The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-06-07
THE VATICAN.
Beautiful Address ola French Deputation
REMARKABLE ANSWER OF THE POPE.


On the 5th of May a deputation of French
pilgrims, consisting of hundreds of ladies and
gentlemen, were admitted to the presence of
Plus TX. A large number of cardinals and
dignitaries of the Church were present. The
following is translation of the address read
by Viscount de Damas: '.a
"Most Holy Father.-The nations demand
peace. In their thirst for repose, they contin-
ually cry out peace, peace, but war seems ever
the response given to their prayers. War
order of the heart and disorder of the mind.
The people know not the path which leads to
peace. This true avenue to peaceful conquests
was once shown to the nations by one of four
kings in the most memorable of pilgrimages.
The royal pilgrim went to Rome, interruptiug
the operations of 4 terrible siege, and was lot
to ascend upon his knees the steps
Apostles, and to lay at the feet of the Pope the
treasures of his kingdom. Then it was that
Charles and Adrian embraced each other and
by that embrace, strength and truth, France
and the Papacy we're united, the mission of
our country was ratified, and the empire of
peace was established throughout the world.
France had then the most Christian of Kings,
who, from being pilgrim to Rome, became
the grandest, most illustrious of Emperors-
Charles the Great! What are the chiefs of
nations doing to-day, and where are the Char
lemagnes of our days of desolation = Alas !
we read our answer in DEGREES of exile, in
dungeons peopled with innocent Victims in
converts profaned, and in the Vatican itself
transformed into a prison Modern govern
ments know not any longer the path to peace.
But we, and all who are Catholics, know this
path, and, therefore, we come to Rome.
"A year ago we were here to celebrate the
feast of our venerated Father, who degned to
receive us'despite his Sickness, and despite his
weary caress We laid at his feet our hearty
reception of his infallible teachings, the sac
do f<,h int
and we offered our ardent desires for the health
of one so necessary in these our days of confu-
sion and disorder. ,..-,.....s
Pontiff, on account of the eagles youth be
slowed on him by God, to ask new strength
for a new campaign, and also to render an &C
count of our poor labors.
Armed by your Holiness with the Cross
the invincible symbol of Christianity, and sus-
tanned by your blessing and the favors of the
Church, we resumed, during the past year, our
peaceful pilgrimages. Millions of men, fol-
lowed us, ploughing up the soil of France,
and always, whether in the rapid journey or
in the measured procession, in the public
places or in the sanctuaries, causing the songs
of the Sacred Heart to be heard, and the Can
ticles of Mary the immaculate. In the space
of only one month three thousand pilgrmages
were organized, all of them united in the same
Faith, animated by the same desires, and
ready to shed their blood for the trium phi of
the Church, the liberation of the Holy Father,
and the salvation of France. The world of
course marvelled at these extraordinary pill
grimages, some of which consisted of no less
than 40 600 persons. 1t was at first thought that
we should be put down by sarcasm and ridi-
cule but when these weapons failed resent
ment was aroused, and our enemies, affecting
not to credit our peaceful Intentions accused
US of disturbing public order and wishing for
war.
"Aud in truth we do wish for war, but for
war in the same sense as your Holiness wages
it-war, that isy against human pride, religious
indifference and sensuality. In this war, are
not you, Holy Father, the most indefatigable
of combatants7 In the strife for truth your
lips carry light into the midst of darkness,
and your decisions oppose, with equal vigor,
the trickeries of deceitfui Liberalism and the
cunning audacity of triumphant incIedulity.
Combating for love and charity, your heart
pities all sorrows, gives courage to the perse-
cuted, and condemns the prosecutors Your
indomitable courage fOrtiies the weak and
responds to the attacks of the powerful with
the sublime defiance God has granted me q
harder front than yours '-frontene d1TioreDa,
JrORtibuS eOrHn. And the eacrilegious fury of
the sects of darkness, we'll a. the impotent
philosophy of an anti. Chi istian state-craft,l
are broken against this steel-temPered front of
Christianity.
We desire to be obedient children of n
father whose will is to us a command. With
him We will engage in peaceful cOmbats, to
gain by prayer the triumph of the three great
causes in which our aspirations centre, aud for
which all our hearts beat, and they are, Rome,
Plus tx , and France Rome, OF the in Dcible
force of Christ exercised in the SsrviCesot
peace; PIus IL, Peter living once more
among us as the peaceful cOnquerUr Who gains
kingdoms by spreading them the treas
nres of his lnfslhbility and the riches of his
Father, TO Join the temporal kingdom aud the
kingdom ofthe soul. What tears, what streams
of blood have been caused to flow by reason OF
this sacred love Of country! May heaven