The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-06-13
ADDRESS OF THE GERMAN PILGRIMS TO HIS
HOLINESS.

ADDRESS OF THE GERMAN PILGRIMS TO HIS
HOLINESS.
"Once again, Most Blessed Father, we come
before your throne, driven by those new events
which are daily an augmentation of SORROWS,
through the machinations of our secular au-
thorities against the Church. 1t is not long
since the letters became public which were
communicated to the different Governments of
Europe as long ago as the 14th of May, 1872
In accord with our Bishops, affirming solemnly
the dogmas of our faith with which those let
ters abound, we repute it. in the first place,
necessary to solemnly and unanimously con-
fess before you, o most blessed Father, that
or tear us from the legitimate Roman Pontiff,
for the reason that we well remember that
truthfu! saying, Submission to the Roman
Pontiff is absolutely necessary to the salvation
of every creature : and we hold that the legiti-
mate Roman Pontiff ia that one who, by the
sanction of the ecclesiastical laws, has been
raised to the chair of Peter. We add another
reason for turning earnestly to you it is that
that those whe hold the Government of Ger
many, on the 4th of December last, with the
consent of the vote of the majo, ity, but with
tho frank and vigorous opposition of those
who take the part of Catholic matters, with
drew the mbassy representing the whole
of Germany at the Holy See. Certainly, well
Informed we are regarding recent events,
we are of opinion that the abrogation of the
Embassy is not likely to cause great damage
either to your rights, to thoss of the Church,
consider 1t grave circumstance that the ri ghts
of the fifteen millions of Cath olics Germany
counts have been set on one side, to say moth
ing of the new Vaccinations directed to sane
tion this pernicious divorce, by which the ad-
ministration of public affairs is separated
entirely from the only solid foundation of all
order in political things as in moral. 1t is. and
always will be, our duty to rest immovably on
this foundation, bound together in the holy
bond of charity, and all the more closely
united to you, o Most Blessed Father, in pro-
IL
from the centre of the Church /; and the more
our enemies strive to turn us from the obser-
vances of its precepts, so much greater will be-
our efforts to fulfil all the duties which con-
science illuminated by the faith, and guided
by the infallible Head of the Church, has
pointed out to u.s."
In this determin nation, the address continues,
the subscribers have been confirmed by the
Encyclcal of the oath of November, 1873, and
by the many troubles and martyrdoms the
Bishops and ecclesiastics, imitators of the
Pope's su blime example, have continually sus-
tanned. 1t continues:
Instead of the Embassy from the German
Empire to the Holy See, which it is not in our
power to re .establish, we send in substitution
the present legates from all the Catholic peo-
pie, in order that by this letter and by word of
mouth they may lay the sentiments of our
hearts at the feet of your Holiness, ard attest
by their presence the fact that are all al ways
with you, that we will never leave you, that
we are ever united in spirit to tnat celestial
embassy represented by the angels who sur
rOuDQ you, ana VINO gamer In0 prayers we
necessarily raise for your health-legates, in
fact, who will attest TO you the profession of
our faith and obedience to your teaching, and
that without reserve as to place, time or cir
cumstances.
"We are we'll aware that new and more
violent attacks menace us, and, therefore, we
are the more solicitors in having recourse to
the fount of grace opened by you, o most
blessed Father. through the Universal Jubilee, |
in order that, the wrath of God paciied by
prayer and by works of Christian penitence,
He will deign to remove from US the scourge
which strikes the people and Furnishes the sins
of our age"
THE ropes xKPLY TO THE GERMAN PILGRIMS.
The following is a translation of the full re-
port of the Popes discourse on the 18th May: |
/" while your presence, my we'll below ed sons, |
greatly adds to the consol ations which many |
Catholic demonstrations bring to my heart, it
also suggests to me one reflection which will |
mention to you. How does it happen, l ask |
my self, that while certain rulers of men and
things who have in their hands the means of
en- pioying against the Catholic religion all the
hate which Satan puts in their hearts-how
does 'it happen that, in spite of occasional
against the Church, they remain in
the midst of hesitation and incertitude, aud
appear full of agitation and alarm lest their
unjust designs should melt away all at once as
the mists disappear before the sun And you,
on the contrary, who have become the objects
Of this hatred, you have quilted your country
calmly and TRANQUILITY, without fear OF unjust
anger OF without being troubled with IN
merited Iiisdain. "There is no peace for the
wicked" says the Holy Spirit; and as for you,
the Apostle 8. John has taught MS that "lOve
sasteth out fear" He who loves God and
lespises all human combinations, be who re-
uses to divide his heart 30 as at one time TO
please God and at another to satisfy men, he
Who abandons himself with all confidence in
he arms of God, does not dread either prison
" menace. He fears nothing that can hurbShe
,ody, because he who trusts in God knows well
hat it is beyond the reach of human power to
ill the soul. That is why all those who are {
low, with such great constancy and such
q your country-Bishops, priests, and laiEy- !
vhile thew present b spectacle which consoles