The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1869-10-17

the first Apostles, the bishops OF the Churcn
to-day will assemble to confer together, then
to separate and, in all human probability,
never earth to meet again. And they VIII
assemble at the call of him whom their sainted
predecessors listened to in all the ages of the
past-the successor of Peter; of him on whom
the Saviour founded His Church, against
which "the gates of hell shall not prevail !; TO
whom alone He gave "the keys of the Kingdom
of Heaven - and empowered, as chief pastor,
"to feed the lambs and the sheep" of His fold
for whom, prs,eminently beyond atl others. he Is,
prayed that his "faith fail not, and that he
should "confirin his brethren.0
And in that venerable Council all the marks
of the Church of Christ shall appear in oil
their splendor. Unity, for which jesus prayed,
which, because miraculous, the world seeing
would believe in him. Wondrous UNITY 70 De
looked for in vain outside OF the Ca*hoIie
Church. Millions, in mind, in will and IN
heart believing, obeying, mutually sympatniz-
ing; a host of human souls, redeemed Dy the
blood of Christ, spread over the world ana
cemented by His love. Catholicity, Tor from
every part of the world Bishops will be there;
and every language and dialect shall ma Ut
terance in them.
and date whose succession has never been
enthusiastically interrupted, though the persons
of their incumbents had often been for years
violently kept away, shall be represented
there; and the churches of Rome, Jerusalem,
Antioch Ephesus, COnstantiuople and AleXall-
tlra shall declare that faith to-day, which ther
Bishops maintained in the earliest ages.
Sanctty, with lustre not less bright, VIII
grace the character of the coming Council
There will be holy men there in whose hVes
the strict observance of the gospel counsels
shall appear, who have left all to follow their
Divine Master, and who bear on their own
bodies even rs He tho marks of torture en-
dured for his sake in many martyr iauhs.
Strong. and ''beautiful aud bright, as when
her Spouse first adorned her, making her glori-
Gus, without spot or wrinkle" shall the Church
appear in this general Council, and great be
yond all measure DO we esteem Uhe PEiNlieSe ol
attending-it.
is WAYS opposed to the interests of truth. the
wicked world and its votarles, whose prince
he is, will no doubt do all they can to mar this
glorious work; schismatic Russia, with the
blood of martyrs dripping from her relics, IN
terdicts the Catholic Bishops of her dotnInons
to go. But their sympathy and love her chains
cannot fetter nor her frozen Siberia CONCEAL.
Other powers, hostile journals say, will
throw obstacles in the way. But this IS not
new, it is the old conflict, the world opposing
the Church, and the Church always in the end
triumphant. Plus TX. is, if you will, belea-
guered 80 was Peter in his prison. AS = the 3
Church did then, so can it now-Pray, and God
in His own way, will stupefy the hostile watch
ers and restore his Vicar to freedom again. Is
not the never varying experience OF the past
hope,.yea, an assurance for the futureF
The grand drama of the Churchs career Is
always the same. The persons of the actors
pass away, but their parts are taken up by
others; the storm which tossed the boat OF the
Apostles on the sea of Galilee, while Jesus
| slept, was not an ordinary fact. 1t was Provi-
dental miraculous, typical. 1t was to teach
He was "with them" Lord, save us, we per
ish," said Peter, and Jesus rose, rebuked the
winds and waves, and they settled down TO
rest. Butts not Jesus Gl'Udys with His Church
Most assuredly: Lo, am with you all days."
etc. And when the winds and waves of human
passion, more fatal than those which agitate
the bosom of the deep, assail the ark of the
Church, which to human seeming is going to
founder, in what consists the pledge of safety
| In the cry of Peters successor, ringing loud
and repeated BY million voices to heaven,
=.
terious way, known only to God, and which
human wisdom vainly tries to fathom, this
storm of passion is soon oyer, and the Church
is in repose. -
Such relying on the Divine promises, are the
bright anticipations of Holy Father Plus
TX. He has >undoubtinS faith in the efficacy
with God of holy, feryent, united prayer, and
thls~ts the reason he has proclaimed n solemn
jubilee. He invites all the children of the
Church to prepare themselves by worthy re-
|. .ception of the sacramentS OF Penance and the
| Holy Eucharist, for this great duty of prayer
For it is vain to appeal to the throne of grace
! for any favor, SO long as the soul is under the
! guilt of and attached to mortal sin. And to
induce the faithful the more readily to do that
which their duty as Christians dictates and
/ their eternal welfare peremptorily demands,
! he, as holding by divine appointment the keys
| of the kingdom of Heaven, and in virtue OF
the power annexed to them of binding and
| Ioosing," bestows on all the faithful who fulfil
| the conditions prescribed by him, the benefits
of Plenary indulgence.
CThese conditions, having already published in
| the STAR, it is deered unnecessary to give here
| Our cherished brethren of the clergy, on
whose zeal and devotion, always known to us,
| will, wherever possible, afford their locks the
! Instructions and eXhortations and exercises of
! 4 Iridium rerTeut IF some days to fit them
the better to gain the Indulgence ofthe Jubilee.
They will shoY TO our Observation-Disclosures
Very Rey,>k. D.! Pellicer, that obedience and
respect and love which have eonsUfcd our heart
and nerved it in the arduous labors of our
responsible and dread ministry. They will
foster the societies already established in their
parishes, and promote the interests of every
! good work which their OWN zeal and the pietY
of their people may suggest and iraugurate.
The cause of the poor orphans will beespeeialiy
dear to them and of the destitute and suffer
| ing of every kind and the tender and
| proper education of the young entrusted to
their charge; knowing them all to be, in the
highest and holiest sense, members of our
dear Lord.
And you, beloved brethren of the clergy and
dear children of the laity, for all the devoted
| love and substantial generosity manifested on
the present as on all former occasions, we
heartily thank yon, asking your fervent
prayers that the holy will of God be done in
our regard, and, promising at all times to re-
ciprocate, as in duty bound, particularly at the
tomb of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, if