The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-12-10
aornlog star and Catholic Messenser er.
mEW oHLnANs. susDAY pEoEMBER 10. 1878.
TIE SUBMISSION At CONOsSA. e
suE OF THE GREAT LANDMARKS OF HISTORY

eRE OF TIE GREAT LANDMARKS OF HISTORY.
The Dublin Nation of the lth of Novem-
Har, thus reviews Father Bresciani's tale
! q Matilda of Canossa" recently translated
pAy Mrs.. Sadlier:
"We will not go to Canossa" is the def
ant declaration of the Chancellor OF the
German Empire. The phrase is one of
SreSAendc1s Significance. The event To
which reference is implie6ly made is one
0f the great iuudmarks in the eventfol his
AoFy of the relations of tho Church to the
&iSil power. 1t was most conspicuous
1giumph for the Church over one who, like
Biemarck, attempted to destroy her dearest
RiRhts; and from this poiut of view it is not
altogether unnaturai that one of the Catho
RiO Journals Of Rome should the other day
have proposed to celebrate, in the most
solemn manner, next January, the eighth
AQndredth anniversary of its occurrence
TMe story is told in many learned treatises,
aad ia, no doubt, familiar, in all its details,
to every educated reader. Yet the version
xiven in this tale, written in Italian by the
late Father BIesciani, Sd, and we'll trans
Hated into English by Mrs. Sadlier of New
York, will not be without it's special uses
Hndeed, at a time like the present, when
tho Church is again subjected to persecu
ton in 40 many quarters, and her enemies
s:lakor with such perseverance to spread the
Holaon of their caiumnies, Information on
tanch euhjects, conveyed in popular form,
has become an absolute necessity.
In many current accounts OF The great
4sontest between Henry Nv. of Germany,
aud st. Gregory VII, the latter-better
RnOwn, perhaps, as Hildebrand-is repre-
Sented az the very impersonation of priest
gY pride and ambition. If you consult a
.Hicfionary of biography, ten chances to one
Swau will be told simply that this Pope was
m imperious and intolerant churchman
and that be assumed unheard of powers
4oTer contemporary sovereigns. Nothing
4esuld bs farther from the truth. Although
Hildebraud was a man of transcendant
Is ability, the gentleness and tenderness OF
Mis- character were eqaalled only by bis he
Eoie courage and undaunted zeal; aud in
stead of having wantonly invaded the
YEOviuce of the civil power, he merely re-
,8isted its encroachments on the ecclesastl-
cal domain. When he was called to tue
eapreme pontificate, the Church was de
graded by civil tyranny, and, as conse-
s1uence, many abuses had crept into Its
4 bosom. The heirs of the C4 'ars assumed
Il veto over the election of the Pope, that
H they might make him their Obedient instru-
II snent; on one pretext or another they
II fuFther assumed therrigbt of giving lnves.
K 6itures of abbeys and bishoprics, and sold
N the holiest and most august dignltles
almost in open market. Ihe consequence
Nas that many bad men were made olshops
~ and abbots, and then the world, with
NJ cAnracteristic inconsistency cried aloud
at the avsrice and corruption of the clergy!
st<Aaainst this state of things, as against q
aa ihnrrible monster, Hildebrand waged an
lunrelenting war. In the course OF the
vi combat he necessarily fell foul of Henry
M ~ No other monarch had so audaciously
IK xrampled on the liberties OF the Church.
# He cold livpgs to base, uuprincipled, and
~ 4iesolute men, and spent the money In
81 -vilest orgies and in making war upon his
81 avn subjects. He imprisoned or banished
"a the lawful pastors of the people who re-
manned faithful to the Holy See. He con-
Ascsted Church property without 70 lorse.
4 No treaties could bad him, no concessions
,rnuld appease him. He was guilty of
uR1enberless acts of treachery towards the
Saxone, whom he p'Undereo ana murdered
He would have-repudiated his wife out that
As saw in the act danger TO his crown:
NNe was mean, too, an could be guilty ot
the basest hypocrisy. Thus, at one time,
Srhen he saw no other way OF Keeping bic
place against his indignant euoJects, he
wrote to the Pope, to whom those subjects
appealed, letter, in which he made ths
anDlest Acknowledgement OF, and ex
i 1yrassed the greatest contritlon Tor hiE
Ssrences but, when the danger WAS passed
Ee resumed his course of lnIqulty will
EERdimipished arrogance. The Pope bor'
with him for long time as fond fathe
rwopld with an erring son. He advise d
emoustrated, reproved, warned, pardone
vEhen the monarch appeared penitent. A
last Henry's crimes had become SO enor
aacns that the German princes cEce NOR
n 0Ppesled 20 nome, 3u" icsvlseU Th III
disposition. Gregory, too, could no LonEe
"a hesitate. In accordance Win the powt
81 with which Christeud0m itsof had inveetc
8 him, he summoncd Henry to his presence
III %fIenry's answer was to call Synod OF b
asrViie bishops at Worms, topronouuce Il
deposition of Gregory, ard to eend mt
~ eeuger to announce the fact to the pont
himeef. Gregory then took the final SIT
Ii and uttered the mojor excommuoicatio
All Germany WAS agitated. The unfaitht
III bishops, frightened, left HenTy's side. II
sN princes were invited by the emperor
attend a Diet at Worms, but they r
fnaed. Instead, they resolved to hold
,s Augsburg general Diet of all the Stat
OF Germany aud Italy, 70 which they inv
asd his Holiness, aud they proclaimed tn
ff Henry should refuse to submit there a
then to the Holy See, they would proce
n n-...;a.. .sE No nrarni. IN. IL mr.