The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-12-23
THE BISHOP OF WATERFORD ON THE
SPOLIATION OF THE HOLY SEE.

We make the following extract from q
pastoral letter read last Sunday from the
Bishop of Waterford in the churches and
chapels in the diocese, aud calling for q
jubilee celebration for the Holy Father:
Yon will recall to the minds of your hock
how his Holiness has been made the victim of
an anti-Christian conspiracy, comp posed of the
enemies of the Church throughout the Couti-
mental States of Europe. and bound by secret
oath to leave no mesne untried, however
wicked, to subvert religion, and accomplish
tEeir impious ends. Actively encouraged and
aided by imperial and royal despots, and em-
ployed to execute the behests of statesmen,
relentless in their hostility against the Church
of God, those emissaries of impisty, rs might
be expeoted have directed their comb fury
against the Vicar of Christ-thus literally full
filling the words of the Psalmist: "Why have
the Gentiles ragged and the people devised vain
thingsf The kings of the earth stood mp. and
and against His anolnted."
As the result of this Goddess cons spiracy,
Rome-the City of Martyrs, the fruitful nur.
sery Of saints, and hallowed by the sacred
traditions of eighteen centuries-the head and
centre Of Cstholicity, presenting an nnbroken
chain of the Rulers Of the Church of God, from
the Prince of the Apostles down to tho glorious
Pontf who, by his firm and defiant attitude,
amid unparalleled tribulations, commands I'M
reserved and universal admration-Rome,
TINS consecrated by countless memories, Offers
to-day spectacle ut which every Catholic
heart sickens, every feeling of humanity shUd.
ders, and from which every instinct of man
hood recoils. Not to enter into details too to-
dious to merate, We need but point to the
various Religions establishments, wherein the
voice of prayer and the cRntioles OF Divine
praise daily resounded, now made to serve vari-
ous profane and vile purposes. Churches en-
ricbed with the most costly and sacred en-
blems of religion, furnished with the richest
treasures of genius, and displaying in life-like
m arble and glowing canvas the undyipg tIi-
umphs of highest artistic conception, now de-
spoiled, protnned, and desecrated oonveuts Of
holy virgins, conseorated to God by the SOL
emn vows OF religion, sacrilegiously BeiE I'd on.
in violation OF every principle OF justice and
eions con6scated, in order TO replensh the fail
ing treasury of base uenrper, and tho pious
inmates expelled from their homes, az d cast on
best they may. Finally, the eliminating act of
this unparalleled serious OF outrages, is the
sad spectacle of beholding q ruthless despoiler,
clad in the robes of degraded royalty, en-.
Were it not that the Holy Father 10 sustain ed
by an invisible and sllruling Power, o tender
and sensitive heart such as his could not be tx
pected to bear the crushing weight Of suoh un-
prsceden ted fluctuations.
From those revolving scenes of sscrilege and
impiety, We invite, beloved brethren, your
special attention to the dependent condition
of the august and vsnerAted prisoner of the
Vatican, and we desire that you would i'm
press on your focks, with all the earnestness at
your command, the obligation which the help
less condition to which the Holy Father mss
been reduced imposes on ali his spiritual chill
dren without exception. Having been robbed
of all his temporal possessions. in violation Of
every principle of international law and moral
right, and deprived of the means OF main tain
ing the dignity of his exalted state and admin
istering the affairs of the universal Church,
the Holy Father had naturally to turn to bis
faithful children to supply his pressing " ants.
NobIy, and With wiling and loving hearts,.
have they more than realized his expectations,
aud thus have saved his Holiness from the de-
graduation of beco omipg the PenSioner of his
oppTessors.