The New York herald., 1871-02-06


whoever succeeded Peter also succeeded to mis-
power ana direction OF the universal flock OF Christ
The powers of hell, through the fundamentally OF
the pagan emperors, did their best to destroy the
Church by striking the nock-ptiests, bishops and
popes: The frst tweniy.six popes were all martyrs
the people In the year 84 st sylvester was elected
Pope and during his reign Constantine the Great
was converted to Christianity, and the Church came
DArrIssAL BLOOD OF THREE CENTURIES
and the gloom OF h rhe catacsmbs, Inconquercd ana
Grated to Christ and ms cross gloriously assembled
the domss and towers Of the capital Of the
upon the Roman banner. ana in that sign
Rome was nenceforth to conquer and be
the Catholic Church; but why should we speak of
the victories OF the Catholic Church, when the head
aeeae Da not t an SrcS aSs
at the mercy Of his enemies and usurping treach-
erous government, and ere not the
POWERS or HELL LET LoosEf
Is not the name Of Christ blasphemed and torn
down IRON the walls OF time -honored sanctual1es OF
learningS Have not the proud enemies OF Christ
ana the unbelieving Jews become professors In
CHRISTIAN colleges, changing them into pestilencef
M Have en- nos she gates Of he'll therefore provaed has
is explained BY three facts Firstly, The persecu-
that prove the divine institution and miraculous
perseverance Of the Church. Secondly, the present
OF speedy victory. and thirdly, the VIC
tory Is beginning already u., to be achieved; Mn
U
DEATH and then told his disciples that the servant
was not greater than the master. You Will stand
before princes ana kings. ana wtosoever kileth
you VIII think he nath done service TO God. The
the world. The history OF
THE CHURCH FOR THIRTEEN CENTURIES
fulfilled these prophecies. The first twentysix
pontlffs were all put to death. In the beginning Of
the fourth century the Emperor OF Rome was con-
verred by brilnant cross with the inscription .in
this sign thou shalt conquern The religion OF Christ
soon became the religion OF all adjacent nations.
Irplo and oil ma
other nations Of Europe were converted by the
apostles VINO had been forth by the successor Of
Peter OF near forty martyred pontlrfs. The con-
verted nations especially Italy, glonned in Offering
giits TO the altar and paying special honors 10 the
The greatest OF the converted nations rejoiced in
elevatIng the Pope to the kingy dignity and making
MIN the first OF kings. But in the tenth century
1sere began that apostacy Of nations alluded to by
John, ana IT still goes on. ST. Peter and ST. Jude
made mention OF the false teachers tnat were to
ENEMIES OF ALL LAWFUL AUTHORITY.
| tdo1ntnotaonem sperndnn and blaspheme all divine
ans human man majesty @ oasone son 2,
stroy all religion, adoring themselves and setting
themselves IN the place OF the altar and the LORD
Jesus. The evil OF the age Is dis0bedence 10 law
ful authority; 1t Is the origin of all other crimes and
at its door must be ald the invasion OF the Pontncal
States and the dehronement OF the Vicar OF Christ
from his temporal authority conceded to him for
/ ADVANTAGE OF THE CHURCH AT LARGE.
catholic believing in the the desma GaHf could
! logically refuse TO uphold the temporal power when
the infallibe head Of the Church mad recently de-
clared the taking away of his temporal authority
was both sacrilegious and unjust. For here is q
statement Iha. touches morals. and In things
related to faith and msras the Pope,
speaking Cathedrd, was infallible. The
preacher concluded his discourse hopefully believ-
ing that the present trials of the Sovereign PonttH
were but prelude to his triumph. The history OF
the Church he said for the last eighteen centuries
was persecution and triumph. Again she Will tri-
umph, verifying in her most glorious victory the
words Of the text "TnOu art Peter. and upon this
rock Will build my Church, and the gates OF hell
Shall not prevail against her.n
On the conclusion OF the above discourse q resou-
ten expressive OF sympathy with the Pope IN his
trials was adopted, and several members OF the con
gregatOn addressed the meeting IN sympathetic re-
marks. The solemn benedicton OF the most holy
sacrament terminated the proceedings OF the vast
assembage whose hearts beat in unison with the
heart Of their common father in the capital or
ChrlSts Church.