20 9 Zanzibar (North) 7,860 38 22 3 “ (South) 700 6 2 2 South Africa. Basutoland 6,000 14 12 ? Cape of Good Hope (Central) 762 7 6 ? « < “ “ (East) 6,830 25 38 2 “ “ “ “ (West) 6,240 16 26 2 Natal 50 7 55 6 Orange Free State 5,600 14 1 13 2 Orange River 500 10 . . 7 5 Transvaal 6,200 15 16 3 African Islands. Fernando Po (Annoban) 3,400 28 12 ? Madagascar (Central) . . . 61,500 49 7 930 15 “ (North) 6,000 10 10 5 “ (South) 9 8 ? ? Mayotte-Nossi-Be ; 4 6 2 Seychelles 16 30 5 Arabia. Aden ASIA 1,500 12 6 4 Chinese Empire. Amoy 23 2 29 44 Che-kiang 13 13 64 ? Chi-li, North 24 40 133 31 “ “ East 3 2 30 “ “ S. East . . . 50,000 42 16 418 *8 “ “ S. West . . . 52,000 13 19 97 12 Fuh-chow . . . 41,000 26 20 61 1 Ho-nan, North 9 3 11 3 32 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, ASIA.—Continued. Dioceses. Chinese Empire.—Cont. Priests. Chari- Catliolics. Miss’n’y. Native. Schools, ties Ho-nan, South 10,300 14 8 51 4 Hong-kong 13 7 86 8 Hu-nan, North 6 2 8 ? “ South 4 10 7 5 Hu-peh, N. West 11,600 10 11 20 5 “ “ East 18,000 14 22 28 5 “ “ S. West 5,200 15 9 18 6 Hi Mission 3 1 1 Ean-su 3,000 17 8 4 Kiang-si, North 6,070 9 2 16 7 “ “ East 10,800 10 10 91 7 “ “ South 6,500 17 6 19 4 Kui-chau 19,000 38 8 118 10 Kwang-si ^ 1,350 17 31 11 Kwang-tung 42,500 58 12 150 5 Manchuria, North 17,000 23 8 147 ? “ South 10 8 60 14 Mongolia, Central 29 14 65 15 “ East 27 7 38 7 “ S. West 27 1 52 4 Nanking 124,000 115 45 959 100 Shan-si, North 13,150 9 15 70 5 “ “ South 21 3 21 ? Shan-tung, North 18,200 13 15 39 4 “ “ East 12,000 12 2 45 6 “ “ South 16,190 31 11 41 5 Shen-si, North 16 23 26 9 “ “ South. 10,200 13 3 74 4 Si-chuan, East 84,000 43 33 137 6 “ “ West 40,000 35 42 234 6 “ “ South 19,500 35 10 67 9 Thibet 1,560 18 1 11 4 Yun-nan 10,300 29 8 58 20 Corea. Seoul 32,200 39 9 60 3 India. Assam 9 9 » Bettiah 15 13 11 Bombay 51 22 23 2 Calcutta 54,200 77 27 127 7 Changanacerry 107,200 277 234 y Coimbatore 35,800 36 8 59 8 Colombo 198,000 80 14 661 10 Dacca 11,000 8 . . 15 8 Ernaculum 80,900 115 167 9 Hyderabad . . 12,590 19 30 5 Jaffna 42,500 34 io 108 2 Kandy 21,150 10 19 24 5 Krishnagar 4,050 8 18 6 Kumbhakonam 85,000 19 17 54 4 Lahore 3,590 23 22 4 Madras 49,000 23 22 76 6 Madura 206,000 61 24 239 10 Mangalore 83,600 34 47 64 15 Mysore 41,000 47 10 71 15 Nagpur 8,000 20 5 15 11 Missions Assisted by the Society in 1900. 33 ASIA—Continued. Priests. Chari- Dioceses. Catholics. Miss’n’y. Native. Schools. ties. India.—Cont. Point de Galle 13 34 ? Pondicherry 134,000 77 27 80 19 Poona 13,000 21 10 98 3 Quillon 16 28 96 3 Kajputana 3,600 12 3 5 5 Trichur 69,800 76 165 51 Trincomali 7,150 *8 . , 30 V Verapoly 60,000 13 53 149 5 Vizagapatam 13,915 18 •• 25 4 Indo-Chinese Peninsula. Bangkok 22,000 36 14 43 23 Burma, East 9,600 10 1 73 14 “ North 6,000 21 3 39 35 “ South 41,000 39 9 75 36 Cambodia, (Prom-Penh) . . . . 28,400 33 21 104 5 East Cochin China 68,000 48 29 30 4 North “ “ 59,800 46 33 37 4 West “ “ 63,800 57 68 168 37 Laos, (Nangsen) 9,430 31 4 30 10 Singapore (Malacca) 19,800 33 3 25 43 Central Tongking 204,000 17 78 681 10 East “ 49,900 15 38 200 32 North “ 27,600 13 26 40 11 South “ 118,000 34 68 183 6 Upper “ 18,410 24 14 ? 3 West “ 301,700 66 119 645 7 Japan. Hakodate 4,600 21 1 3 3 Nagasaki 37,100 31 27 4 8 Osaka 4,650 27 2 8 5 Tokio 9,050 36 2 13 4 Malaysia. Batavia 49,800 50 29 6 Borneo 13 10 ? Persia. Ispahan 14,000 13 65 47 3 Turkish Empire. Bagdad 5,000 6 15 25 2 Brusa 3,000 3 5 4 3 Chios 400 10 3 p Cyprus 30,000 160 130 20 ? Jerusalem 15,000 24 24 67 20 Kurdistan 4,500 10 21 6 9 Marah 6,000 6 10 8 i Mesopotamia 66,000 50 155 84 20 Mush 6,000 V 6 ? 9 Sehasteia 3,000 10 11 Smyrna 15,500 40 17 15 5 Syria 40,000 43 50 30 9 Trebizond 5,000 7 7 4 ? 34 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. OCEANICA. Dioceses. Catholics. Priests. Miss’y. Native. Schools. Chari- ties. Australasia. Auckland, N. Z 23,500 42 33 5 Christchurch, N. Z Port Augusta, Aust 25,000 32 8 2 11,160 15 12 ? Wellington, N. Z 28,000 58 37 4 Wilcannia, Aust 16,000 16 16 ? Polynesia. Fiji Islds 32 8 ? Gilbert “ 11 67 ? Marquesas Islds 3,100 7 7 ? Navigators “ Samoa 6,000 18 1 67 ? New Caledonia 34,500 61 30 5 New Guinea 4,000 18 29 V New Pomerania 6,600 20 15 ? Central Oceanica 9,450 19 4 51 ? Sandwich Islds. (U. S.) 28,000 24 17 4 Solomon Islds., North 9 4 ? 