Rt. Rev. Wm. Quarter 7/ 



He eagerly encouraged every means that might 

 enhance the spiritual welfare of every member of 

 his flock, and with this view he directed the Sisters 

 of Mercy to establish a Sodality of the Blessed 

 Virgin, by means of which the female children 

 might be gathered together, in order to instruct 

 them in their religious duties more thoroughly than 

 could be done otherwise; and in his last pastoral, 

 from which I have already quoted, he urged upon 

 his clergymen the advantages of establishing Sodali- 

 ties of the same kind in their congregations, where 

 such had not been as yet done. He says: 



'"We earnestly recommend the clergy to establish in their 

 congregations, if they have not already done so, "the Confra- 

 ternity of the Rosary,' or of 'the Immaculate Heart of Mary;' 

 and we as strongly recommend to the faithful to become 

 members, and to endeavor to partake of the spiritual benefits 

 and privileges granted to those societies. Let parents urge 

 their children also to join those religious societies, and soon will 

 they discover the happy results, in their obedience, gentleness, 

 tractableness, and faithful attention to their Christian duties." 



For the same purpose, he directed the instructors 

 in the Academy of St. Joseph, to form among the 

 male children of the Academy a St. Joseph's Society : 



"The exalted virtues of St. Joseph, and the dignified privi- 

 leges he obtained, not only convince us 'how wonderful is God 

 in his Saints,' but demand from us a relative devotion due to so 

 faithful a servant. And if our Heavenly Father has elected him 

 to watch over the tender years of His Divine Son, and to be his 

 protector; and if He has placed under his patronage and guard- 

 ianship, the Blessed Virgin, mother of the same Divine Redeemer 

 how pleased must not be this Heavenly Father to see us, his 

 'little ones', place ourselves under his protection and patronage. 



