The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-09-12
Mission of the Jesuits in Russia.

Russia is certainly the country in which
the Jesu:ts are the objects of the most
random declamations, and yet their having
been able to perpetuate themselves without
interruption since 1884 down to the present
day, and to survive the formidable coalition
of which they were the object in the last
century, is due to Russia alone. The good
seed was carefully preserved in that
country as precious deposit, The
Empress Catherine, a dissipated and ILL.,
bred woman, was at the same time full of
intelligence and great views. She not only
obtained from the Holy See that the Brief
for the suppression of the Jesuits should
not be promulgated in her empire, but also
that they should be allowed to establish
novitiatcs there. tit is not enough that
they exist" she snid, '1 intend that they
shall not cease to exist" The King Of
Spain protested against this protection,
which nullified his cowardly intrigues. The
reply of the Empress was such as to pre-
vent the disciple of Pembal from wishing
to return to the charge. She wrote with
her own hand, 81 have to make known to
your Majesty the decision have adopted
to maintain the Jesuits in my dominions,
decision to which / have been led by we'll
considered motives, and as l offered no
opposition to the intentions of your
Majesty regarding these same religious
within your own kingdom, trust your
Majesty will be good enough TO put no OBJ
staclc in the way of the measure ! am
taking in their favor in my empire. lhave
also to make known to your Majesty that
throughout this affair have neither asked
nor obtained anything from the reigning
Pontiff (l'in5 VIZ have only made use OF
the powers which had been grated to me
by the late Pope Gapganelh. | therefore
warn your Majesty to makeHo sort of COM
plant TO his Holiness on this subject. and
not to cause him any uneasiness; Tor
should consider the injury as done to n,gseH
and should feel bound to defend his holiness,
eUen at the risk Of my crOUR, y u ocTe
necessary" Why was Catherine so ener-
getic? We cannot suppose that she was
influenced by religious considerations; she
was in the habit of laughing ut the Catholic
Church, as we'll as at the faith when
policy had Induced her to embrace. She
was not very accessible to religious i'm.
pTessions, but she was. profoundly glited
politician. She acted cleveriy, and much
in the way that Prussia acts ut present III
not woundinG the religious convictions oil
the Catholic populations which 1t mas
annexed and desired to annex. At that
time Russia had just acquired vast
possessions almost entirely Catholic, ana
Catherine was DESTROYS of preventing any
chance OF the existing disaffectlon oei sng
strengthened by religious element. 10
this end she saw the need of priesthood
more Roman than Polish, and also more
Jealous about the salvation of souls tnan
about temporal affairs. She thought that
the Jesuits, amongst whom all nationalitles
were found, would serve her purpose, ana
she-was not deceived Amidst al tae
calumnies hcapcd upon the. Jesuits IN
Russia, they were never accused oil
intriguing with the enemies of the Govern
ment, or with her unruIy subjects. I1en'
as now, it was essential that n good under
standing should prevail among people
composed of SO many diverse races, Inc
Jesuits devoted themselves to this Tork
with a zeal and a disinterestedness sHcn as
Russia has never since had in her service;
she has killed the goose that laid thegoiaen
enns.