The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-01-16

A Feeble OLD MANI will be remembered
that when the project of srlmmouing an ecu
menical Council Was first announced, it was re-
CetvGd by the world with cry of incredulouS
disdain. The Pope, it was said and with truth,
not sure of maintaining his own position
in Rome from week to week. The revolution
had sworn to cast out the Lords auoiuted, and
its agents have done what they could to fulfil
the vow. Yet they have failed. When more
than 500 bishops, then gathered in Rome, adj
dressed the Pope on the 9th of July, 1867, de-
clarin that they shared his hopes, and en-
treating him to summon a Council under the
auspices of the immaculate Mother, their pro
posal derided as visionary. Even the
sagacious De Maistre had said atthe begin
ming of this century, that in the, actual condi-
ton of the world an GcumenfGal Council
impossible nothing is imPoasjbie -with
God If the world boasts its pTosFeAs in me-
-ehanical inventions, the Church turns them to
her own profit. A few hours now suffice to
summon the Bishops from every corner of the
earth, Il few weeks to bring them together in
one place. The kings of this world look grave,
the statesmen sheer, and the rabUle gnash their
teeth, but The Council assemblies in spite of
them all, because God will have il so. a feeble
old man, already. despoiled by violence of half
his territory without a single human ally in
whose word he could trust, and ut the very
moment when the enemy was knocking at his
gates to complete the work of destruction,
calmly announced his purpose to assemble the
Bishops of the Universal Church in Rome on
given day. The world laughed, but the day
has come, aud the Bishops are there. Yet this
old man, admit it once more, is utterly pow
erless, in the human sense of power Any bru-
tai soldier is physically stronger than he.
More than five millions of such soldiers, armed
to the teeth, are now watching each other in
Europe alone. A word may let them loose,
and the word may at any moment be spoken.
Yet the Pope acts as if there were nothing to
fear and his confidence is justified. He knows
that God is on his side, Therefore the impos-
sible is Accomplished. Dirit6t tdctd stunt.
When will the foolish world learn wisdnHfS
The Council has met, aud now they~tell us
that it will cOnspire against modern society.
How should the Church conspre against the
civil order which she herself founded, or wish
to break in pieces the social fabric Of which
she-w thesOle architect She built it on the
doctrine of the Incarnation, aud for thisreason
it has survived every assault. Her Office is to
retard, not to accelerate, the dissolution of So
ciety. She has saved it hundred times before,
and is going to try to do it again. For society
lie very sick, and is everywhere trying to re-
construct itself after pagan type, and to ban
ish Him who is its Cornerstone. Ifait could
succeed the world would become simply I'M
inhabitabIe. 1t is to prevent this return to
chaos that the Council is now invoking the aid
of the Holy Spirit If the world were wise, it
would fall on its knees, and pray tn at the
Council may prevailia@s7'abEet.