The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-22 00:00:00

POPE PIUS ON THE STUDY OF SCIENCE.

We publish to-day a brief addressed by the Pope
to the Archbishop of Munich, ou the subject of the
congress of the Roman catholic 'arena of Germany
lately held in that city. It will be seen that the
Pontiff expresses his surprise at the meeting of this
body, and also a variety of apprehensions which it has
canard in his mind. On the Continent this docu-
ment is construed as a general censure of the
opinions and proceedings of what are called liberal
catholics ; and many of the expressions are under-
stood to refer as much to M. Montalembert and
the congress of Malines, as to the scientific gentle-
men who assembled at Munich. The document is
as follows :

TO OUR VLIIIIABLR FAroga Garoorr, ARCHBISHOP or

MUNICH AND or Frismour.
PICK THI NISTH, Pori.

Venerable Brother, health mid apostolic beeediction !
We have received with pleasure your letter dated the 7th of
October last, a letter by which you kaolin us what parted
in the congress at Munich ie the preoeding mouth of Sep-
tember, amoog some theologians end learned catholic of
Germany, who were occupied with divers questions relating
principally to the teaching of theology and of philosophy.
The letter which, by our order, was written to you by our
venerable brother Mathieu. Archbishop of Neocesarc'e, and
Nuncio of the Apostolic See of the Court of Bavaria, has
already apprised you, venerable brother, al what senti-
ment& we had received the first news of the projected co
greet, and afterwards learnt how the said theologians sod
other catholics had been invited to and assembled at that
congress. We certainly did not wish to doubt the
praiseworthy end which the authors and abettors of the
aseembly proposed to themselves. Doubtless, they ex-
pected from the congress of so many catholic, remark-
able for their scieoce, from their common deliberations and
their united forces, that • new impulse would be given to
true science in the catholic church in Germany, and hoped
that it would thus be avenged and defended against the
opinions and the perverse and very pernicious efforts of to
many adversaries. But placed, though unworthy, in the
sublime chair of the Prince of the Apostles, in times so diffi-
cult, when the authority of the bishops is more necessary
than ever to secure the unity and integrity of the catholic
doctrine, and when it is important to preserve it in all its
force, me could not help being extraordinarily astonished at
seeing the conrocatiou of the above-mentioned congrem made
and plass/ad in the name of some individuals in marls a
manner that nothing is to be found which came from the
impulsion, from the authority, and front the mission of the
ecclesiastical power, to whirls alone it Wong*, by proper and
natural right, to watch over and direct doctrine, parts cu.
tarty in maters relating to theological questions. Cer-
tainly this is a thing, and you know it, quite new, and
altofether unusual in the church.

