The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-07-06
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY MORNING, JULY g.

have been promulgated to enslave and stifle
Catholicity. By the first, the Church is de-
prived of all power to instruct its young le-
vites. Henceforth, the future ministers of the
altar must be COMPOUNDED in the State Univer-
sites vita students of free thought, they must
breathe the same air of unbelief, and live I'M
der the same Christian influences. When
this unclerical education is finished, they can.
not be charged with the care OF souls until
State. The second law takes from all head
pastors the power of protecting the faithful
from tie unhappy influence of unworthy
priests or even of heretics, BY denouncing
them publicly. Finally, the third law confsrs
upon the government the power of deposing
priests whom the Bishops wish to maintain in
have been economically depssed. Thus the
source of the living waters is dried up, that
nothing may be left at the disposition of the
faithful but the poisonous pools. Is not this
to condemn them to death worse than that of
the swordf do
What has been decreed at Berlin has been
executed at Geneva and at Soleure. The per-
secution against Mgr. Mermillod and Mgr. La
to eject the venerable Bishop of Bale by force.
from his episcopal palace he has been pur-
sued to his refuge in the town of Lucerne, and
his enemies want the magistrate of this can
tor to interdict him from all exercise of his
jurisdiction over the priests and the faithful,
whom Jesus Christ Himself has confided to his
charge Whilst the consolation and support
which trae Catholics find in their relations
| +1,o; 10 ban afe
are encouraged. Mercenary pastors are main
tanned in the midst of the focks that they
scandalize courageous priests who show devo-
tion to their bishops, are driven away, and
power is given to bad Catholics, to depose
+! their cures and to select others more disposed
to connive at their errors and their vices.
Who is there that does not see the danger to
which souls are exposed in such a persecution
1t places at the disposal of the enemies of the
Church q weapon that the Roman enperors
} did not possess, and which is hundred times
more formidable than the axes of their lictors
that is the police, who see everything and pen.
citrate everywhere The Christians of old
} who met their death in the amphitheatres
found, at least, the shadow of liberty in the
catacombs. To-day we are given neither the
. glory of dying for Jesus Christ in the amphi
theatres nor the liberty of serving him in the
catacombs.
Our brethren in Switzerland and Germany, t.
remain firm in their faith, need a species o
d courage as meritorious as, and, in q sense
}, oven more difficult than that of the ancien
;, martyrs. When Catholic is placed befor
q the scaffold his dVty is clear to him and b
8 needs only strong effort of the will to gai
his crown but when he is surrounded by
It labyrinth of snares, and to his inability to d
s. good is Joined the fear of provoking create
D. evils by energetic conduct, he needs, to sup
10 port himself, powers of discerning and clea
Judgment no less rare than firmness of will.
l. Both these graces we shall petition for tn
L Catholics of Germany and Switzerland. Th
% view of Providence, in putting them on tria
is to procure for the Church triumph, who's
glory shall be measured by the ardor of tt
strife. And who knows whether Providenc
~ will not allow the persecution to grow gene
= al in order to make the triumph more COZ
- plete9 Let us hasten to obtain, by our pra.
" ers. the assistance of which we too may SOC
e stand in need, and let us copjure our Divil
Saviour to realize for our prosecuted brethre
as we may trust He will realize for WHIT
the occasion offers, the last of beatitude
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for juStic
N sake, for theirs is the Kingdom Of hedUcR.
he Divine Heart of Jesus, 1 offer to The
ar- through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
in my prayers actions and sufferings of this da
ID. in union with all the intentions for viii
nd Thou dost constantly immediate Thyself on o
n affairs.
% offer them, in particular, for Thy Vic
re- surrounded by enemies eager for his deaf
ID for Thy ministers and Thy faithful of G.
th many and Switzerland, who are pursued
en an internal persecution. Give them, o Jes
WIS Try Fight to discover the snares that are Il