The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-20

of the faith the discipline the clergy and their holy
and learned teachings and the sanctty and dignity OF
matrmony, and to promote ana extend the education
of the youth of botn sexes to foster the religion and
piety OF the people and vlrtuous manners to defend
Justice and to assure RE, the tranquility order pros
ts omitted, when they have deemed It useful espe-
ciaLy In times Of great perturbation and calamity
for most holy religion ana civil society to con.
woke general councils TO the ends that by consulting
with all the bishops or the Catholic world, whom the
Holy Ghost has appointed to rule the Lords Church.
they might by their united strength provtdentialy
and wisely ordain all these things that would chieny
ar Us
gagged illustrate and eucidaie doctrine, uphold and
reform ecclesiastical discipline and correct the cor
rupt manners OF people 1t Is already known and
manifest to ell how horrible a tempest now agtates
the Church and what grevous ills afflict civil society,"
The Catholic Church. her salutary doctrine, her vene
rated power and the supreme authority Of this Apos
toc See are and set at naugh by tue bitter
enemies OF God anu man Al sacred thln0s are con-
and honOred men attached to the divine ministry
ana men distinguished for their Catholic sentiments
are troubled in every way and religious families
suppressed. ImpiOus books or every kind, pestilent
journals and mutitudinous and most pernicious sects
spread abroad all sides. The education OF the
unhappy young is nearly everywhere Withdrawn
from the clergy, and, what IL worse, Is in many
places confided to masters OF impiety and error
Thus to poignant grief and that OF all good men,
and with mischief to souls that can never be suf-
GENTLY deplored impiety and corruption of manners
have everywhere propagated themselves, and there
prevails an unbridled license and cOntagOn OF de-
PRAYED opinions of all kinds and Of all vices and i'm
u
human laws that not only most holy religion but
human society also is thereby miserably disturbed
aFd canmss m tSe heavy heart Is 4a
oppressed, the supreme pastoral charge con-
hded to us requires that we should ever
increasingly exert our strength to repair ruin of
the Church. to heal the souls Of the Lords flock and
to repel the assaults and fatal attempts OF those who
strive to uproot from their foundations If that were
possible, both the Church and civil society. And
truly, by the help Of Cod from the commencement Of
our Pont1cate, we, conscious of our soem oblipa-
ceased in rcOp-
sstoria aocutlons and apostolic letters, and to de-
fend instantly BY every enor the cause Of God and
to uphold the rights OF this Apostolic See and OF
justice and truth and to unnask the insidious de-
vices Of its enemies to condemn errors and false
doctrines; to prescribe impous sects and to watch
over and provide for the salvation OF all the Lords
predecessors, we have deemed it opportune
to assemble General Council, which we
brethren, the bishops OF the whole Catholic world,
who are now called to take part in our solicitude.
These, our venerable brethren. prompted by the
warmest love for the Catholic Church and re-
markable for eminent piety and for rever-
ence toward us and this Apostolic See, anxious
also for the salvation OF souls and excellent in wis
dom, in doctrine and erudition, and greatly lament
ing with the grievOus condition OF sacred and
things ney WIN VI no tHa hcg more precious
fer with us in order to provide sauary remedies for
many caamities.
ined and regulated In this Ecumenica Council
particularly with regard to all that in these
integrity of the faith the respect for divine worship,
and the eternal salvation OF men, the discipline OF
the orders Of the clergy and their solid and sau
laws the ameioratiOn Of manners, the education OF
Christian youth and the peace and concord of all.
And further the council must seek by anxious study
that by the help OF God all Ills may be removed
from civil society, that errng wanderers may be led
back into the right way of truth and that vice and
error may be eliminated, our august religion and |
her salutary doctrine may everywhere be quickened
by fresh life and may still further extend their in
nuence, and thus piety, honesty probity, justice,
charity and all the Christian virtues may gather
strength and flourish to the great benefit Of human
strength OF the Catholic Church and her doctrine
does not alone regard the eternal salvation OF men,
but is essential also to the temporal welfare OF peO
pies and to their real prosperity order and tran
quIty and even to the prog ess and sodity Of hui
man science, as tue annals OF sacred and profane
history clearly prove by a series of splendid facts
and still constantly demonstrate.
comforts s US with these words:s"FoT where two or
three are gathered together IN my name, there am
20 Me OF he G His
divine mercy he would vouchsafe to be present ut
this council In which we shall be able to establish
those things that In any way regard the welfare Of
His Holy Church.
therefore after most fervent prayer offered up day
and night In the humility Of our heart to God the
Father OF light, have judged 1t to be expedient
that this council should be assembled
Father Almighty, the Son and the Holy Ghost. and
of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul. which authority
0e tine ana az
holy Roman Church, by these present letters an
nounce convoke and ordain the sacred Ecumenical
and General Council to be holden In this our city Of
Rome in the coming year, 1889, In the Vatican Bas
lica, commencing upon the sth day Of December,
Mary and TO be prosecuted and conducted to its
termination, by the help OF God to his glory and to
the salvation Of all Christian peoples.
We therefore desire and command that our venera-
ble1brehren, the patrarchs archbshops bishops, "a
also our beloved sons the abbots and all others
who by right privilege entitled TO sit In general
councils and manifest their opinions to the same
should from all parts repair to this Ecumenicai
exhort and admonish them both in virtue OF
the oath that they have taken to us and this Holy
by the law or custom decreed against those who fail
to appear at the Council We rigorous ly ordatn aud
prescribe that they shall be bound to attend this
ment which, however must In all cases be proved
to the Synod by the intermediary Of legitimate
We cherish the hope that God, in whose hand are
the hearts OF men. showing himself favorable to
may b ssno sna ny @ and mercy ana
especially Catholics OF all nations, growing daily
more conscious of the immense benefits which hui:
man society derives from the Catholic Church, and
knowing that the Church is the most stable ounda-
ton OF empires and KINGDOMS not only will not i'm
pede venerable brethren. the bishops and others
from attending this Council, but will rather aid and
favor this object and cooperate zealousy becomes
Catholic princes In all that may result to the greter
glory OF God and the benefit OF this Council.
To the end that these our letters and the things
therein contained may come to the knowlege OF all
able to plead ignorance Of the same and possibly
they might not securely reach all those to whom
they may be personally addressed, we desire and
command that the present letters he read publicly
and audibly by the messengers OF our cura or some
public notary IN the Lateran, Vatican and Liberian
Basicas. After having been read they shall be
afixed to the doors OF the said churches the gates
OF the apostolic chancery, In the usual place In the
Campo III Fiori and In other public places, where
they will remain FOR some time for the information OF
all. When the originals shall be removed they will be
replaced by copies In the same places. In view OF
such lecture, publication and exhibition, we ordain
that two months from the date OF publication and
posting OF our letters all and each OF those whom
they may concern will be bound thereby equally AZ
II they had been read and communicated to them
personally. We further order and decree that copies
Of these letters written or signed by public notary
and bearing tie seal Of some ecclesiastical digntary
may be accepted as perfectly au hentic.
No man will be at liberty to oppose or
rashly contravene this our indicton, announce
ment convocaton, statute decree. command,