9 “ “ South 9 3 ? ? Tahiti 7,200 18 52 1 Wilhelmsland 9 3 ? ? The following dioceses, though not under the jurisdiction of the Pro- paganda, and therefore not strictly speaking missionary dioceses, have for special reasons been aided by our Society during the year 1900. Germany.—Breslau, Cologne, Fulda, Hildesheim, Limburg, Mainz, Munster, Paderborn, Pomerania and Brandenburg, Posen and Gnesen, Treves, Warmia (Ermeland). Switzerland.—Basel, Chur, Lausanne-Geneva, Sion. Africa.—Algiers, Carthage, Constantine, Oran, Bourbon Island. IV. Personnel of the Missions. religious orders and societies engaged in mission work, and COUNTRIES WHERE THEY ARE EMPLOYED. Founded. Headquarters. Mission Fields. African Missions, Lyons. 1856 Lyons. African Missions, Verona 1867 Verona. Algerian Missionaries . . . 1868 Algiers. Augustinians 1256 Rome. Angustinians of the As- sumption 1851 Paris. Basilians 1822 Annonay (Fr) Basilians of Bavaria Munich Benedictines 520 Monte Cas- sino. “ (Sylvestrian) Rome. “ (St. Ottilien) 1884 Bavaria. Benin, Dahomey, Gold Coast, Ivory Coast, U. Niger, Egypt. Central Africa. Algeria, Upper Congo, Jerusa- lem, Nyassa, Unyanyemhe, Sahara, Soudan, Tanganyika, Tunis, Victoria Nyanza. Cooktown (Australia), North- ern Hu-nan, Philippines, United States. Turkey, United States. Canada, United States, Algeria. Southern Zanzibar. United States, Australia, Eng- land. Kandy. Zanzibar. Personnel of the Missions. 35 Founded. Headquarters. Mission Fields. Carmelites 1538 Rome. Bagdad, Quillon, Verapoly, U. S. Carthusians 1086 Grande-Char- treuse. England. Children of Mary Immac- ulate 1820 Vendee. Antilles. Children of the Immacu- late Heart of Mary Spain. Fernando Po. Cistercians (Trappists) . 1098 Rome. Africa,Australia, Canada, China, England, Palestine, United States. Company of Mary 1710 St. Laurent sur Sevre, France. England, Africa, Haiti, Canada, Dominicans 1315 Rome. Amoy, Canada, Curasao, Fokien Mesopotamia, Philippines, Central, Eastern and North- ern Tongking, United States. Eudist Fathers 1643 Rennes. Canada. Fathers of Mercy 1803 Paris. United States. For’gn Missions, Belgian 1865 Scheut-lez Bruxelles. Congo Free State, Hi, Kan-su, Mongolia. “ “ English 1866 Mill Hill. Borneo, Kaflristan, Madras, Upper Nile. “ “ French 1663 Paris. Burma (Southern and Northern), Cambodia, Cochin China, Coimbatore, Corea, Japan, Kwang-si, Kwang-tung, Kui- chau, Malaysia, Mysore, Pondicherry, Siam, Si-chuan, Thibet, Tongking, Yun-nan. “ “ German- Holland, (Society of 1875 Steyl, Hoi. Southern Shan-tung, Togoland, Williamsland, United States. the Divine Word) .... For’gn Missions, Milan 1850 Milan. Eastern Burma, Ho-nan, Hong- kong, Southern Hu-nan, Hyderabad, Krishnagar. “ “ Rome 1874 Rome. Southern Shen-si. Franciscans, Minor “ “ Con- 1309 Rome. America, Egypt, Southern Hu- nan, Hu-peh, Philippines, Shan-si, Northern and East- ern Shan-tung, Northern Shen-si, Syria, Tripoli, etc. ventuals 1507 Rome. Adrianople, Constantinople, Moldavia, United States. Franciscans (Minor Cap- uchins) 1528 Rome. Aden, Agra, Allahabad, Canada, Candia, Erythraea, Galla, La- hore, Mardin, Seychelles, Sophia, United States. Holy Cross 1831 Le Mans. Dacca, United States, Canada. Holy Ghost (1703) and i Sacred Heart of Mary V (1841) J 1848 Paris. French Colonies ; Cimbebasia, French Congo, Lower Congo, Guinea, French Guiana, Kunene, Lower Niger, Sene- gambia, Sierra Leone, Zan- zibar, and small Madagascan Islands, United States. 36 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Founded. Headquarters. Jesuits 1540 Fiesole near Florence. Josephite Society . . . ... 1892 Baltimore. La Salette . .. 1852 La Salette. Lazarists 1 ... 1632 Paris. Marists ... 