The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-01-30
roRE1aN CATHOLIC 1NrEIIIaENCE.


and had served in the army of Napoleon l. at
the battle of Leipsic, as aid-de-camp to Berna-
dotte. He was man of most simple tastes,
great kindness and sincere piety, and though
most absurdly claimed by the liberal party as
one of their Cardinals, never lost an opportu-
nifty of proving the contrary by his constant
devotion to the person and dignity of the rope.
His Holiness assisted at the solemn obsequies
which took place yesterday at Sta Maria IN
Campitelli, in the presence of vast concourse
of Roman and foreign Catholics. Death has
been busy,in Rome since the Council, and two
Bishops, Mgr. Vasquez, of Panama, and Mgr.
ManastyTski, of Premislia, have fallen victims
to the unhealthy seasons and the fatigue OF
long journey at an advanced age and with
already infiFm health Another and most I'M
expected death is that of Madame FRANCHISE de
Maistre, the newly married and youngest
daug hter of General Lamoriciere, scarcely
eighteen at the time of her marriage,-a child
in innocence and fragility of appearance. The
noble anA S,atholic families whose houses are
thus 1Hiunged into mourning, and the Holy
Father sent q message of the most afectionate
and paternal coincidence to the wldower and
mother of Madame de Maistre.
The CouRcil-The official documents which
appear in the GiOrRale di Roma and the Osserrd-
tore have amply confirmed the reports In clrcu--
lation as to the composition of the Commission
of Doctrine and the Ga4iieaH- seem TO
consider it conclusive, as do the great mass
of Catholics, as to the probable definition of
paPal intallbi!ity. The Fathcrs eiecteu oy
secret voting had so overwhelming a majority
that it leaves no dou bit as to the feeling of the
assembly The members ranged between 700
and 400 in favor of the twenty-four elected
the highest being $50 and the lowest 43O. 1t
is said that the votes in favor of the Bishop OF
Orleans We're only twenty-seven. Cardinal
Matthew's departure of course has been
fruitful source of canards. His Eminence was
in fact recalled by the dangerous illness OF his
brother Admiral Matthew, and private letter
l have Just received from Besancon itself states
that the Cardinal intends returning to Rome
as soon as it is possible to leave his brother,
and resume his place i'll the Council. The
Gallican party were completely thrown out OF
their calculations by the election of the Com
mission of Doctrine and very hot partizan of
theirs informs me that they relied on the sup
port of 300 Bishops and were wofully deceived
on the publication of the vote; that they still
hope to prevent the definition, and are working
night and day through diplomacy. Every one
here is convinced that all differences will fade
away before the evident learning of the Coun-
Gil. The opportuneness of the definition seems
really the ouly question: at issue. and even the
timid are beginning to recognize the fact that
the prudence of the Church is n gift OF the
Holy Ghost, as well as her zeal. 1t has been
industriously propagated among the French
Gallicans that the definition would at ehce
prevent the conversion of Anglicans, and it is
most comical to listen to their extreme anxiety
for the salvation of lie pauvre Docteur Pussy"
consequence hanging on the decisions OF
the Council. The absence of DIR. Newman,
too, grieves them deeply, and it is useless
to explain to them how welcome the pres
ence of so great theologian would have
been to the Holy Father, and that nothing
taking his merited place in the assembly.
These pous souls know more of English Catho-
licity than do ourselves, ard are far better
up in the state of the Archdiocese than the
Archbishop himself, and nothing can be more
amusing than their pathetic pleading for the
Cancellation of the Anglican body, as II 1t did
not concern us more nearly than any one The
Bohemian PFotestautS are also q subject OF
great solicitude for.these good people, of whom
it may truly be said that like st. PauPs their
care extends TO all the churches. 1t is no use
to say that to honest aud Jealous AuSficahs the
full development of ecclesiastical teaching mas
always been the great attraction, rather than
obstacle They know all about it. Have they
I net read Janus, and the Correspondent, and all
| about Pope AOnorius, and Rodcrfc Borgfa with
| the rather important omission of Father Bot
| talla's answer it is true), and are W. not IN
! outer darkness when we urge the daily mira
! cles of Gods grace in the conversion OF Eng
! land in proportion as her Hierarchy has ac-
Quired fuller development and closer union
! with Rome The unhappy thing is, that very
small section of English Catholics are taken by
French Catholics and Protestant Engishmen,
| as the>exponents of the body, and endless mis-
representation ensues.
An article in the Morning Herald of the 18th
may be cited as a case in point. The writer,
| whose letters are couched in courteous and
! respectful tone which hetrays- the gentleman
and man of ednSation, and whose account OF
the opening was far the best in the great Lon
don press, has evidently fallen into the hands
of some of those unfortunate members of the
| Catholic body, who far more guilty than igno'
!
ate their Mother and their spiritual superiors
Nine-tenths fthe siGis Of the English cOrrespon
dents are chargeable on lax Catholics, who fur
nish the raw material for the daily ISLANDERS on
Rome, and whose creed lends additional weight
E to their assertions. The society of 1.-THE liberia
, Catholic" is the "happy hunting ground" o.
the Protestant correspondent and but for these
SOURCES the tide of misrepresentation would be
reduced to far narrower channel What the
responsibility before God of such Catholics is
is better left to their own conscences The
0 reform of the Religious Orders is said to b,
one of the greatest prescriptions of the Pop
and the Council. Reform, be it understood, il
r the sense of restoring primitive observance il
union with effective organization adapted t
0 the necessities and the work of the presen
age, and not in the sense implying any mora
disorder abuse. In countries which dynas
tic iealouses have cut off from the control o
the Holy See, such Naples, Austria, and Por
tugai, there are, it is said, considerable reform
n needed, and also in the Spanish Americas, Mex
+ leo, and the countries where the revoluJiopaT.
influence has barred the effectual action of tn
CIEfTrch in the administrations of its own of
/ fairs, the sole guarantee for reform where sucl
? is needed. State jealousy, in Naples and Sicil
+ especially, prevented the interference of Greg