The New York herald., 1869-12-08


.rbance ana or calamity 70 our holy religion and to
civil society TO conv0ke General Councils; thar
comparing oounsols and uniting strength win toe
bishops q the whole GanoS world vnop da me Hoy Ssy
might wisely and prudently establish whatsoever
might conduce TO denne especially the dogmas OF
Illustrate % ana deveiop Catholic DOCTRINE to preserve
and reform ecclesiastical discipline and TO correct
Now. 1t Is well known ana manifest to all by how
fearful tempest The Church Is at this time shakel
and what and how great are the evils with whica
OF aod and men. the Catholic Church. and her saw
Ing doctrine and venerable power, and the supreme
trodden under foot; all sacred things have been de-
spsed ecclesiastical possessions nave been plunder-
ed; bishops aud most excellent men devotea 20 ,he
ollc spirit, nave been In every way harassed roi-
gous communities have been destroyed; lmplous
books OF every kind, pestilenna Journals, and Moss
pernicous sects OF many forms have been on every
SIDE spread abroad; and the education OF unhappy
youth has been almost everywhere taken away from
few places committed to the teachers or
iniquity and error. Hence, TO our own
q loss OF souls which can never be enough deplored
impiety has so propa2ated togosn or with COR
ruptiOn OF morals, unDrided license and the Conta
gion OF all kinds OF deprayed opinions OF all vlces
and crimes, aud VOCATION Of divine ana human laws
that not only our most holy religion bus human 80
clety elf ia mlseraDiy disturbed and afiicted.
Amid 30 great n mass, therefore, OF calamities
wherewith our heart IL Overwhelmed, the supreme
pastoral ministry divney entrusted 70 us requires
that and more put 1ortn our strength TO re-
pair the RUNS OF tine Church, TO procure Tue Salva-
t!on OF tne whole mock of our LORD 70 repress tno
Overtlr0w from The foundation both CIVIL society
and. II II were ever possible. The Church herself
We. indeed, by Gods help, from the very COM
mencement OF our supreme Ponnicate, have
never ceased, according to the duty Of our
sistoria 1iocutions ana Apostolic Letters, and u-
nncalngy TO deeno, Win all zeai the cause q God
anu OF ms holy Church. entrusted to US by Christ
the Lord to defend the rights OF hts Apostolic See,
and or justice and truth to detect tho treacheres OF
enemles TO condemn their err0rs and false DOCTRINES
to proscrlbe tae sectS OF lmpieY and 10 watch over
and provide for the salvation Of the Lords whole
n0ck
But treadng in the footsteps OF our llustrlous
predecessors we have therefore thought 1t 0pp0rtuna
TO collect into q General Council (as we had long
wisheu) all our venerable brethren, the bishops OF
the whole Catholic world, who have been ca.ed TO
share OF our sollcitude. These venerable brethren
indeed, innaned as tney are with singular love
towards the Catholic Church, distinguished for emf
nent piety and observance towards US and this
Apostolic See, anxious for the salvation Of souls,
exceliing In wisdom, knowledge and learning, and,
saa q o
have nothing nearer at heart than to coinmu-
nicats TO US and to combine their coun-
sells, and apply Saiutary remedies to 80 many
calamities. For In this Ecumencal Council all those
things are TO De most accurately weighed aud do.