1836 Lyons. Mechitarists (Benedic- tines) 1700 Venice. Oblates of Mary Immac- ulate 1826 Paris. Oblates of the Sacred Pontigny, Heart Yonne, I Oblates of St. Francis de Sales 1850 Troyes, Fr. Oratorians 1577 Passionists 1737 Rome. Paulist Fathers 1858 New York. Pious Society of Missions (Pallotins) 1850 Rome. Precious Blood 1814 Rome. Premonstratensians (Norbertins) 1119 Rome. Redemptorists 1732 Rome. Resurrectionists Rome. Sacred Heart Missionary Fathers 1854 Issoudun. Sacred Heart of Jesus . . Rome. Sacred Hearts of Picpus . 1817 Paris. St. Charles Missionary Piacenza. Fathers St. Francis de Sales of Annecy 1833 Annecy. Salesians of Turin. .... 1855 Turin. Mission Fields. Alaska, Armenia, Australia, Western Bengal, Bombay, British Guiana, Canada, Kotayam, Jamaica, Mada- gascar, Mangalore, Eastern Chili, United States, Poona, Trichinopoli, Zambesi, etc. United States (Missions for the colored people). Canada, Madagascar, United States. Abyssinia, Adrianople, Bulgaria, Constantinople, Kiang-si, Madagascar, Persia, Chi-li, Syria, Che-kiang, U. S. etc. Fiji Islands, New Zealand, (Wellington and Christ- church), New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Navigators Islands, Central Oceanica, Solomon Islands, America. Armenia. Athabasca-Mackenzie, British Columbia, United States, Colombo, Jaffna, Natal, Orange Free State, St. Al- bert, St. Boniface, Saskatch- ewan, Transvaal, United States. United States. Greece, Orange River. England. England, Bukharest, Nicopolis, United States. United States. Kamerun, Kimberley (Aus- tralia), Brazil, SouthAmerica, United States. United States. Canada, Norway, United States, Madagascar. Dutch Guiana, United States. Adrianople, Canada, United States. r Micronesia, New Guinea, New Pomerania, United States. Belgian Congo ; (Hanley Falls.) Marquesas Islands, Sandwichls- lands. Tahiti. United States. Nagpore, Vizagapatam. North and South Patagonia^ United States. Auxiliaries to the Missionary Priests. 37 Founded. Headquarters. Mission Fields. Servites 1233 Rome. England, United States. Society of the Divine Saviour Rome. Assam, United States. Sulpicians. 1642 Paris. Canada, United States. Auxiliaries to the Missionary Priests. The chief auxiliaries in mission works are communities of Brothers and Sisters. Not to mention the lay-brothers accom- panying Religious Orders of Priests, nor the large numbers of catechists and other missionary helpers, in almost every quarter of the globe where the priest has planted the faith Brothers and Sisters have followed to help sustain it. Including several native orders, there are more than thirty orders of Brothers, and more than one hundred and twenty-five orders of Sisters engaged in mission work, who are represented in various countries approximately as follows: Number of Orders, Number of Orders, Brothers. Sisters. AMERICA. United States 9 75 Canada 8 33 Antilles (except Cuba, Porto Rico, etc.) .... 1 11 Guiana , 1 10 Patagonia . . 1 EUROPE. British Isles 9 49 Gibraltar 1 3 Holland 15 30 North German Mission .. 7 Denmark 1 4 Norway and Sweden . . 6 Balkan States 1 18 ASIA. Turkish Empire (including the Holy Land and Syria) 1 17 Arabia . . 2 Persia . . 1 India 10 31 Indo Chinese Peninsula 2 16 Malaysia 1 4 China 4 13 Japan and Corea 1 4 AFRICA. Egypt 1 10 North Africa (except Egypt and Barbary States) 2 18 Equatorial Africa 3 12 South Africa and Islands 4 13 OCEANICA. Australia 3 28 Other Oceanic Islands 4 18 38 The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. It is impossible to furnish satisfactory figures, as to tlie whole number of missionaries, because of the different views people may take as to what is understood by missionary countries and by missionaries. In those countries mentioned above, heresy, schism or infi- delity prevails. Such countries, taken as a whole, the Holy See rightly regards as special mission fields, and usually applies a particular form of ecclesiastical government to them. There may be some, however, as Russia, parts of Germany and Swit- zerland, where for political or other reasons that form of admin- istration is