The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-04

FIRST NATIONAL COUNCIL
OF THE UNITED STATES.
Baltimore i'm May, 1861.


pKoRF, TO THE CLERGY AND LAITY OF THEIR
esARGE, HRALTH AND BENEDIcTIoN!
Venerable BYttlpel Of the Clergy, aud Btiocsd
Ckiidrer Of the Laity Assembled in National
Council, under the sanction of Our Most Holy
Father, Plus TX we find ne duty more imperative,
and at The same time, more agreeable TO our feel
mgs, than TO address the flock committed TO our
care. The attachment to tho doctrines and practi-
ses OF Our Holy Religion, which ehafacterizes the
Catholics Of the United States; the docility and
obedience which they have uniformly manifested
the cordial union which, notwithstanding the diver
atty OF origin, customs, and language regns through
eat the whole Catholic body in this vast country;
their general fervor and deyotedness IN the exer-
<ise Of the virtues Of the Gospel I'll hearts with
Joy, AMI more than compensate us for the and
solcitudes of tho pastoral office. We are able to
adopt the words Of the apostle: "Our mouth is
open TO you-Our heart is enlarged" I'll Cor. VI.
NJ "Great is our confidence for you great is
eur glorying for you. We are filed with comfort;
We exceedingly abound with joy IN I'll our tribula-
hon" Oh Cor VII. A.
The authority VIC exercise las been given us by
Christ. We are his ministers; ambassadors for
hlm. We claim no power, and seek no influence
which ho has not wiled Us to have. il is our duty
Is guard the sacred deposit Of tho faith for te US
has il been committed, and from rs viii il be one
day demanded by Our Heavenly Master. Having
vouchsaied to speak, at sundry times, and IL dyer
manners, in times past to the fathers by tho pro.
yLets, last OF al hath God spoken to us by his
Bon and this Divine Son--.he brightness Of his
Fathers glory, the figure Of bis Substance has
made ~ sh deposltaries q his doetrine, ard has
given to the ministry OF reconciliaton.' II Cor.
'. Is. Man having bad need that God should teach
him, ever requires to receive this divine teaching
through channel in which i shall be preserved
from whatever might faint rs purity, and thus de-
ctroy its authority. No; only must we know tha.
God has spoken must also be assured that his
voice is heard Throughout al time Although no
longer visible TO men, Christ, our cod has NOT left
orphans. He has sent the Holy Spirit, the Para
slete whom be promised; be has Infused into the
earthly elements which he selected for the forma-
ben Of his church, the breath II undyinc life and
Mat Holy Spirit ever abdes in the church, teaches
her all truth, preserves her from every error, and
senders her sure guide to the pastures OF saliva
tsn-to the fountain whense springs up water to
Nternal life. Jhusis fulfilled the word - He that
heareth you, heareth me-" (i-ukc y. 10 Thus
u the church, "the house Of the Living God. the
pillar and the ground 0, truth' u Tia. iii. Is J
ana on this is grounded the obligation which We
Mge with no less confidence than did the Apostles
81 Christ: Obey your prelaes, and be subject to
Of yeur souls. that they may do this with joy, and
net with grief (Heb. xiii, ~
The source OF this authority is Christ. The
channel through which it is communicated to
the other members Of the church is the Bishop OF
Rome. The successor OF St. Peter is the heir Of the
privileges conferred the Prince Of the Apostles
On him as on the solid foundation which the wise
architect has chosen, is the church bulls to him
n the person of Peter. for whom Chvist specially
prayed, has II been given to confirm his brethren.
