Letters of moral instruction · for the faithful · posted with a real stamp
✠ Epistulae Menstruae ✠
Each month, Father Bartholomew — a priest of the old school, grave of years and gentle of heart — writes thee a letter of moral and spiritual instruction. It arrives by true post, sealed in wax, bearing a real stamp, and addressed to thee by name. Thou needst only read it slowly; the letter will do the rest, or will not, as letters do.
Fifteen dollars the month · cancel without sin
✠ An epistle, by way of example ✠
From the month last past
«Father, I have spoken ill of a neighbor, and been much enjoyed for it. The company laughed; my conscience did not. What must I do?»
— Margaret, of Ohio
My dear Margaret — the words are flown; the guilt remaineth. Do not rehearse thy wit a second time, for an audience is a temptation twice. Go instead unto thy neighbor upon some small errand of use, and speak well of her where it cannot profit thee. Penance is measured in kindnesses done quietly, and in tongues held gladly…
— the letter continueth, as letters do
“I am gentler at breakfast and slower to wrath in traffic. I credit the letters, and the reading of them aloud.”
Mrs. Agatha P., subscriber of two years