Luck chain letter. Ancient Prayer - early Catholic
form. Partial text. Immunities. Patent Medicine. US, 1906.
[text missing]
Whoever recites and writes this prayer for nine days will receive a great
joy at the end of the period, beginning from the day you receive it to the
end of nine days, giving one each day to a person who will do the same.
This prayer was sent to a woman, who paid not attention to it, and she was
punished at the end of three days. This prayer was sent by the bishop
of Rome, also told of it whoever receives this must recite and give a copy
once a day to a person who will do the same.
[text missing]
Published: Pittston Gazette
(Pittston, Pennsylvania) Feb. 21, 1906, p. 5. PRAYER BEING SENT LOCAL CATHOLICS.
Much Condemned Endless Chain Prayer Finds Its Way Here - Hierarchy
Oppose It.
"An endless-chain prayer that is being issued in great numbers throughout
different sections of the country and which is meeting with active opposition
and condemnation by the Catholic hierarchy, is being introduced into this
city. Numerous copies of it were received here yesterday, some of which
emanated from Scranton. Accompanying the prayer was the following
explanatory note: [text].
According to the Irish-American of the present week, Mgr.
Lavelle, rector of St. Patrick's cathedral, New York, has called the attention
of District Attorney Jerome to the prayer. The paper above mentioned quotes
Mgr. Lavelle as follows in connection with the prayer.
'It may have been originally been sent out by some well-meaning
but misguided person, but it is an outcropping of superstition. It was fist
sent out with a patent medicine advertisement. I believe, having been translated
from the Italian. It was ultimately handed from one person to another.
The letter promises immunity from drowning and also immunity
from arrest and the like, if the injunction in the letter is obeyed.
Not only I, but many other of the Catholic clergy throughout the United
States, are taking action in the suppression of the false prayer, to which
the names of several prominent bishops have been forged.
I am anxious for the public to know that a prayer of that character
is contrary in every respect to the spirit of the church because, among
other things, it promises physical impossibilities. So far I have been unable
to learn who the author is or the object he has in sending the letter out.'
"
Entered by DWV, July 29, 2014.
le1906-02-21p1_ap+_immunity_
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