The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-11-19
Attention of the Holy Father.

Venerable Brethren.-With the grace of
our Heavenly Master l again salute you,
giving you, through God, health and bene-
diction. Like good shepherd it behooves
mo to keep an untiring vigil over my storm
beaten fold, for an hour of danger is at
hand-not for the Church, which is impreg
nable; not for eur divine institutions
which, being the offspring of truth, can
never become subservient to falsehood-
but for those individual Catholics, who,
being unsound in virtue, become easily
susceptible of the false and tiattering liber-
ties Of which certain heretics boast. Amid
all our humiliations we have suffered none
more grievous aud agonizing than those
wherewith certain pillars of our apostolic
city have made sorrowful the very bosom
of our beloved Church. 1t is our lament
able task to condemn and cut off from our
body those whom God had gifted with
especial 'honors, endowing them with
ton and defence of our grand religion.
Pride, that robbed oil humanity of peTpet-
nal Joy, rendering Eden place of condem-
nation and yielding to earth all the turmoil,
sorrow. and disupion that prevail among
men, has done its terrible work in our very
midst A prelate who once revelled in the
spiritual Joys and zeal of Catholicity has
nuccumed to the demon who prevails in
vessels where other dcvils labor Intellectual
ly, and has breathed forth to the world
words of scandal and contradiction, max
ing heretics rejoice and the faithful blush
for his infamy. Others-out, thanks to
the Omnipotent Ruler, they are extremely
few, while we consider that corrupt exam
pie is more fruitful than vermin in it's dire
full conseouences-have followed the ways
of the unfaithful pastor, whose cross and
staff to day are as the red cloak and crown
with which the Jewish executio9er Knocked
the Redeemer of the world. His vocation
- ko1 hia UnnH work. 0DDpllaA nd
his rank makes him q landmark in the his.
tory of heresies, his very name n sarcasm
upon the Church. If the means which led
to his infidelity had been of such a nature
that could, even in the face of his hereti-
cal life, console and pardon him, would
were more criminal than the end, and more
disgraceful to acknowledgements 1t suscep-
tible of dishonor-it is beyond the power
of man to pallate bis offences before his
public submission to our teachings, and
that submission must be proven full, hum
= BILE and sincere as these are the conditions
of penance, so also shall these alone pre-
pare him for Gods forgiveness through the
ministering of His Holy Church. A great
council was called, and promptly did you,
venerable brothers, respond to the divine
call and knowing it to be the Church
the whole Church of Christ-that would
assemble on earth to receive the teachings
of Heaven, and have Gods inscrutable will
manifested to and represented among US,
-yea-set eut-eonfident that whatever was
accepted by the Church in the issues of its
holy council you would devotedly espouse
and forever believe; for our Master has
told us explicitly. al am with you all days,
even to the contamination of the world.n
But there were others who came among
us-venerable brothers, vested with your
authority and bearing your pastoral insig
mia, who made the fold of the Lamb an
arena of discord among the nations and of
emulation among learned bishops. Blind
ed by their pride, they outraged the very
motives of their mission to Rome, and in
striving to exalt their talent in the appre-
citation of the world they fell from the
honors Of the episcopacy and the Church
into the most dangerous abyss of error.
For you, venerable brethren, pray that
God may grant perpetual fidelity. For
those who have strayed from the fold let
MS beg the restoration of Gods grace and
His infinite mercy.
i would revert, and continue to revert
Intil our liberty and peace will have been
restored to this subdued stronghold of Ca
tholicity, to our fettered Pontihcate and to
the bands imposed upon the free action OF
0ur will in certain ecclesiastical acts. This
IL the 18th Time wherein, according to this
form s,f edik have called u1on won to