As in the case of every other country where the
Church has been established. Hierarchy has
grown up under his fostering care /: has leyclopel
hself, with his sanction and approval. in dignity
and number; and its members, although spread
over the wide extent which separates ocean from
ocean, have, on the present OCCASION yfuly obeycd
his summons to assemble in National Council un-
der the presidency of special representative Of the
Holy See in the person Of the Most Rev. Archbishop
Of Baltimore. We rejoice mt the occasion OF pro-
claiming our attachment TO the centre of Catholic
unity and we exhort you. brot hren. to cherish a
love for the Holy See in which is preserved an I'M
broken succession of Pastors from the time OF Christ
10 the present day; which has condemned all the
errors that men have sought to combine with the
AectIines OF revelation; and which ever watches
ever the integrity of faith. aud ever guards the
parity Of ecclesiastical discipline. Let US hope that
Me erroneous ideas entertained iy 80 many OF our
Niiow.ci'irens, Of the nature OF tho power which
We recognise IN the Bishop of Rome as successor OF
81. Peter, viii be removed, and hat this chief See
whence saceraotal unity has derived its origin may
kS acknowledged IS the centre of ecclesiastical a,-
shorisy, The source ofai that s grand and imposing
NJ the extent, union, and peliuanence Of the Church.
Lei MS pray that all who separated from the
Church may be brought TO the knowledge OF the
truth that the appalling extremes 10 which error
II burrying those who have cast of the authority
appointed by Christ may cause mon to recognise a
principle which alone can unite them in the one
fold OF the ono shepherd. Let your united prayers
ascend to the Father of mercies, who wishes all
nen 10 be saved. and 10 come TO the knowledge of
che truth. that this most desirable end be attained
remembering that what is impossible to man NAV
BE- rendered possible by the influence of Divine grace
Among the causes which, in few instances, and.
Principally in days happily past led to the for
getfulness Of the extent which belongs to the au-
thority that exercise, must be reckoned the
attempt TO apply to the Catholic Church, in the adj
ministration Of the temporalities belonging to her.
principles and rules foreign TO her spirit aud ire
soncilable with the authority of her pastors. The
result was such as might have been expected.
Peace and harmony were disturbed, the progress of
religion checked or entirely impedcd, and the
hnNgh hall Al.
worthy children. For the purpose of guarding
against the recurrence Of such evils we deem IL ne
eessary to make public and authentic declaration
Oh Catholic principles on this important subject.
Nhateyerls offered to God, and soemnly consecrated
10 his service whether it be the material temple in
when his worshippers assemble or the ground set
apart Tor the ntcrment of those who repose in Gods
hed, awaiting the promised resurrection or property
real or personal intended for the PURPOSES of Divine
service, or for the education, support and mainte-
nance OF the clergy-eyery such thing is sacred and
belongs to the Church. aud cannot be withdrawn
irom the service Of God without the guilt OF sacr-
iege The donor or donors of such gifts can exer-
cise no right Of ownership over them. With these
temporal things, thus separated from common pur-
poses and set apart for the service Of the sanctuary
the Church cannot allow any interference that il
not subordinate to her authority. The gishop of
each diocese is the representative and organ of that
authority and, without his sanction, no arrange
mcnt, hoNsoeyeT in Itself OF purely temporal ma
tsre, that has reference 10 religious worship has or
deems it advisable TO acquiesce in arrangements for
The administration Of Church temperatures which
have not originated with the ecclesiastical authority
or which may have arisen from ignorance of it,
rights, Or from spirit Of opposition TO them, we
declare that such arrangements have force and
eject in the Catholic Church. III consequence of
such acguiescence and not from any other cause or
principle whatever. And we furthermore declare,
that whenever the Bishop Of n diocese recognises
such arrangements, OF ac4uiosces in them, those
charged with the care OF church temperatures, who
tber laymon or clorgymen, are bound to render an
annual account Of their administration to the
Bishop, agrcoably 10 the Iulc prescribed in such
eases by The Holy Council Of Trent (Sess. xii,
Dc rolormatione. cap. 81
We exbort you, brethren, 10 sustain your prclatcs
II their Efforts to maintain Tic discipline Of the
church in this less than IN other matters. II is
IRON them, and not from the stranger, and still less
from dsobedient brethren--that you arc TO learn
her principles. and those rules Of conduct which the
experience Of centuries has taught her TO regard
conduciye TO yonr real interests in this no less
NanTl in matt e. "a -