This is the macro, venerable brother, why we have
wished to make you acquainted with our sentiments, is order
that you and your venerable brothers, the bishops of Ger-
many, may exactly judge whether the end indicated in the
programme of the coogreas was of a nature to prove 'mini
to the church. We were at the same time certain,
venerable brother, that, in your pastoral solicitude, you
would employ all the counsels and the efforts of your zeal
to prevent any damage from being occasioned in this con-
gress, whether to the integrity of the faith and the catholic
doctrine, or to the full obedience which catholic* of every order
and of erery condition owe to the authority of the church,
and to the mission which she has received to teach.
For the rest, we cannot conceal that we have suffered
considerable uneasiness ; foe we fear lest the example of this
congress, ass gabled without eeelesiastial authority, may
eerie by degrees to bring about an attack on the right of
spiritual mirernment and of legitimate teaching, which, in
virtue of the divine institution, belongs of right to the Roman
Pontiff and to the bishops who ore in union and in accord
with the sueeetsor of St. Peter; and that by ream° of this
trouble thus introduced into the government of the
church, the principle of unity sod of obedience is matters
of faith may one day be weakened among many. We
feared also that in the same conyrem there might come to be
uttered and :yearned opinions and systems which, espe-
cially by the publicity whit...standar be giren to them, might
place in peril the purity of catholic doctrine and the duty of
submission. For we recalled with profound grief, vene-
rable brother, that the apostolic see, in order to fulfil
the heavy duty which is imposed on it, has been
compelled in late times to censure and to inter-
dict the works of some German writers, who,
knowing not howto separate themodres from a (Trial* prin.
Mole or method of a false science, or from the deceitful
philosophy of the day, have been led without wishing it,
as we delight to think, to propound sod teach doctrines
which depart from the true sense and the legitimate inter-
pretation of many dogmas of our holy faith. It is thus th►t
they have revived errors already condemned by the church,
and have explained, in a sense entirely false, the nature and
the proper character of divine revelation and of the faith.
We know also, venerable brother, that among the catholic's
demoted to the study of the higher science, there were some who,
reckonimi too much on the strength of the human mind,
hare not allowed thentmlves to be stopped by the fear of
enconntering error, and who, while wishing for science a
deceitful and scarcely sincere liberty, hare been corned
• beyond the linWs which may not be crossed, at least to
the renouacing of the obedience due to the dirine authority
' which the church has receired to teach, and to preserve
intact the whole deposit of revealed truth. Whence it has
happened that these catholic*, dupes of unhappy illusions,
often sin,' theraselres in agreement with those who declaim
against tlw decrees of this apostolic see, and of our congrega-
tions, saying that those decrees are an obstacle to the free
progress of science, and thee exposing themselves to break the
sacred ties of obedience which, in the order of the Divine
will, ought to attach them to that some apostolic set, in-
stituted by God Himself to 6e the interpreter and
defender of the truth. We were not ignorant either
that in Germany had prevailed false prejudices against
the cadent school, and against the doctrine
of the great doctors whom the universal church reveres for
their admirable wisdom and for the holiness of their life.
That false opiaiou has even attacked the authority
of the church, "Moe It is the church herself which, during
so many successive ages, not ally permitted the cultivation
of theological science according to the method of those
doctors, and according to the principles consecrated by the
unanimous wooed of all the catholic school', but has also
very often bestowed the greatest praises epos their theolo-
gical science, and has strongly recommended it as offering
the beet means of defending the faith, and the most terrible
weapons against its enemies.