especially regard sne greater glory Of God, the In,
tegrlty OF tne fath beauty OF divine worship, the
eternal salvation Of men, the discipline as We'll as
the salutary and SOLD instruction Of the clergy,
secuar anu regular, the observance OF ecclesiastical
laws, the reformation OF morals, tho Christian edu-
caton Of youth and the common peace aud concord
of all. Every effort also must be made that, by
Coos good help, all evils may be removed from tine
Church and from civil society; that unhappy wan
or truth, justice and salvation; that, wees and
being taken away, our august religion and Its
sarn aad crsasc IN extent ana nd r. and
ess n ali R Sarsaa n0' virtues may sSodaa
human hun cls society. For no no one eau deny that
the power OF the CATHOLIC Church, and or her doc
tline, not only regards mems eternal sa,vaton, put
that 1t promotes their true prosperity, oraer and
tranquility ana also the progress and sodity OF
1ano history clearly SHOW by conspicuous facIs ana
constantly and evidently prove. And since Christ
our LORD reorsstss @ tna ana con-
gathered together III my name there AN Ia the
midst Of them,, therefore We cannot doubt bus chat
Ia This Council lie Will vOncnsale to be at nand III
the abundance OF HIS divine grace IN order that
may be able To determine all those things whion ap-
pertain in any way TO the greater advantage HIS
Church. Having, therefore, In the humility OF our
heart. poured forth night and day most ferveDt
prayers TO God the Father OF lgnls, have judged
that tins Council should by all means be assembled.
Wherefore, relying and resting the authority OF
Almighty God himself, Father, son ana Holy Ghost,
and OF the Blessed Apostles ieter and Paul, when
assent OF our venerable brethren the Cardinals Of
the Holy Roman Church, by these letters we pro-
claim, announce, convoke and appoint sacred
Ecumenical and General Council TO DO held IN this
holy city Of Rome In the coming year 1850, IN tho
month Of December, sacced 70 the Immaculate Con-
ceptlon Of the Virgin Mary, Mother or God; TO be
continued and, by the help OF God, to DO completed
and finished tor bis glory and Tor the salvation OF
the whole Christian people. And we therefore VIII
and command that from every place nil our venera-
bic brethren the patrarchs, arcnDisnopS and Disn-
OPS, our beloved sons the abbots and all others to
wnom BY rght or by privilege power has been
granted Of sitting In General Councils and declaring
tner opinions therein snail come to this Ecumenica
Council proclaimed BY US; requiring, exhorting, ad
monisnng and none the less enjoining and strictly
commanding them by force OF the oath which they
n0iy obedience, and under the penalties ordinarily
enacted and proposed by law or custom In tue cele-
bration OF Councils against those who 90 not come.
that they be altogether bound to be present and to
take part in this sacred Counci unless they happen
to be detained by just impedlment which, neVerIDc-
less, they VIII be obliged to prove 10 the synod
through their legitimate pr0ctorS.
And we are horne up by the hope that God, in
whose hands ara the hearts Of men, proptlousy
granting our petitions wnl by His unspeakaDle
mercy and grace, bring 1t TO pass tnat al the
supreme princes OF all nations, and especially Catho.
ic rulers knowing daily moro and moro that The
greatest blessings rebound to human society irom
the Catholic Church and that she is the rmet foun
daton OF empires and Kingdoms, not only VIII throw
no impediment IN tho way or our venerapla brethren
the bishops and others above named coming to this
Council but wiil eyen Willingly lavor ana aep and
cooperate In alI those things which mar tend to
the greater glory OF God and the good Of tue said
Council.
But in order that these letters and all that ia
contained therein may come to the knowledge OF all
wnom tney concern, and That no one may pretead
ignorance OF them, since, perhaps, not oil TO wlf0n
they ought to be nominay made known can be
safely reached, we wiz and command that they shall
be publicly read in loud voice by the Apparitors
OF our Court. or by some pubic nottries Ia tho
Lateran, Vatican, and LDerian Patriarcnal Gsilicas
at time when the mulitude OF people is won't 70
together TO hear mass; and that after The read
ing OF tie letters they shall be affixed 20 the doors
Of the said churches to The gates OF tho Apostolic
Chancery, In the accustomed pace In the Campus
Flor@, aud fn other usual places: that there In
order that they may be read and known BY ALL they
when they snail hayc been removed, copies OF
them shall Ia the same places remain atnxed.
For, by tue Aforesaid reading, publication
and arlxing we VIII that all aud whom
soever these our letters concern shall, after
and afixing Of the Same, DO Obliged and bound