The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-09-04
Letter of Mgr. Dupanloup, Bishop Of Orleans.


The following is a portion of an admir-
able letter, asking for prayers for the army
and assistance for the wounded, which has
been issued by, the illustrious Bishop of
Orleans, and will be read with deep in
terest by all:
Dearly Beloved Brethren-I had scarcely
arrived among you when was deeply al
fected by thoughts that now fill the minds
of all Frenchmen and agitate their hearts.
When, after passing through Italy and
France to be as soon as possible among
you, / heard the rumors Of war, consid-
cred it my duty, in taking leave of my
pupils, and in distributing to them thei5
Christian honor. thought it my duty to
unite them in prayer in favor OF what
makes the heart of great people thrill
with emotion, when received the follow
ing letter:
GNU Lord-I request your Lordship, in
the name of his Majesty the Emperor s;s,a to
Place France, her ruler, and the noble
child, who is going before he has attained
the proper age to combat, under the pro-
lection of God, who holds In his hands the
fate of battles and the destiny of nations.
When our heroic army marches forth, ask
Him to bless our arms, and to permit a
glorious and durable peace to follow the
horrors of war. Receive, etc,
GENTLE OLIVIER, Minister of State"
hail with joy those noble and religious
words, and l applaud above all the last
t wish expressed in them. Yes, "may glo-
4 rious and durable peace soon follow the
Y pangs and horrors of war;" Such are the
' real sentiments that every French and
Christian heart should feel. They are the
Q same that St. Paul felt when he recon-
mended the faithful "to pray for the rulors
e Ill -h<, hold
y thority, that we may all here below lead a
y quiet and tranquil life in the peace of piety
' and of virtue" With an ardor which age
: and fatigues have not been able to lessen
y 1 followed the country in its efforts to OBJ,
y tain that just liberty of which she ii
/. preoccupaton about the harvest, and il
IT her resolution when war came on suddenly
l. NV foot on touching my native soil found
It it thrilled with emotion, and then my sou
e became moved by all the sentiments tina
;e agitate the souls of Frenchmen, and l fel
N in this sad and solemn hour deep love TO
- NV country, and was ready to give ever.
l thing for her, my best wishes, my prayer
is aud my humble offerings. But, do not
s. however, my brethren, expect Christia
lie to admire war. NO. In presence OF GOO
re who shed His blood to reconcile men t
" each other, deplore this painful myster
rs of war, and all of us, priests and bishops
we pray that it may be avoided, suppresse
- for ever If it be possible. And wlthor
"a surprise learn that the Sovereign Pontif
ad our common Father, touched with pity an
q. forgetting his own perils, wrote to the tw
M sovereigns who are beginning terrib
he war, to beseech of them to spare their pee
be pie such q frightful misfortune. Who dot
h not feel sad at the thought that men E
nj proud of their civilization have not "
tn been able to efface war from the annals
va their historyq Who does not feel saddene
a for Christians whose hearts have NJ
: a brought their Gospel to such an end, wi
a. call that Gospel, however, one of peace
he Who does not aspire ardently for the tin
tn when nations will replace the triumphs
in force and of war by the peaceful force
ma right, and, at least in Christian nations,
it the inviolable respect of justice Ala
oh alas When shall men cease to EXTERN
Int nate each other, and even in peace to d
e stroy each others strength in sterile hatrt
Inv and in great and extensive preparations
an WARP They are afflicted by their morta
,r ity, and vet at times they hasten to destr'
"a each other. AS if they did not find theI
n selves mortal enough, they invent ne
IRE deaths they increase for their peasu
we the evils, already painful enough, of h
lin manlty; and at the very time speak, o
nd of the great efforts of their genius, one
ed the most vaunted progress of human lndu
his try, is to create numbering engines such
,f were never imagined before it Is to uni
- in one of them multiplicity of shots cs
er. rying death with them in such rapidiEy I'll
nd our first battle is the incOnnu and deies
the foresight. Alasl for my part, cannot 8
how much even the glorious death of
len many fine and brave young en- weig