Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-03
EcUMENICAL COUNCIL.
Inauguration Address efthe Pope and Open
lag Prayer.

The following is a translation of the
Pope's addk9 IS to the Council:
Venerable Brethren: What we asked
Of God by many supplications and
prayers-that we may be able to in
augurate the EcumenicaI Council ap-
pointed by Us-this has been granted,
to our gFeaI joy, by the remarkable
and singular grace of Sod. Our heart,
| therefore, exults in the Lord, and is
suGiused with inconceiYable cOnsOla-
| tion, because on this most auspicious
! anniversary of the festival of the I'M
maiculate Conception of the Virgin
Mary, Mother of God, you who have
been called to participate in our solicit
tude, have assembled in greater num-
bers than formerly in the citadel of
the Catholic religion, and we thor
Oughly rejoice in your presence. Now,
venerable brethren, you are assembled
here in the name of Christ, that with
US you may hear testimony to the
Word of God and Jesus Christ, that
you may teach the way of God in
truth to all men with us, and that you
may juGge with us, under the guild
ance of the Holy Ghost, of the oppOsi-
ton of science, falsely so-called. For
if ever there was time when zeal for
the Divine glory and the salvation of
the Lords flock demanded of US to
surround AID defend Zion, it is now,
For you see, venerable brethren, with
what violence the old enemy of the
human race has attacked. and still
attacks the House of God. Under his
guidance that wicked conspiracy of
the impiou5 is widely diffused. Strong
in union, powerful in wealth, protected
by Institutions, and wearing the lib
eral veil 0f malice, and full
of weakness, it does not cease
its most bitter war against the
sacred Church of Christ. You know
the nature OF that war-its power, its
arms, its progress, its councils. You
have continually before our eyes the
trouble and confusion, the grevOus
perversion of all right, the various
arts of bold lying and corruption by
which the wholesome bonds of lus-
tice, integrity and authority are l0os-
ened, the worst passions are intamed,
the Christian faith rooted out fram
souls, so that the end of Gods church
might well be feared now, if 1t were
possible for II to be destroyed by any
Vaccinations or endeavOrS of man.
But, as st. John Chrysostom said,
nothing Is more powerful than the |
church is stronger than |
heaven itself" Heaven and earth |
shall pass away, but my words shall
not pass" What words? "Thou art |
Peter, and on this rock l shall build |
my church, and the gates of hell shall !
not prevail against it."
His Holiness then rising, whilst all |
the Others knelt down, made the fol- |
lowing prayer;
We are present, o Lord Holy Ghost |
we are present, fettered indeed in |
the magnitude of sin, but specially as
sembtsd in Thy name. Come to us |
and be with US, and deign to abide in |
our hearts. Teach us what to do, |
where to go, and show us what we |
should effect, that with Thy help we |
may please Thee in all things. Be |
our salvation and the guide of our
Tho ~~7ho, alone, with |
God the Fathe - His Son. dost |
possess the glorious name, Thou who |
lowest the most perfect equity, suffer |
no disturbers of Justice; let not igno- |
rance draw us into the wrong path;
let no favor warp us, nor regard for |
gifts or persons corrupt us, but bind |
Us etfectually together to Thee, by the |
gift Of Thy grace alone, that We may |
be one in Thee, that we may in moth !
ing swerve from the truth; that, as
sembled in Thy name, we may OBJ |
serve in all things justice and plety;
that here our opinions may in nothing
clash with Thee, and that hereafter
we may obtain the everlasting re-
wards of our well doing.
The prelates answered "Amen."