The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-05-20
DIFFICULTIES AND STRUGGLES.

Like the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem,
the advent OF Plus was attended with univer-
sal applause. Loud hoeannas rent the air ;
but like the Master too, the Disciple was soon
to taste the chalice of suffering, and encounter
the dihoulties and struggles OF Pontificate
long prolonged, bnt abnndantly blessed with
| favors of all kinds, one of which we are now
united in celebrating, happy in the coinci-
deIce, that this, our day of meeting, Is the
eighty-sizth anniversary of the birth of him.
whoSe Golden Episcopal Jubilee we are "a.
| sem bled to honor.
The new Pope did not deceive himself with
regard to the value and dependence to be
placed nPon popular applause. The Antioipa-
ted conflict between the Papacy and the secIi-
leRiouB violence of those who did pot-snd
would no5-understand the essential d. differences
between the Pontitcsl form of government
and the radical changes demanded by the party
OF Young Italy," fastened the ontbresk OF
the storm, which resulted in the coWardly as-
Q1irinal, the flight of the Pope to Gaete, and
whose culminatiOn was the establishments Of
the trinmvirate: We know how the drama
ended-ss was the case before, as il will al vyavs
bs-the Pope returned to Rome, and the
Gates of Help did Tot prevail
The struggle was not at AN eud however, for |
great epemy with which the Papaoy had to
deal The powers Of earth have attacked or
forsaken the Sovereign Pontih: the base
world concentrates against him all its Tsncor
Christian civilization holds sacred. STANDING
alone, with serene brow and heart unmoved, III
unshaEen, Plus TX. lifts his head before this
and faces his adversary.
Such is the spectacle, hstogically unique 10
all it's accessories, presented % the world by
the august prisoner of the Vatican! The CON
trast between Pirs X. and the revolution il
unique both in ancient and modern history !
st no period of Christianity do we fnd any
thing to Tesem BILE il, in the universality Of war
and arms and desolRtion or In the durAsfon {
md variety of outrages. The contrasts be- /
,Ween Gregory VII, Innocent III, Bonifsss Z
VIII, and Plus VII. and the impious soveFsigns /
Who dared to oppose them, differ in several | G
points which do not allow the drawing Of 9 | {
parallel. !
Bat the great characteristic Of the present | :
ge consists chiefly in the mode of warfare !
RAinst the church: formerly brutal forcs :
'as the only weapon being too violent, it :
ould not last forever. This enlightened cen.
ury has devised plan more systematic, and
herefore more dangerous; witness the yarfoua | n
ills which ere called laws, by the State 10 n
tally; witness what has been done In Germany tl
or the last I've or six yesrs: to be aChristian e.
crime against the State; to obey the die Di
ates Of conscience is crime; TO establish a tE
chool in the name Of God is q crime 70 obey %
be psstoFs Of the church is q crime; 70 90 OF
noWlsdse the Pope a. the head of the Cnfho- p,
c uuiveEee 10 n crime in o word, to be any ! "a
hing bat Germsn, body and sOul, mine and ~
eArb ana thouEhk, u q crime, TO Be Punsahed "a
, All the EigoF ofthe laWt q
Bat WES it 20 TIE advantage Of Saa egoAt ~
naDnel1oE 90 nlfannta 0nasfhksds and l,cEharn / ~
Ien The mg5pEiaB 81 sse Empir6S What hae u
tln1aA NleQ 14 Ne aEpa ~ - 8 ~