The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-06-18
1srnJrg Star and Catholic Messenger.
WV oRIEANs. SUNDAY JUNE is 1876.
CIRCULAR LETTER
IN THE OCCASION OF THE CENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION.
RaIoved Brethren:

blessipge, to imptoro MS forgiveness ZOE our
daily faults, and beg of Him those graoes
which are so necessary to ms.
~ Az a nation, We are NO less obliged to ao-
:, knowledge God as our Sovereign Master and
4 Lord, thank Him for the many favors bestowed
upon us, humble ourselves for our faults, and
i ask for the continuation of HE fsvors.
But if we are bound to do so at sh times.
how much more at q moment when We celebrate
.be glorious Centennial Jubilee Of our national
j existence.
And indeed, on the Fourth Of July, one hum
dred wears ago, O new and brilliant oonstella-
tion appeared in the heavens; o new nation,
very young % yet, being just born, but destined
to the brightest destiny, took it's rank among
the nations Of the earth; and that nation, to
xbioh we have the honor 20 belong whose
children we glory to be. 10 the glorious Repub-
+ Lie of the United States of America,
The Fourth of July will then be for us all q
4 day of 10y and giadness, day of triumph
beloved country.
We are all called, without exception, on this
joyful day, to give solemn thanks to the Lord
for the many precious blessings he has bestow-
ed upon MS.
But as for us Catholics. how many special
reasons have we not on this day to give glory
to the Lord.
And, in deed, was not the continent of Ame-
RIGA discovered by an illustrioos Catholicf
Did not its fest Inhabitants como from France
and Spain, the two most Catholic countries on
the globe When the persecution of the Old
World gave rise to the colonies of the New
World, was there q colony comparable to the
Catholic colony of Marylandf And our own
beautiful Louisiana, was she not the cherished
daughter of beautiful France, the Catholic
country by excellency par excellence.
When the British persecution forced the
thirteen colonies to proclaim their indepen-
dence, who stood by the immortal Washington
but the illustrious Carroll, of Carrollton, who
came forward joyfully, and boldly signed his
name, and generously offered his fortune and
his life on the altar Of his countryf
At o later period, at the battle of Yorktown,
which secured for ever the Independence of the
United States, we're not the illustrious Lafa-
vette and Rochambeau and the vail ant soldiers
pf Catholic France fighting side by side with
bur own intrepid soldiers, thus having with
hem glorious share in the accomplishment
Af our Independence. Glory be to the Lord for
he high protection He granted to our fathers.
our glorious country existed it was weak,
undoubtedly, but it was everywhere respected,
and owing to the uninterrupted protection of
kind Providence, it increased wonderfully and
is now one of the first nations of the earth.
But there is one point on which the Cstho-
lies of the United States ought to be particu-
larly grateful, and this 10 the precious right to
practice their holy religion with unlimited
liberty, and the protection granted to them in
the exercise of this right. Let us give again
glory to God for so great blessing.
And, indeed, whilst the Catholic religion is
parsecuted almost everywhere; whilst the
Sovereign Pontiff is q prisoner in his palace;
whilst bishops, priests, religious are ignomini-
ously dragged ont of their country, cast in
obscure dungeons, or wautonly msssacred by
tigers in human shape, as the hostages of the
Commune; whilst, by iniquitous laws, Chris
ian education is banished from our schools,
Ind replaced by pagan education; whilst they
10 so far as shamefully to Danish those earthly
angels, those admirable Sisters of Charity,
Ehom infdels themselves had 30 far respected,
We, Catholics of the United States, enjoy here
8nll and complete liberty.
In fact, have we not our temples, our ehapels,
wherever Catholics are foundS Can we not
celebrate our holy mysteries with the most Der
pot liberty inside our churches; and are VIC
ot respected by the entire population when,
receded by the crOss, with our banners nm.
nrIed, We 60 through our streets and public
plsoes in our religious professions and Catholic
emonstrationsf Have we not unlimited lib
rty for our psrochial schools, our academies,
lur colleges and Catholic universitiesi
Our asylums for the orphans, our houses of
etreatfor old age, our industrial schools, our
hospitals for the sick, our establishments of
pharity, religious houses, are every
where, perfectly respected. In word,
shere is no place in the world, in which the
Catholic religion enjoys more freedom than it
does here ; what a new motive for us to show
0ur gratitude to the Lord for such a blessing.
1t will therefore be for us, Dearly Beloved
Brethren, q sacred and sweet duty, on the day
our Centennial Celebration, to consecrate
ourselves to the Lord with our beloved coun-
ry; to send up to Him the thanks of our
lapFta md L. Al, a.. -