Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-11-07
'a'he Eeonnn Catholic Church.
9yV t00Hrhuded. from leo Pags.lIV,g x.

Wnen ma0aReu III dCcOfuhuCc Win tnS
regulations of the Ordinary, andunder the
immediate supervision Of their respective
Ms have Noticed, with the most sincere
satisfaction and gratitude TO God, the great
increase among VS. Of societies and assncia-
tions, especially ofthose composed OF young
and middle-aged men, conducted In strict
acco dance with the prineiplesof the 0aths'
Ollie religion. and d.withanimmfdiate view to
their own sanctihcation.- We cannot but
anticipate the most beneficial results to the
cause OF morality and religion from the
conduct aud example Of those who thus
coriibinetogether. to encourage one another
in the REORGANIZATION of the sacrMnents, and
in works of Christian charity, We urge
their extension, and especially of the S0ci-
etyOf st. Vincent of Paul and of Young
Mems Catholic Associations in all the do
ceses and parishes of the country, not only
as snseful ailxiliaries TO the parochial clergy
in the care Of the poor and OF destitute and
vagrant children, but also as one of the
most important means of diminishing the
vices and scandals Of. which we have spoken.
THE CLERGY. int stcs
We exhort our venerable brethren OF the
clergy, who share our cares and RESPONSE
bilities, to unfemitting zeal in the great
work TO which they have been called. Let
them honor their ministry, having ever be-
fore1thvirieyes "the HigiP Priest, holy, in
noceht, undeflled, separated from sinners,
whose representatives they are. BY purity
Of life. exemplaffness and devotedness, let
them be IA pattern OF the flock from the
heaIt"-" the example of the faithful in
word, in conversation, in charity, in faith,
in chastity" giving no offense to any
man that our ministry be not blamed, but
in all things exhibiting ourselves as the
ministers Of GOd;" so that "when the
Prince Of Pastors shall appear, they may
receive never-fading crown Of glory"
nFnH THE EMANCRATED SLAVES iHHl
We must all feel, beloved brethren, that
in some nlaniier new and most extensive
field of charity and devotedness has been
opened 70 us, by the emancipation of the
immense slave population Of the South.
We, could have wished, that in accordance
with the action of the Catholic Church in
past ages, in regard to the serfs of Europe,
more gradual system Of emancipation
could have been adopted, 50 that they
might have been in some measure prepar-
ed 70 make q better use of their freedom
than they are likely to do now. Still the
evils which must necessarily attend upon
the sudden liberation of so large multi
tudP, with their peculiar dispositions and
habits, only make the appeal to our Chris
tian charity and zeal, presented by their
forlorn condition, the more foIcible and
imperative. r-47 vtrs-u o7~-a r-s "a
We urge upon the clergy and people of
our charge the most generous cO-Opera-
tion with the plans which may beadopted
by the Bishops of the diocese in which
they are, to extend to them that Christian
education and moral restraint which they
so much stand in need Of Our only re-
gret IN regard to this matter is, that our
means and opportunity of spreading over
them the protecting and salutary influ-
ences of our Holy Religion are so re-
sJricted. ..
'air RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES.
We are filled with sentiments Of the
deepest reverence for those holy virgins
who, in our various religious communities,
having taken counsel Of st. Paul, have
chosen the better part, that they may be
holy "in body and in spirit" These serve
God with undivided heart; and, like Mary,
sit the feet of Jesus in devOut contem-
plation; or like Martha, devote themselves
TO the service of their neighbor, instructing
youth or tending old age minlsteriug to the
sick, or calming the remOrses and encour-
aging the hopes of the penitent. To such
the prophets words areapplicable: "1will
give to them in my house and within my
walls a place and name better than sons
and daughters" Their state on earth is
llhtDtu UI OHIISJ W Jbu6 VI OuC
angels in Heavei'," and to those who en-
brace it is promised special reward here
after. OF these virgins it is written:
"These follow the Lamb whithersoever He
gOeth; :" and of these it is said: mo man
could say the canticle but those hundred
and forty-fOur thousand, for they are vir-
gins" How great, think you," asks a
deVout writer Of the middle ages, comment
ing on these texts, "will be the glory that
envirOns the virgins thai follow Christ by
purity of heart and MUD. Alone they fol-
low the Lamb whithersoever He goeth, re-
fecting this glory Of the Sun of Justice, as
does the moon that OF the orb of day. AS
the moon outshines the stars, 80 in that
Heavenly. Kingdom, they will shine more
briRhtlF than those who have not emu@
lated their purity" Great, indeed, are
the privileges and great The rewards prom
ised to these chaste spOuses of Christi and
corresponding is the reverence with which
they have ever been regarded In the
Church. "The glorious fruitfulness ofour
Mother, the Church, observes st. Cyprian,
Greioices and exults in them ; and the more
she eentwines OF these lilies in her crown,
the deeper her joy, the more intense her
exultation. These we address," continues
the Saint, these we exhOrt using rather
the language of affection than of author
ity: not that we, the humblest most deeply
conscious Of our own .infirmitv, have any
rebuke to make, any apprehension to utter:
but because of our obligation to be watch
full we are the more sOlcitous to 1guaTd
against the envy of hedeyil.r 4.
We adopt this language Of the great
Bishop and martyr Of the third century,
We discharge a grateful duty, Ia rendering
apublic testimony to the virtue and hero-
ism of these Christian Virgins; whose
lives shed the good odor Of Christ in every
place, and whose devotedness and spirit of
self.saerifice have, more perhaps than any
other cause, contributed to effect favora-
BILE change in the minds of thousands es-
stranRed from our faith. To each Of them,
however, we feel impelled TO address the
words spoken to the angel Of the Church of
Philadelphia 4 Hold fast that which thou
hast, that no one take thy crown"
l9Trvlr0 n coNcLUsIoN. liza OXA|
We have every confidence, venerable and
dearly beloved brethren, that the, Council
which is this day brought to a close, will
exert q most beneficial influence in the
cause Of our holy religion. Iy'57
We have taken advantage Of the opp0r-
tunity OF the assembling of so large NUM-
Der Of Bishops from every part Of our vast
country, TO enact such DEGREES as VIII tend
topromote pniformity Of discipline and
practice among us, and to do away with
such imperfect observance Of the rites and
approved ceremonies Of the Church, as may
have been made necessary by the circum-
tances Of East times, but which no length of
prescription can ever c0nse0rate, and TINS