The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-16 00:00:00

CARDINAL MANNING AND THE NEW

POPE.

The following pastoral letter from Cardinal Manning was
read on Sunday, in the various Roman Catholic places of
worship in the diocese of Westminster :

Being by the will ) f God absent from you, we have
been deprived of a twofold consolation. We have not
been among you to share in your sorrow for the hiss of
our beloved Pontiff and Father, Pius IX.; nor in
your joy for the speedy and peaceful election of our
Sovereign Pontiff, Leo XIII. Nevertheless, though
absent, we have shared with you in heart and
spirit; and we desire now, by a solemn act of adoration,
to unite with you in giving thanks to the Divine Head
of the Church, who has raised up as His Vicar upon
earth a pasture according to His own heart. We have
said that the election of Le ) XIII. was speedy and
peaceful. It was speedy almost beyond precedent on
record. Never in any conclave was the number of electors '
so great, and seldom was the duration of a conclave so
short. The most numerous conclave on record was that
which elected Urban VIII., but the number of electors
was only fifty-nine—in the late conclave there were
present sixty-one. Conclaves have usually lasted for
weeks and months. The shortest conclave was in
the election of Gregory XV.' which was completed
in one day. The election of Leo XIII. was com-
pleted in two. These facts demonstrate the unity of
mind and will which pervaded the Sacred College,
and this again demonstrates the hand and the will
of God, the presence and the assistance of the Holy
Ghost. When the first Apostolic election was made
in Jerusalem, it was made in speed and in peace,
for the Lord showed whom he had chosen.
In the midst of a world of which all the Powers and
rulers have consented to spoil and to dethrdne the
Vicar of Jesus Christ, the election of the Sovereign
Pontiff has been made with an absolute internal
liberty; which excluded even so much as a shadow of
secular interference; f "where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is liberty." For this peace and
iberty which came from God alone, let us offer our
thanks. But we have another, abundant and heart-
felt, cause to give thanks : that is, for the singular
gifts which unite in the person on whom this choice
has fallen. It would ill become us even to seem to
commend the Vicar of Jesus Chpist. But as in Pius
IX. we have lost a man of God, a true Pastor of Souls,
and one who was known and loved by his own and by
all other peoples, so in Leo XIII. these three great
conditions, on which, under God, the power of faith
and charity depends, are found united. But our duty
is to uphold the Head- of the Church by our fidelity
and prayers. The latter days are upon the Church,.
and the world is in confusion. The last Pontificate
has bequeathed to the present its glorious inheritance
of the Church in warfare. Pray, therefore, rev, and dear
Fathers and beloved children in Jesus Christ; pray for
Leo, XIII., that the lizht and power of the Holy
Ghost may be abundantly with him in every hour of
counsel and of decision, of action and endurance.
With this intention we appoint that on the second
Sunday in Lent the most holy sacoament of our Lord's
presence shall be exposed upon the altar from the high
mass to the evening, to be closed with procession and
benediction. To our reverend and beloved bretlareri
the clergy we leave the duty of selecting such fitting
devotions as shall most emphatically express the in-
tention of our united act of intercession. And, finally,
we invite all our flock, clergy and people, to join with
us in saying daily, with the same intention, seven
" Glorias " iu honour of the Holy Ghost, to which
devotion Pius IX., of blessed 'memory, granted an in-
dulgence. The God of peace and hope fill you with
all joy and strength to do, and if need be to suffer,
His holy will.