The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-22
The Canadian Roman Catholic View Of the
War I'm Europe.


rhsroeAL LETTER or HIS GRACE THE ARcHBrsHoe
QUEBEC.
For long time past, ID. B. B., alarms and rumors
OF war have been resounding, occasioning deep and
general feelings OF anxiety and disquet not only
throughout the Old World, but even here on this
continent. The Emperor of Russia, following up
his hitherto unchecked career of invasion and az.
grandizement seemed at length to have determined
on marching his armed legons against neighboring
power, whose fair and fertile provinces he coveted
And truly, the Gar, when once master OF Gonstan-
tinopie and settled in the heart OF the turkish en-
pire, would then see the whole Eastern world pros
trAfe at his feet: he would then be enabled 10 carry
oyt his long cherished protest o. uprooting the Ca
tholic religion in that part OF the w"r1 and OF set
ting up in its stead the misera BE schism of the Greek
Church. He would then meet with no obstacle in
She way OF shutting up TO Catholics all access to
those time honorod and hallowed spots, which,
+ above all others they revere-the sacred Grotto OF
: Bethlehem and the Holy Sepulchre-wherc, after
shc sacrifice of Calvary, reposed the body of our
blessed Saviour. And it is especially remarkable
fact that the question of the Holy Places has fur
nished this prince with pretext for waging an un.
just against Turkey whose sole offence and
crime in his eyes, is the positive refusal to despoi
Countries united with the Roman Sec, Of vested
rights and privileges consecrated by the faith of
treaties and by long possession.
The longthreatening storm has at length burst
over Turkey. The Russian troops, in serried ranks
ana formidable array, advance to invade the Otto.
man empire Turkey, unable alone to resist the
overwhelming forces marshalled against her empire
appeals TO the honor and loyalty of France and
Eogland. These two powers have nobly responded
70 the voice OF the oppressed, and even now their
combined armies and fleets advance to the rescue of
their ally. The shock and conflict between the con-
tending parties must be fierce and appalling. On
the one side stands the huge colossus of the North
who FOR years has been garnefing up his resources
training and discipiining his barbaroUs horles in
cVeosing his military stores and martial appliances
with the view OF scizng on the proper time and Ia
vofable opportunity for crushing under his iron heel
the Turkish empire as he but too well succeeded in
crushing Poland.
two nations who lead the way in the peaceful march
OF civilization, and whose martial exploits on food
and field have proved that they have never quailed
nor gave ground in presence of their most formioa
bic opponents
he cannot be Indifferent dearly beloved brother
70 the issue OF this war, which will be decisive Of
The future lot OF Europe and to its high importance
on the interests and prosperity of the English
Church.
As subjects of the British empire loyalty calls on
us 70 offer up our fervent desire that success and
victory may crown the armies of our sovereign AS
defendants of the sons of France, the sympathes
growing out OF a common origin, OF conformity in
relgion and language, must engage our warmest
wishes that the country of our foreathers may tr
umph over external enemies, as it has already tri-
umphed over the enemies OF order in its own BOSOM
How could we fail to call victory down on the flag
which so often guided our orefathers on the Geld OF
honor?
But it is as Catholics especially that we are to de.
sire, for the combined armies, victory over mon
arch who in his state, has oppressed Catholicism
has scourged and starved humble nuns, for no
other alleged crime than their answering fidelity
to the See of the Prince OF the Apostles. II the EN-
peror OF Russia succeed in his plans and projects of
conouest-if he could but impose on the Ottoman
Empire the same iron despotism under which his
subjects groan, then would the Catholic religion in
the East and particularly in the Holy Land, be sub
jected to the same ndignities and vexations, by
which she has been assaled during the last twenty
five years throughout the whole Muscovte Empire.
IL is then the cause of the Church which has been
their success while defending Turkey against
just aggression the part OF her enemy, will ut the
same time secure to the Church the two-fod advan-
tage Of diminishing scbismatical influence in the
East. and Of establishing Catholicism on more Ia.
vcssssni,e and Independent footing.
But our desires and sympathies would be Of no
avail, did they not engage us to raise up our eyes
towards the Lord of Hosts for the purpose OF OBJ.
tanning his protecting influence over our brethren
exposed to the hazards of war; and Of drawing down
his mercy on the Christian world.
When now the clangor OF arms resounds on every
side. in spite Of all human efforts, directed towards
the preservation of a peace which has lasted nigh
forty years: when an invisible power urges the ma
tons Of the Garth to the fields oil war; convused and
shaken to its centre by the workings of revolution
and n2dey it is impossible to shut our eyes on the
light and not TO descry the dispensations of Provi
denoe who silently orders the of great events
and who. from pole to pole, lays on mankind the i'm
pres Of His omnipotence and shapes their actions
to compel them to work out the hidden designs OF
His wisdom. She reacheth therefore from end to
end nightly, and ordereth all things secretly (Wisd
ylID.
However while humbly adoring the admirable
wisdom Of the Most High who dsposes the course Of
human events for his greater glory, while affection
ately kissing the hand of q mercfu father WlQ
threatens to chastise the world 5y the terrible
scoorge OF war, we are not forbidden to move Him
to clemency by humble and fervent prayers, nor to
impiore Him that the perfidious designs of an am
bilious despot may be overthrown
Penetrated with sentiments Of the liveliest conf
=. N n n I'M
beg OF Him. that He will dispense the lowering clouds
Of calamity lowering us, that He will preserve
the field of the father Of the family from the cruel
inroads of the enemy, that He will check the
ruthless attempts Of naughty power, which threat
ems the liberties of the Church and the peace Of
Christendom. We will conjure Him to spare and
preserve The combined armies of our gracious Sover-
eign and Of her allies now going forth to combat in
behalf justice, to grant them speedy and thor
ough victory, to the end that under renewed peace
and serenity our hearts being entirely subject to his
Divine will we altogether may be enabled to praise,
love. and gratefully bless his mercies. VI coydd
nos'ra maadatis tnis dodta, q hostim subafo formi
dive, e'np0a sint tna projections tranqna (Oratio
pro pace.l
Wherefore, having called on the holy name of God,
we have prescribed and hereby do prescribe what
follows
10. From the day of disqualification Of the present
pastoral letter up to the last Sunday in July excu
6iyely on each Sunday and holiday of obligation, at
the close OF the morning service five Pacs and five
hrcs are to be offered up in all our parochal, con.
yentual, and non-parochia churches where public
service is performed, to implore the protection Of
Heaven in behalf Of the allied forces of England and
France engaged in war against Russia.
20. In the meantime every priest will add to the
usual prayers at daily mass the prayer Pro tenpoe
balt, IN conformity with the Rubrics Of the MssaI.
SO. At all benedictions of the blessed Sacrament
o0 the aboye-named days, at the conclusion Of the
afternoon Office, the anthem verse and PRAYER Pro
pace are to be sung.
This our present pastoral letter is to be read and
published at the Prone Of the parochal masses in
M the churches of this docess and in chapter in all
eoayen,ual houses. the first Sunday after its recep
lion.
Given at Quebec, under our hand and seal and the
countersgnature Of Secretary this eleventh day
Of May, one thousand eight hundred and fifty four.
p. +. ARCH. OF QUEBEC.
b. order of his Grace.-EDMoSD LASGEvrN, Pref,
Secretary.