The very imported duty dour supreme apostolic mugs-
ay, sad the special love with which we embrace all the
cattails of Gersoaay, a very dear pert of the Lord's flock,
seitaited sad drew car mad towards all them thoughts,
when it was preoccupied with so many term Moreover,
herby received the intellipmes of the projected cooper,
we were anxious that the matters =phased above should
be signified to you. When it bad been kiddy reported to us
that, yielding tette entreaties of the anthers of that megress,
you bad accorded, viseirable brother, antbority to hada, that
you had solemnly inaugurated it by the feelebration of
the holy mysteries, that emulations had there taken place
in sash a manse as not to deviate it from the doctrine of
the catholic church; when by the sum missive the mbar
of that emigres implored our apostolic benediction,
we yielded without any delay to their pions wishes.
However, we awaited with the greatest anxiety your
letters, that we might learn from yourself, venerable
brother, sad in the paned detail, all that could be re-
ported "apathy this outran Now that we have re- I
ceived from you what we desired so ardently, we bope that,
with God's aid, this assembly, a you assure us, will be of
great service In Germany for the catholic church. In fact,
all the members of this congress, you wile, have pro-
claimed that the propene of the sciences, sad the mesas of
avoiding and refuting the very unfortunate errors of oar
ego, entirely depend on en intimate adhesion to the re-
retied truths taught by the catholic church ; they have
recognised and professed this truth, whisk true catholic,
devoted to the study sad development of the sci-
ems, hare always kept and transmitted. Resting
upon this truth, leaned men and tree unbolt= have
been able to cultivate the edema without peril, to labour
in their development and to reader them useful and certain.
But this remit could not be obtained if even in the search
of truths which it our attain by its faculties and its own
strength, the light of human ream, cireemenled in its
limits, did not above all respect as it oughttodothe infallible
and encrusted light of the divine intelligence which burns
admirably on every side in the Christian revelation.
Although, in fact, the natural sciences rest lima their own
principles, ascertained by reason, it is neotawszy that
catholic. who cultivate them have always before their
eyes Cam revelation, as a star which guides them,
mad whose light aids them in preserving themeless
from dangers and errors when in their researches
sad studies they perceive that they may allow
themselves to be led, as very often happens, to later
words more or less contrary to the infallible truth of thiop
which have been revealed by Cod. We do not wish to
doubt that the members of the maven, kacieriag and pro-
faisiog the truth of what we have reminded them, have at
the same time wished to reject and fully reprobate that
meet and false method of philosophy which, while
admitting divine revelation as an historical fact,
submits to the investiptions of human ream ineffable
truths taught by that same revelation, as if these truths
arose from reason, or as if reason, by its owe strength sad
its named principles, could acquire the knowledge sod the
•61111011 of all the supernatural truths of our holy faith, and
of mysteries which are so ninth atone it, that it can sever
become tumbled understanding them, or of demonstrating
them by it, own forces sod in virtue of its natural Kaneko.
We address eulogies that are deserved to this assembly,
bemuse, rejecting, as we expected of it, that false dis-
tinction between philosopher and philosophy of which we
have spoken in our previous letters, they have recognised
and affirmed that all catholic., in their writings, are held in
conscience to obey the dogmatic dares of the catholic
church, which is infallible. In giveg these praises
which are their due for hang confessed a truth
which necessarily result. from the obligation of preferring
the catholic faith, we wish to persuade °undoes that they
havens), intended to restrict this duty of submission, by which
catholic professes and writers are strictly &mad, to the
role points d<tined by the infallible jud
_meat of the church as
dogmas of faith which all oejht to believe. And ice
persuade ourselves that they hire not wished to de-
clare that this perfect adhesion to revealed trials.: which
they have recognised as altogether swe'ssary to the
progress of the sciences and the refutation of errors could be
obtained if faith and obedience were only granted to the
dogmas exprissly defined by the church. Even when the sub-
mission due to the divine faith is the only q nation, they could
not restrict it to the sole points defined by express decree of
socumeoical councils or Rowse pontiffs and of this apostolic
see : it would be necessary further to extend it to all which
is transmuted as divinely revealed by the ordinary body of
instruction of the whole church diapered over the universe,
and which, for this oases, catholic theologises, with
universal and capstan consent, regard as belonging to faith.
But as the question is of the submission which is due in
conscience from all those catholic. who give themselves to
the study of the speculative sciences in order to procure to
the church new advantages by their writings, the
members of the congress ought to recognise that it is
not sufficient for catholic saran, to mann and respect
the dogmas of the church of which we come to speak, and
that they ought also to submit themselves both to the doc-
trinal decisions which emanate from pontifical swamp-
time, sod to the points of doctrine which by common and
constant consent are held in the church as truths, and a.
oaten theological oacludoits, and that the oppceiteopthioes,
although they cannot be qualified as heretical, merit,
nevertheless, some other theological ensure. We do
not think that those who took part is the congers
of Munich were able or wished in any way to contradict the
doctrine above stated, a doctrine which proceeds from true
principles, and which is that of the church ; we prefer, on
the contrary, to hope that io devoting themselves to the
culture of the most elevated sciences they had at heart to
conform to this doctrine and to take it for their guide
That which specially MUSA oar confidence, venerable
brother, are the lottors which have come to us through
you, for we have seen ie them with extreme con-
solation the assurance that in ceiling the coopers
together they
themselves the least part of the authority which beams
entirely to the church ; and at the same time they
tell us that they could not dissolve the marrow without
having previously protested the respect, obedience, and
filial piety which they have for us and for thew of Peter,
the centre of the catholic unity. Sines these ere the
sentiments with which they recognise our su-
preme authority and the power of the ape-
toilet sec—since at the same time they under-
stood the gravity of the truth which our Lord Jesus Christ
himself imposed upon us of governing and directing His
whole church, of feeding His whole Hock in the maturates
of holy doctrine, and of continually watching lest the holy
faith and His doctrine should receive the slightest iejury—
we cannot doubt that in devoting themselves to the study and
to the teaching of the higher sciences and to the defence of holy
doctrine, they also recognise that it is a duty for them to
religiously follow the rules constastly observed in the
Church, and to obey all the decrees which have been given
on matters of doctrine by our supreme Pontifical authority.
We make all these communications to you, strongly de.
siring that you should bring them to the knowledge of
all those who assisted at this congress ; but, nevertheless, if
it appears to us that there is cause for it, we shall
not fail to give ample instructions epos the subject to you
and to our venerable brothers the bishops of Germany,
when we know your views and theirs upon the fitness of
these kinds of congress. Finally, we can more very urgently
, appeal to your solicitude and pastoral vigilance, that in con-
cert with our venerable brothers the other bishops of Ger.
many, you cease not to consecrate all your cars and thoughts
on the defence and propagation of holy doctrine. Do not
fail to impress upon all the necessity of carefully avoiding pro-
fans novelties and of not allowing themselves to be seduced
by those who unceasingly vaunt the false liberty of science,
sad who extol, not only its true progress, but also the erron
which they impudently please to decorate with that name.
Do not cease with zeal and ardour to seldom to al
' your exhortations that they use their energies
and efforts in acquiring true Christian and catho-
lic wisdom, and that they he'd is great esteem,
as is right, the truths and the solid progress of
science which have been realised in catholic schools
in following the direction and teachings of oar holy
and divine faith ; that in the study of the theological
sciences especially they attach themselves to the firm prin-
ciples sad doctrines upon which the wise and leaned
teachers who have acquired immortal glory in ren-
dering brilliant and reel services to the thumb
and to science unanimously relied. It is in this
way assuredly that in cultivating the sciences,
esthetics can with the aid of God, know, develop, and
make known more day by day, as much as it is gives to
man to do, the treasure of the truths which God has put in
the works of Nature and of Once, so that man, after
having bloom them by the light of reason and of faith and
having carefully conformed his life to them may contemplate
unveiled and in the clearness of the eternal glory, the ave-
rage truth, that is to say, God, and enjoy Him for ever
in the plenitude of eternal happiness.
It is with much joy that we avail ourselves of this oppor-
teaity to resew the swarm* of our peculiar affection for

