The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-04-11
The Panal DECENTRALIZATION.

Indeed, throughout the whole Christian
world the occasion win doubtless be cele
brated with the warmest marks of an afFec
ton universally and justly entertained 70
our holy Father Plus TX.
seldom, If ever, before in the history o
the Church, has a sovereign pontiR lived t.
offer the holy sacrifice on the fiftieth ami
yersary of his first mass. Certainly never
has this occurred when the condition of the
Church and of the world permitted so ami.
ted and general an expression of sympathy
as now. The Pagan Empire Of Rome, the
barbarOus supremacy of the Northern
\ hordes which swarmed upon that fallen
Empire, the iron age of feudalism, with its
armed partisans across, every route of COM
munication, the crusades with their ex-
haussiDg enthusiasm of war, Protestant
ism with its national jealousies and discord,
have all successfully borne with a heavy
apd ruthless hand upon the freedom of the
Church, and thrown countless impediments
in the way of her exterior unity. Notwith-
standing all these circumstances, and In
spite Of every human probability, the inte-
rior and essential unity of the Church has
been perfect throughout all ages, and she
hiss gradually struggled onward towards a
more perfect outward manifestation of the
unity as the natural result of her innate
tendencies.
Now, therefore, in the nineteenth centu-
ry, after three centuries of mortal strife
with the great heresy of Professionalism, af-
ter the desertion of kings and nations, and
scornful persecution at their hands, after
numberless prophecies of her eDemies
that the last days of the Church had come,
we find her still in the onward road of in
iuence, more powerful, more respected,
more free than ever.
To-day, then, it is our privilege to unite
with almost the universal church in a trib-
ute such as the world has never before wit
messed, of love and veneration for the head
of that Church. Perhaps in the future his
tory of the world there may never be an
other like it. Perhaps there may never
again be in the Church, on any occasion,
such an instance of united and simulta-
neous action in matters not of obligation.
One cannot fail to remark the era of uni
versal peace that accompanies this sponta-
neous festival and renders it possible. The
threatenings of European war are s9Efi-
GENTLY ominous, but in spite Of the mIitter-
ings of it's distant thunder, profound
peace everywhere obtains-the calm, it
may he which precedes the storm. We're
during the recent European wars of France
and Austria, or Austria and Prussia, or
during our own American struggle, the
present grand unity Of the demonstration
would have been impossible. How long it
will continue to be possible is very doubt
full.
Another happy coincidence is the concur
renee of this anniversary with the signifi-
cant feast of the Good Shepherd, which
takes place to-day. Who could have fore
seen fifty years ago that the young priest
being ordained would afterwards become
Pope, and that to-day the whole Christian
world would be celebrating that or1ina-
tiOnq There could have been no human
foresight in fixing on day which should
after a lapse of fifty years recur ON
the feast of the Good Shepherd. And
yet we know there is no such thing as
chan. Every future event is known to
Him who has a purpnse in all tAisgsy and
maywslt ppnse that he has So ordered
this coincidence as TO manifest his approval
of that holy vicegerent who has been SO
faithful shepherd of his flock.
For all information as to the details of
the ceremonies we refer our readers to the
columns of this and other city
Considering the immense probable
size of the demonstration and the diversity
Of the ceremonies, the hour for moving (3
o'clock p. ny is sufficiently late, and all !
ought to be punctually in position by that 4
time, 50 as to prevent the slightest delay.
It is extremely desirable that an offering
should be sent on to our Holy Father, as q
testimonial for the occasion,
and all are requested to make such aoa&-
tons to the Finance Committee as may be
in their power. In order to popnlarize this
number of small badges will |