Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-09-01
Plus THE GREAT.
His Letter Declining the Golden
Chrome.


His Letter Declining the Golden
Ihrone.
The OSserV0tOre Romano contains
the text of the letter addressed by His
Holiness to the Marquis Cavaletti, Presi-
dent of the committee which Offered him
q golden throne. 1t is as follows:
Very Dear Marquis, Senator and Son
in Jesus Christ i: The numerous proofs of
tiIsl affection which reach me from sil
points of the Catholic world produce in
me the hyeliest emotion. They ObIige me
to be sincerely grateful, which | try to be,
in praying for so many children of the
Church. Every week | Offer the sacrifice
of initiate value, that of the frs mass.
and complying with the general desire /
will, if it please God, offer it agsin, beg
ging God to deliver cur Italy from all the
evils which Cypress her every day more.
Last of al, beloved son of Jesus
Christ, who are always 80 devoted to the
Holy See, | have been surprised at he
news you have given me--nsmely, that
the good Catholics think of Offering me
two new and altogether unexpected testi-
mOnials of fiIial love, the gift of a
Pontificsl throne of gold, and the sddi-
ton of The title of Great 10 the name of
Plus N. With my heart On my lips and
with the sincerity of father, who loves
affectionstey his children in Jesus Christ
| will reply to one and other of those
offers. In regard to the precious gift
of golden throne, it has all at once
occurred to my mind that | should en-
plOy the sum which may be collected in
releasing young cecil, siastics whom a
sinister law COmpels 10 do military ser
vice. The clergy is the golden seat that
sustains the Church. s 1t is against the
clergy that the efforts OF the present
rulers are directed. They employ spolia.
ton and persecution; they study eveIy-
where how TO render ecclesiastical yoca-
tons very difficult, in order thus to re.
duce more ard more the succession in the
ecclesiastical hierarchy, which, decimat:d
daily by death and tribUlatiOns, leaves
continual voids which cannot be filed, to
the great detriment of the Church Of
Jesus Christ.
1t seems that the present rulers have
given themselves the mission of destroy
ing everything, and particularly Whatever
religion and the Church. While
they load with eulOgium and grants of
money intended to be applied to the en-
couragement of ecclesias les who DISC
hey their bishops and spostatize from
the faith, they pursue consistently
the internal system of attacking the god
people, only because these are opposed
to the doctrines of their prosecutors aud
their anti Christian dispositions.
Bur let US leave those blind rulers to
follow the path Of perdition. Deaf to
th9 first warnings of conscience, skeptics,
and forced to rIdicule the good doctrines
which are preached under their eyes, they
run in the way that leads them to the
deep abyss. And now in regard to the
second idea, which is that of adding the !
word ''Great" to our name. l have pre- |
sented TO my mind saying of the divine
Redeemer.
He traversed the various countries of |
Judea after He had put on human nature.
A person penetrated with admiration OF |
His divine virtues addressed him as |
"Good Master" ''Why dost thou call
me gOod2 God slCre is good, ;" immedi- |
sttly replied Jesus. If, then, Jesus |
Christ, regarding Himself as a man, de- |
clared that God alone is good, should Lot |
His unworthy Vicar say in his turn thai |
God alone Is gIes'2 Great by reason
of the strength lie gives HIS Vicar; |
great by reason of the support He |
gives His Church; great by reason of |
The infniie patience He exercises toward |
His enemie'; great by reason Of the re
wards He keeps in store for al those who |
have abandoned the ways of sin to con
secrate themselves TO the exercise of pen.
itence; great by reason of the TigOrs of |
justice He will use for the punishment of |
and of all the obstinate tne-
mics of the Church.
That being granted, | must confess all |
l have just saId-namely, we shall con-
secrale the money effected for the |
throne TO the rams IN of young eCclesias-
tics; and, in the next place, my name
shall continue 10 be as it has always been.
! desire that all repeat, for the glory of
q ID, NagnlLs DOHinUs ct IdudGbiiiS |
Lord is great and beyond
all praise. Such is the wish expressed /
by the Father to his dear caild-
ren, and in expressing this wish /
lac leterates assurances of love |
and gratitude toward them. l. is true
that the title in CUES i0n-Grest-hs be
given TO three Truly great Ponlifs, but
that took place only after their death, be-
cause tnen the judgment of men is clearer
and cslmer. However, may those Pom
hffs remain great on the lips and in the |
hearts of al, and l, with OVERLOOKING |
heart, give you, your family and all good
the spJs.olic denediction.
PIUs, 2. p. lX.
Ar THE VATICAN, August 8. 1871.