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

NTaM, on the Eighth day Of December, 1869.
To the Bishops, Of, the Catholic World in the same
Council assembled
Venerable Brethren what by all .Our vows
and prayers We have been continually begging
of God, that, namely, We should be enabled to
celebrate with you the Q1cumenical Council
which We had summoned this mas, by the
marked and singular goodness of God Himself,
been granted to Us, and fills Us with the
utmost low Wherefore Our heart exults in
the Lord, and is filled with unspeakable con
ISOLATION, for that on this most suspicious day,
haiIowed by the memory of the immaculate
Conception IF the Virgin Mary Mother of
God, We again see you before us in greater
numbers than heretofore, present in this
stronghold of the Catholic religion; and We
are gladdened by the sight Of you who are
called to bear part of Our solicitude.
You are here, Venerable Brethren, gathered
together in the name of Christ (Matth.- xviii.
: 20} that with Us you, may give testimony to
the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus
Christ (Apoc. i. 2 j and that with Us you may
teach all men the way of God in truth (Niatth.
xxi. 16 j and that under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit, you may judge (Act. X. 5, 199 with
Us of the oppositions of knowledge, falsely so
called q Tim. vi. 900
For at this time more than ever, now that
the earth has mpnrned and faded away, infect
ed by the inhabitants thereof (lsai xiv. 4, 81
zeal fer the glory of God and the safety of the
Lords flock, requires of us to surround Sion,
and to encompass her. and to tell her towers,
and to set Our hearts in her strength Psalm
Xvii ID, 14)
For you see, Venerable Brethren, with what
fury the old enemy of mankind has attacked
and still continues to attack the House of the
Lord which holiness becometh.
To him is due that disastrous conspiracy of
the impious widely spread, which, strong in
union, powerful in resources, fenced round
with ordinances, and making liberty Il cloak
for malice d. Pet. IL, 100 ceases not to wage a
cruel war, disgraced by every atrocity, against
the. Holy Church of Christ. You know well the
nature of this war, its tierceness, its weapons,
its successes, and its purposes You have ever
rrYtl,
on which rests human society, in its various
ranks, are disordered and obscured; how de-
plorable all the rules of right are turned to
wrong how manifold are the forms employed
of falsehood and corruption, while the saving
bonds of justice, honor, and authority are
1oosened the vilest passions are Sntlamed, and
the Christian faith is uprooted from the souls
of men; SO that if any schemes and endeavors
of the wicked could avail for the destruction
of the Church of God, might ut this very
time fear her approaching downfall. " But
\ nothing is more powerful than the CHURCH ~
they are the words of st. ChrysostOmz-f.t the. .
Church isstronger than heaven itself Heaven
and earth shall pass away but My words shall
not pass away What words are these Thou
art Peter and upon this rock viii build My
Church and the gates of hell shall not prevaftF.
against it," (Honil. ante/exil. n. - And
although the City of the lord of Hosts,
the city of our God rests n founda-
tion that shall meyer be overthrown; yet
when We see, ana in Our Utmost heart
grieye over, so/vasb an accumulation of ills, !
and the ruin of SO many souls, to avert which (
We would willingly lay down Our life; as We
exercise on earth the office of the eternal
Pastor, and therefore must needs be more in
famed than others with zeal for the House of
God: We deem ourselves bound to adopt that
course which offers most hope of healing the
many wounds of the Church. And often turn
ing. to our mind that word of the Prophet
IsaIas, q Take counsel, gather q council;" and
considering that this remedy had often been
successfully employed by Our predecessors in
the utmost extremity of the Christian Church
after long-continued prayers; after hearing
the counsel of Our Venerable Brethren, the
Cardinal The Holy Roman Church, and after
learning the desire of many holy Bishops: We
have thought right to summon you, Venerable
Brethren, who are the salt of the earth, the
guardians and pastors of the flock of the Lord
to assemble at this See of Peter and on this
day, through the gracious providence OF God,
Who has removed all that might hinder Our
great undertaking, We celebrate with the
ancient solemn rites, the opening of Our holy
Congregation. So varions and s9-ahundant Is
the feeling of love- Venerable. Brethren, which
We experience at this time, that We are unable
to retain it in Our breast. For seeing you, We
imagine that We behold the whole Catholic
family, Our own most dear children, gathered
around Us. We think of the many pledges of
love, of the many outbursts of human hearts
by which, at your suggestion, under your
guidance, and by your example, Our children
have shown and continue to show, such adj
1nirable respect and affection for Us and for
this Apostolic See; and full of this thought,
We cannot, in this most honorable assembly
wherein you gathered together, refrain
from a solemn and public profession OF Our
great gratitude to them ali; and We most
earnestly beseech God that the trial of their
faith, much more precious than gold, may be
found unto praise and glory and honor at the
appearing of Jesus Christ, Il. Peter, tx. ~
We think also of the wFetched fate of so many
- men who are led astray and wander far from
the way of truth and Justice, and therefore of
true happiness; and with desire We desire to
help and save them, remembering the example
of our Divine Redeemer and Master Jesus, who
came to seek-aud- that which Was lost.
Moreover, Our eyes are turned to this mon
umeDt raised TO the honor of the Prince of the
Apostles in which we stand they are turned
on this cherished city, which, by the loving
kindness of God, has not been deliEeFea-e8-e
as a spoil to the nations; they turned
this Roman people, so dear tots, by whose
love- fidelity and reverence we are always sur
rounded, and We-aFe moved to eXtol the good
ness of God5~Who has been pleased at this
season~more and more to assure to ue the hope
-efcHis divine protection. But OuTsthoughts,
Venerable Brethren, dwell chiefiyup upon you,
whose care, earnestneSs aud concord We now
perceive to be of so great Importance for pro-
1notif4z- +Ae, glory of God: We notice the bnrn-