The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-29
A SOLEMN CONSIDERATION.
An Impressive letter TO the DiOccscs
OF the Province of New York to be
Read in All the Catholic Churches
on sunday Next.

VENERABLE BRETHREN OF THE CLERGY
ANp BELOVED CHILDREN OF THE LAITY
Wishing to have part with our brethren of
i, the many spiritual privileges anu picss-
,ngs which it brings with 1t, we have re-
solved, with the Divine assistance, to dedi-
cate our respective dioccses, together with
all their churches, religious houses, char
table and educational institutions, collec-
lively and sngly, to the Most Sacred Heart
of Jesus, And we have appointed accord
incly the approaching Feast of the lmma-
culate Conception, the great patronal fes-
tival of the Church in these United States.
as the day on which this solemn act OF con
secration shall take place.
We feel sure that on Will welcome TINS
announcement with sincerest pleasure. FOR
in the gloomyand perilous times upon which
we have fallen every new ray OF light, every
fresh CLEAN or hope, every additional source
of strength and courage is hailed with JOY.
This better light and hope, this additional
strength an courage. will be given to you
in the efilcacious and beautiful devotion to
the Sacred Heart which it is the object of
this act of conservation to promote.
There is moral darkness oversprcading
the earth. The light of Divine Faith, the
only true light to guide our footsteps, has
become obscured. In some places It'll burn
ing dimly in others it is wholly or well-nigh
extinpuished. Yet men are seen to Glove
the darkness rather than the light. for their
ways are evil" They have risen in open
revolt against God and against His Christ;
against the supremacy of His dominion over
the minds and conscicnces OF individuals and
of nations. The most essential tauths of
His revelation are rejected; the hottest mys-
terics of His religion are scoifed Mt and de-
MED; tho very life of Christianity Is threat
ened Irreligion, indllerentlsm, unhelief
with their attendant train of evils, abound
on every side. As a consequen e, or rather
rs a means to an end. the Church Is perSe-
cutcd. Her Supreme Pastor is held in bond
age. Her bishops and priests, in certain
portions of Europe, arc forbidden the eNer-
else of their rightful jurisdiction and author
ity over the members of their own flock;
some are prescribed and eXicd i religious
communities are despoiled OF their proper
ty. driven from their homes, made subject
to indignites and hardshipS the most cruel
and unjust; even the faithful laity are not
spared. Although we, in our free ard ia
vored country, are happily protected from
extreme trials such as these, still, us child
rem of the Church, we are members Of one
body in Christ; and when one member SUIT
fers, all the members suffer with 1t. Our
sympathics, therefore, go out strongly and
warmly to our struggling and afflicted
| brethren in other lands. Our prayers are
for them rs well as with them. All to-
| rether we lift up our voices saying. GLOW
| long, O, Lord, how long !" "Thy arm alone
is now erful to save" Still we fear no., we
do not despond We know in whom we
have trusted" We know His PROMISE we
believe His word. II am with you all
days., Upon this rock have built my
chuIch, and the gates OF hell shall never
prevail against it," Even now the voice OF
the same Divine Master, ever present in
His church, is speaking to holy souls within
her bosom words of sweet comfort ana en-
couragement; telling them whittier they
shall go for help and protection; how best
in the long protractcd struggle they may
obtain courage to endure, and strength TO
overcome. If you hear not these woads,
you still may learn their import from the
| practical response that is given to them.
Look around you, and what do you behold
Almost everywhere you see bishops and
priests. religious men and women, holy SER
wants of God, devout believers, both ofhigh
and low degree, coming together in pious
comfraternities, in associations of prayer in
pilgrimages, and all, as if moved 10y one,
common impulse fastening to have re-
course for succor and protection to
the compassionate Heart of Jesus.
There they confidently hope to find sure
asylum, a safe refuge from every danger,
There also is the never-faiing fountain OF
infinite love and mercy, the Overlooking
source of every grace and blessing Let us
hasten, then, to this same DIVINE Heart
and we, too, "shall draw waters win JOY
from the fountains of the Saviour
This, dear brethren, is the motive wn'sn
nromnts MS IN ordain the solemn act of con-
secration in which you are invited to take
part In order that you may do this the
more worthily, we exhort you to prepare
Yourselves beforehand by good confession
and by dcvout reception of Holy Com,
munion on the great festival day itself II