The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-05-28
The Protest Of the Very Rev. r. Beckx, I enel al
nA Of tho Jesuits.

A$OSAA5 -
aA Of tho Jesuits
Ercellency-I have received from the
Prefecture the Decree, which, in virtue Of
Of that of the 25th June, 1865, on tho ex-
preparation for purposes of public utility,
empowers the Government commission to
visit this house of the Gesu.
The right of inviolability which arises
from the ecclesiastical character of this
tiOn assigned to this house by the founder,
Cardinal Farnese, imposes on me the OBJ
legation of protesting, as l hereby do, de-
clariug null aud void all the effects of this
visit, to which emily on cpmpulsion sub
nit, and reserving to the Society of Jesus
every right and title in this house, of
which it has been legitimately possessed
for three centuries.
Furthermore, your ExcelleDcy will per-
NIT me to bring forward on this subject
come considerations, which show the par
ticular claims why this house should not
be- Included in the general law.
THE house of the Gesu was built at the
expense of the above mentioned Cardinal
Falnese, that it might be the residence Of
the General of the Society of Jesus, and
might at the same time serve as the ABODE
of those Religious of that Society who Of
aciate in che adjoining Church, which mas
always been one Of the most frequented in
Rome.
In conformity with this intention q part
| of the house has been occupied by the
General of tire Society, by his FIVE assist
ants or advisers from Italy. Germany,
France, Spain and England, and besides by
more than fifteen other religious from these
different nations employed by him.-lt
serves moreover for the congregations, in
which the Religious of the Society from
! every Province of Europe and of America
have to assemble, as we'll as for the Mis-
A.. a. k<N
Rome to treat with the Holy See about &C.
clesi astical Affairs. Another. part is occu
pied by the Religious who are attached to
the service Of the Church to which Catho-
lies of every nation resort, assured that
they will find there priests speaking their
language, and of whose ministry they can
avail themselves.
| Only by a temporary and exceptional ar
rangement THU d part of the building was
gratuitously lent to be used as barra:k
for soldiers.
| The cost of maintenance and of repairs
of the house, which is not endowed, de-
| wolves upon all the Provinces of the So
ciety, which share between them the ex-
penses, as they do the advantages of its
position.
Hence it follows that this house cannot
be considered as simply local property
subject to the law of appropriation, bu!
ought to be regarded as the international
property of an Order existing in all parts
of the world, in which have a right and
interest not only Italy, but France, Eng
land, Germany, Austria, Belgium. Holland
Spain, Spanish America, the United States
in a word all those countries in which We
have, under the guarantee of their laws
scientific and religious institutions, or are
authorized to employ ourselves in the min
istry of the Missions for their respective
colonies.
1 add in conclusion that in the very
midst of this house there yet remains IN
changed, after q lapse of three centuries
the original dwelling place of the holy
founder of the Society of Jesus, the ex
terror of which has been made a monumen
ofart by the paintings and frescoes of Pozz'
and Borgognoni-a shrine venerated b!
all Catholics and visited with interest ever
by non Catholic foreigners who visit Rome
Foreign writer's have noted with prais
that in the political revolutions of Italy it
religious monuments have always been re
spected, and should be glad to hope tina
this eulogium will not be belied in th'
very capital Of the Catholic world at TIL
present epoch.-I am, with respect, you
Excellency's humble servant,
PETER BEcKX,
General of the Society of Jesus.
ROME, 10Th of March, 1871.