The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-11-09
Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.
LETTER FROM ROME.
ADDRESS OF THE POPE TO THE YOUNG MEN OF
ROME.

ADDRESS OF THE POPE TO THE YOUNG MEN OF
ROME.
ROME, October 12.-Five hundred young men
of Rome had an audience the other day of the
Holy Father, for the purpose of renewing their
protestations Of loyalty to his Government and
their affection to his person and of express
ing their ardent hopes for o near restoration
of the Church's rights and the temporal roy
atty of the Vicar of Jesus Christ. A full re-
port of the Pope's reply is given in the Catho-
lie journals Of Rome. The Holy Father said:
at share the hopes that have been expressed
by your spokesman, who has Interpreted to me
the sentiments of this large assemblage of
young men of select class who are resolved
to walk in the paths of truth and justice.
unite myself to them. And, the better to at
test my thorough agreement in though and
feeling with what has been said, should like
to recall passage of holy Scripture which is
brought at this moment to my mind.
"The people of the Jews were beset by their
enemies and especially by the Madianites. Not
only were they uncertain as to the issue of the
struggle, but they were also seized with q
panic fear, which enfeebled their heart and
made them despair of victory, when all at once
the Lords all-powerful arm interviewed, and
showed that He alone and none other could
deliver Israel ; SO that every man might repeat
this is the finger of God Digitus Del est hic.
The people of the Jews were governed by
judges, and you will remember that, during
this event, Gedeon held the T nix of judge. God
then ordered Gedeon to mako q selection
amongst all the people and to leave at home
the timorous and those who had nc heart, and
to take with him only those fired with the de-
sire of fighting for their families, for their
property, and their rights. For God wished to
let it be seen that He Himself was the chief of
the warriors, and that He alone gave them the
strength to conquer. And He said to Gedeon :
The number offghting men is still too great;
lead them to the brink of the river and thou
shalt prove them there. Those that shall stoop
down and kneel upon the earth to drink, send
them away but those that shall stand upright
and take up water with their hands to carry
it to their mouth them shalt thou choose for
the defence of My people, Now the number
of those who did not kneel down upon the
ground but who carried the water to their
mouth in the hollow of their hands, was only
three hundred, that is, fewer in number than
you are here at present. Only three hundred,
but guided and sustained by that spirit which
is given by the heavenly mercy, and renders
us valiant to combat the enemies of God.
"With these three hundred young men, &C.
deon advanced during the night. He placed
in their hands trumpets and lamps concealed
in earthen vessels; and he divided them into
three columns. And, when they were in the
enemy's camp, the noise of their trumpets and
the light of their lamps awoke the Madianites
and struck them with CONSERVATION, SO that
they fell into great confusion, and began STAY
ing each other and taking to fight.
"The trumpets of Israel vanquished an enc
my powerful, and possessing such multi
tudes of horses and beasts of burthen, that the
Scripture compares them in number to the
grasshoppers and the sand on the seashore,
which is figuratve manner of sigufying q
great army conquered by handful of soldiers
to whom God had communicated His Spirit
= "Well, my dear children, you have come
here this morning without any fear before the
Vicar of Jesus Christ, and you have carried to
your lips the living water of the Word by those
beautiful sentiments so worthy of true Chris
tians. And what do the arms of Gedeon's SOL
diers signfyf They signify that, as the Faith
ers tell us, in order to fight and conquer our
enemies we must have two things, action in
the hand and prayer on the lips. With the
torch of truth in the hand, and the trumpet of
prayer on the lips, let US go forward. Yes, let
us advance, for confusion already is in the
enemy's camp. Let Us go forward, for Goo,
sustaining the arms of this poor old man 1.-The
Holy Father was here interrupted by loud and
prolonged cheers], will sustain you also, and
we will march together to gain the victory.
"And now return to your homes, and take
back with you the treasures of the benediction
of God. Keep His spirit of love and of char
ity that spirit which men would Danish from
Rome the centre of truth in this world-but
which will remain there.
"Go, and may God bless your works may
He receive your prayers By those works may
you edify your neighbour, and by those prayers
may you obtain of the Lord those mercies and
graces which we look for from Him alone.
"Dear sons, lift up my hands and bless
your courage; bless your parents, your fami-
lies, and all that belongs to you. May Our
benediction be present with you during life
and at the hour of death.
" Benedictio Del, ETC."