yOU. BAOIOII the pledge dit in the spostolicel benediction
which we give to you in its fulness, venseable brother, sag
to the do* wedded to your we.

Ofven at items, ►t & Peter, Dee. 21 of the year liicA
the eighteenth of our Pontifical. _

Prue IL, POP!.

M. GOUNOVS NSW OPERA "MIREILLZ."

The first representation of M. Gounal'a new
opera Mirrifle took place at the Thatre•Lvrique, Paris, on
Beton* night. The subject of the opera is taken from
a poem by M. Frederic Mistral.
The critic al the Sukk remarks :—" For works of this
importance, CO. hearing is not sufficient. Never, perhaps,
was a booze better disposed. The applause came altogether,
with a marvellous unanimity, well calculated to encourage
the artistes and glorify the composer. The least note had its
applanden, spontanecue claqueurs, if such there were, en-
raptured, and stamping with delight. Ido not blame—l
state. I the representation with a contused mind. If it
were neetreary for me to pronounce at own, under threat of
torture, I should may that there Is in this work a grand in-
spiratioo. Do not ask me more at present ; permit me to
adjourn final judgment fora week."
The critic of the Tempe, promising details in another
snide, mays :—"The fret acts were very favourably received;
at the fourth act the action appeared to languish, sad the con-
chiaion of the piece seemed tittle satisfactory. We did not
expect to see Xireille in an agony for an act and a half only
to die far good, with the sole object of proving that the
father and mother ought not to seek to disunite hearts
which are united by love. The score will be counted
smoept the beet of Y. Gounod's productions."