New-York tribune., 1869-06-05
THE GCUMENICAL COUNCIL

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affairs and in particular the CirHd Cdioica the or.
gan of the Roman Jesuits rdicue the reports that
majority of the Cardinals are opposed to the meeting
of the Gcumencal Council and that probably the
! Council will not be opened at the appointed time.
We are assured that, unless unforeseen events pre-
vent the meeting, there will be no delay. We regard
1t, therefore, as probable that the solennty the an
nouncemcnt Of which has already created so great
stir in the religious world, will begin in December Ol
| the current year.
! FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT.
! The design Of cOnyoking q general Council has
been entertained by Pope Plus for many years. Il
was for the first time officially announced on June
o. 1867 in an allOcuton to the great assembly Of
bishops who, in compliance with papal invitation,
had gone to Rome to be present at the canonizaton
of number of saints. In this allocuton the POpo
said:
'We have already entertained for long time past
project which is known to several Of our venerable
brethren and trust that thought may he realized
project 10 hold sacred Gcumenlcal aud General Coun-
ell Of all the Bishops OF the Catholic world IN which, ny
collecting various opinions we may by common accOd
and with the aid Of God adopt the necessary and saiu
tary remedies, particularly in that which concerns mo
many evils which now affct the Church. BY means OF
such Council we have a certain hope that tie light OF
the Catholic truth in which the minds OF men are ~
oysd yin shed abroad f beneSePt @ Light It. sRG @ SRS1S SSS
grace, the true path OF salvation and justice"
The Bishops in the address presented TO the Pope,
expressed joy at the announcement of the speedy
assembling of an Ecumenical Council, from which
they thought the church would derive abundant
fruit. The Pope subsequently appointed cOngrega-
tiOn of seven Cardinals. to whom he intrusted the
duty of arranging the prelimnares for the meeting,
and in the course of the year 1861 anumber of prom
inent theologIans from different churches were called
to Rome to take part in the labors of this special
congregation.
THE BULL OF CONvOCAuoN.
The bull cOnvokng the Council was issued on the
29th of June. 1868. The causes which prompted tho
calling of the Council and the mission it is expected
to accomplish, are thus referred to in the bull
Following the practice OF our ilustrOu predecessors,
we haye deemed It opPorsne to assemble GenerSi m @
brethren the bishops OF the whole Catholic world who
called to take part in our soctude These our
venerable brethren beng prompted by the warmest love
for our Catholic Church, and remarkable for eminent
pcty ana for reverence toward sand this Apostolic see
beng also for the salvation Of souls and excel
lent in wsdo3 in doctrine ana erudltlon ana gIeauy
lamentng with us the grleyous condition OF sacred and
10 communicate their Judgment and TO confer with
in order to provide salutary remedies for 80 many
Gall these things have to be most carefully examined
and regulated in this Ecumenea Council, more partcu-
laIy with regard 20 all that in these evil times concerns
the greatest glory Of God the integrity OF the faith tho
respect for divine worship and the eternal salvation OF
men, discipline OF the orders OF the clergy aud their
solid and sautary training the Observance OF eeeeslas
tcal laws the ameOraon OF manners the education OF
Christian youth and the peace and concord OF all And
further the Council must seek by anxious study that W
the help Of God all ills may be removed from civil society
that eing wanderers may be- led back into the right way
OF truth aud that and may be eliminated our
where be qulckened by fresh hfe add atm further
extend their influence, and thus pley honesty poSlty
gather gather strength and doarsh, to the great bene
NJ Of human society sSne S,o can and does
alone regard the eternal salvation OF men, put es
senti also 10 the temporal welfare OF peoples ana 70
their real prosperity order and tranquility, aud even 10
the progress and sody human science, as the annals
Of splendid facts, and sui constantly demonstrate.
therefore, after most S N prayer aur benrf
| to God the Father OF light, We have Judged Il
to be expedlent mat TINS SU1neh s1Gsa ip outSory o
! OF God, the Father Almighty the Son. and the Holy Holy
authority we represent earth. with the counsel
and consent venerable brethren the Cardinals OF
the holy Roman Church, by these present letters an
nOuuce conyoke, and ordan the sacred Geunenea and
General Council to be holden IN that our city OF Rome 10
the coming year. 1869, IN the vatican Basilea e9ieno
ing upon the Sh day OF December sacred 10 the lmmacu
late conception Of the Virgin Mary and 70 be prosecuted
and conducted to It's termination DH he hep Oh G9, u
His glory, and TO the salvation Of all Christian peoples
We therefore desire aud command that our venerable
beloved sons the abb0s and all others whO by rgh or
manifest their opinions in the same, should from all
parts repair this Gcumenica Council u.s.
and To this effect invite, eXhort, and ad-
monish them, both in virtue Of the oath they
have taken to us ana 6do n fba HSy Degaes se by %nu law
or custom decreed against those who ai TO appear az
the eJufs' @ u.s. bond - attend THIS sacred Council unless
yliiIbeid by some lust impedment. which, however,
must in all be proved to the Synod by the nteIme
diary Of legitimate proxies ,
1--WE cherish the hope that God in whose hands are Ito
hearts OF men, showing himself favorable TO our desire
may grant that by His menable mercy ana grace All me
supreme princes and governors, more especially Clloc
Of all nations, growing daily more conscious OF the ~!
mense benefits which human society derives from the
Catholic Church, aud knowing that the Church Is tie
most stable foundation Of empires and khgHoms not
only will not impede our venerable brethren the BISHOPS
and ohers from nat oS S nS copsrse 0u S as
becomes Catholic princes in all hat may result 10 the
greater glory Of God and the benefit OF this Council
Obhged TO devote, without inermssion, our thoughts
and our cares to the salvation OF all those who acknow
eS dI oad those Churches which, formerly attached
o the Apostolic Church By the bonds OF unity were so
edge producing such abundant fruits for tho glory OF
God and the salvation OF souls ana wnon to-uny Dy inc
heaven the first seism we ind to our great get eloned
and separated fom that holy Roman Church which Is
! spread through the whole world
It Is for this reason that from the beginning OF our
Ponthcate we have addressed you IL tne lGSs S our
have not had by any means the success we SO aaeny
that our humble and eryent prayers would some day DO
| faYorably received and heard
! brothers the Cardinals OF the holy Roman Church,
| have indicated and convoked an Geumencal Council
Ne address words 20 you again, and we warn, and
entreat you with all the earnesness that arc capable
or to this same General Assembly as did your
TO the Council OF Lyons held under the blessed
Gregory X predecessor OF venerable memory, and
TO the Council Of Florence celebrated by Engenus ",
also our predecessor OF happy memory, 10 the end that
renewing the laws Of ancient love- and restoring 10 its
fathers tnat cecStal sanitary
giYt OF Jesus Christ OF which In time have lost the
ut we may last after long period OF grief in
which darkness and division prevaledwe may arise
the brilliant and pure morning which we have so long
prayed for"
WHO ARE INVITED TO THE CoUNCH-THB CATHOLIC
HIERARCHY.
Entitled to a seat in the Council and therefore ia
cluded in the Papal invitation, are the cardinals,
bishops. abbots and generals of religious orders.
Bishops are entitled to seat by divine right; cardl
| Al, . tno bishops,