The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-03
LETTER FROM THE POPE.

RecOrd1
! To our Venerable Brethren, John, Arehbishop of
| Ne'g York; .ohn, Bishop Of Albany; John, BISHOP
| Of Boston, John, Bishop Of Buffalo; John, Bish-
Pp Of BroohLyn; James, Bishop Of Ne,rark;
Louis, Bishop Of Burlington; Frdncis Bishop of
| Hartford, and Dauid, Bishop of Portiand:-
VENERABLE BRETHREN, HEALTH AND APOSTOLIC
bENEDicrioN.-We can scarcely express in words
the rejoicing and gadness which your letter of the
18th January afforded us, in the midst of our great
est sadness and tribulatiOn. You hastened vener-
able brethren, to write to us Immediately on YOUR
meeting for the celebration of your Provincial
Councli, In order that assembling together under
the Invocation of the Holy Spirit, and in mutual
consultation, you might provide still for the
welfare OF the dioceses committed respectively to
your episcopal zeal and guidance. For in your let
ters shine forth on every side bright evidences of
your great attachment and special devotion
to us, and of your reverence, love and obedi-
ence to this chair of st. Peter and in like
manner your bitter sorrow account of our
trlbulatlons, universally known, brought on by
the counsels and lntrigues of men who, hostile to
this Apostolic See, and opposed to the civil princ-
pallty which belongs to it. by sacrilegious daring
nave ni attempted TO destroy the patrimony of St
Peter, and to extingush entirely its rights as we'll
| divine as human. These they hope and labor to
destroy utterly. Most grateful to us has been this
evidence OF your sympathy, truly worthy of
Catholic prelates, and worthy to be DISTINGUISH
ed by praise and publication. We indeed, al
| though afflicted with unspeakable grief witnes-
sing the evil warfare which, with immense detri-
ment to the salvation of souls is being carried on
| by lmplous men against divine religion still
| placed all our hope and confidence in God our
| Saviour, knowing well that he has ever been
present with prompt aid in support of his church:
that the same church has never been more glorious
than when men have endeavOred to extinpuish
| it; that it has never been more secure than when
the more violent squalls of persecution excited by
its enemies, have seemed to agitate it the most it
has been truly consong to us to see by your letter
| with what ardent attachment you and your clergy
as well as the faithful laity, have not ceased to offer
up fervent prayer to the Father of Mercies accord
ing to our desire and for our intention We have full
| confidence that you, venerable brethren, relying
| upon the Divine support, will proceed with even
greater alacrity and energy in cOntendng against
| this great lnqulty OF the times, that you will fulfil
all the duties of your ministry, that you will sus
tain and defend energetically the cause of the
Catholic Church, and take measures both for the
protection OF the tocks committed to your care and
to expose the allacies, reue the errors and repel
the assaults OF wicked men. Whilst, however, we
congratulate you from heart for the pastoral
solcitude which prompted the celebration of your
late Provincial Council, the acts of which accord
ing to canonica right, you rejoice to submit to our
supreme judgment and that of this Holy See know
that without any delay we have directed that they
should be inspected by sacred congregation for
the propagation of the Christian faith in order
that it may examine the acts of your council and
| report them to us, that in regard to them it
shall communicate to you the proper response
| Finally, be most assured that we in the humility
of our heart, continue to pray and impore the
God OF mercy that he NAV pour out upon you the
richest gifts of His goodness and also that these
same shall descend upon the dear members of the
focks committed to your care. And, as evidence
of this, no less than a certain pledge of great
affection for you, venerable brethren, we mpart
to you and to all the clergy and aity of the several
doceses respectively committed to your care, our
most aifectionate apostolic benedction, Given at
Rome, from st. Peters 5th daY of March, 1860
in the fourteeth year of our Pontificate.
PIUs P. TX.