not applied, which nevertheless offer a large mis- sionary field, while in other countries, as the United States, England, Ireland, Holland, etc., the missionary form of govern- ment in part has been continued, though we would naturally conclude that in most places the actual missionary stage was passed. In the popular sense, those are missionaries who have gone to distant regions, and especially to heathen countries for the purpose of spreading the faith among unbelievers. Taking these distinctions into consideration we may safely assert that there are at least 15,000 priests and religious, 5000 teaching brothers, and 45,000 sisters laboring as missionaries, not to speak of the priests, brothers and sisters native to the regions where they work, catechists and others who make up the personnel of a mission, and the laborers among the Oriental Rites. Probably the estimate is much too small, but be it so. At the lowest computation there are, at the opening of the XX century about sixty-five thousand missionaries; sixty-five thousand men and women who have left their country, their brothers and sisters, houses and lands, and all the blessings they hold most dear in this world, to bring the still greater blessing of the faith to those who are as yet deprived of it. Assuredly it is an astonishing number, which may well rejoice our hearts; and all the more because a century ago those missionaries scarcely numbered one thousand, all told. Sixty-five thousand missionaries is a noble army; but what victories are yet to be won! Almost fifteen hundred millions of human beings inhabit the earth; and only about four hundred millions are baptized Christians. The immense majority of more than a thousand millions have not yet acknowledged Christ, and are divided among the many sects of Buddhism, Mahomet- anism, Fetichism and infidelity. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. 39 CONCLUSION. Eighteen centuries after the redemption of the world there are but four hundred millions of Christians; and of these only a little more than one half are Catholics ; the others being divided among schismatics, and the multitudinous sects of Protestant- ism. Christianity has but commenced; and those who consider that it is drawing to an end have neglected to reckon with the perpetual and divinely sustained vitality of the Catholic Church, and its eternal mission to the whole human race. “ And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd.” Well may we admire the devotion and self-sacrifice of Catholic missionaries. Well may we exclaim with the prophet: How beautiful are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings and that preacheth peace y of him that showeth forth good, that preacheth salvation.” Let not our charity limit itself to a sterile admiration; let us remember that our missionary activity is the one certain evi- dence that we regard our faith as a true blessing; as its success is in return an evidence to us that our faith is as vital today as when the Holy Ghost was first given to the Church. From among our newest brethren in Christ, God has chosen many of his martyrs to witness to the grace of his everlasting Redemp- tion. Let us hear and obey the missionary call. If it is not our vocation to follow in the very steps of the laborers, let us at least try to obtain a share in the merits of their work by giving them the help of prayers and alms needed to fulfill the divine com- mand by which they are sent: ** Go ye into the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature,” PRAYER FOR CATHOLIC MISSIONS O God who wouldst have all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truths send forth, we beseech Thee, laborers into Thy harvest; and grant them with all boldness to preach the Word; that Thy Gospel may everywhere be heard and glorified, and that all nations may know Thee the one true God, and Him whom Thou hast sent, Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord. Amen* From the Missal—Mass for the Propagation of the Faith.