The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-01-04
Letter Of the Holy Father to Monsignor Ledeehov.
sd, Arehhishop of Posen-


has been Gods pleasure to show to men
that the Church's edifce is Divine, and
that everywhere all attacks directed against
it by the powers of hell and the malice OF
man must be in vain, surely nov, Veneer
able Brother, is this truth made clear to
the sight even OF those who do not wish to
see it, to day He has permitted every thing
to conspire for the destruction of the
Church. We see contempt, calumny, laws
and the powers of this world avrayed
against it, the effect of resolutions long
| formed and brought to realization by pro-
the i'm. .'acable sect, which has almost
everywhere possessed itself of supreme
power. Her adherents are marked as sedi-
tious her Bishops are condemned by the
civil tribunal as agitators they are loaded
with fines, deprived of their functions and
expelled the country thef Religious Or
ders are suppressed, Z clergy is gagged.
and, by arbitrary measures, prevented
from exercising its ministry education OF
the youth in the spirit Of the Church ie
the population may not be confirmed in
, the principles of religion, and that, on the
other, the training up of able and faithful
= servants of the altar may be prevented
In order to annihilate the glorious name
of God, the property consecrated to Goo
8 the Church is kept in bondage in order
8 that, though utterly despoiled, he may MOI
: govern the Church with freedom, according
9 to his powers. All this, Ven. Brother
: makes your heart bleed, but it likewise
4 rends Our own for though we feel th'
d greater portion of the Affections that assai
y you-so that by the weight of your per
secutions your health has been endangered
We see on the other hand, and beyont
this, the evil spreading over the whole o
Europe in it's whole length and bre.dth
and over other parts of the world likewise
NavartNQleeS.
10 evil, and its extraordinary diffusion affor
70 US the sure hope that deiverance is clos
IF at band. For if God, when He desired t
a save the world, permitted so many diaboli
h even His own Son-we have grounds G
:. belief that the came God is by the effort
t. of hell let loose preparing an amelicratio
rs of the etate of things-preparinga trump
ID of the Church, at this moment deprived c
% all human succour and that by the visi
= He will compel even the proudest heart
- into obedience. Furthermore, Venerabl
Z. Brother, you make the tokens of your low
o. the dearer to Us, the more you are Athlete
N with troubles, and magnaDimoasly sacri6c
=, every thing, even life itself, to the perform
10 auce Of your duty and the more resolute
~ and staunchly you fight for the Church
z the more lively is Our desire that you ma
=. speedily be restored to complete healtl
n The gifts from your diocesans, which yo
K have forw arded to Us, have forced Us t
q admire your ardent charity, but have, q
10 the same time, occasioned Us regret, be
cause these aims have been given by thos
is who are Themselves smitten on all sides b.
u severe tribulatiou. Receive, therefore, til
p assurance of Our deep gratitude, you a
=. well as your clergy and your people, o.
r behalf of whom We pray fervently to God
}, that He may give them the same spirit
Q which He has given to their pastor, an
r like constancy in great peril in which the
/, are at present. May God grant them an,
. you that unfailiug unanimity which ami
. hilates aud exhsasts all the power of tn
> adversary, in order thus to prepare fresI
!. victory for the just cause, and fresh glor.
= of the Church. Meanwhile as pledge Q
y the favor Of God, and as q proof of On
particular affection, We give to you an
9 to your archdiocese Our apostolic blessing
& Plus PIP. TX.