The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-17

Last Will and Testament of Pope Plus y Eeing
the Address Of His Holiness, Spoken Oh Candle
mas Day, 1878
For such, says the T0ce della Peritd,
this may be called, delivered as it was to a
Numerous audience on the Feast OF the
Purification, when, after many days illness,
during which the Holy Father was con-
fined TO his bed, he was anxious once
more to meet his Sons then to be present,
namely the heads of the Religious Orders,
the Clergy of the Roman parishes, and
Most Reverend Prelates of dioceses IN
various parts of the world. As Sovereign
Pontiff of the Church, he wished once
more to leave some words of holy counsel
and comfort to the faithful, and come
words of solemn warning to mankind-to
human society, about to perish. The
warnings of Plus TX. which, if disregarded
must assuredly leave free scope for the
revival of Pagan barbarism, concerned
chiefly the education of the young. The
Holy Father was assisted to his throne,
which was surrounded by his Court, by the
noble guards, and many of the chamber
lains Of honor, together with numerous
personages of distinction, both clerical
and lay. The offerings of candles were all
arranged in front of the Pontifcal throne.
The Holy Father then spoke as follows:
It is for me o great consolation to see ycu
here assembled around me, and making me an
agreeable oirole (corona) of loving sons. i
thank you for the zeal which you never cease
to display in the work Of guarding ana SAVING
the souls entrusted to Your care. thank the
pastors of souls who exert themselVes to tne
| utmost to get people to attend Church and to
frequent the Sacrements.
| 1 also thank the pastors of souls and all the
clergy, both secular and regular, for the pray.
ers hich, under their direction, the falthtu
have not ceased to send up to God for me.
charge you to return thanks in my name FOL
those prayers to all your hocks. Thank them
and make it known to them that am asking
God to grant them the grace of perseverance,
} in prayer, in the Reorganization OF tie Sacra
ments, and in their hdelty to the heao Oh tn
Church. Tell them that remember them, ant
l pray to God for them daily, that de wouit
, be pleased to preserve them under the shlelt
| (eqida) of His protecting right haLi. On
, | thing more have now to say 10 you Detcre
take leave of you.
know that there are always in variou
! parishes some ignorant persons, who 90 no
possess knowledge even of the most essentla
: truths of religion. / know too that there ar
| parents who are most blamabio in thus lesvlnl
8 their children to grow up in srch Ignorance o
I religion, bat know Plso that we ought I
hunt up (correre IN frdccta' the stnhers TO con
vert them, and the ignorant TO enlighten then
Do YOU then search afGer the Ignorant, an
zealously enlighten them, SO that 1t may nc
| be said that, the centre OF the cannon
8 world, there souls that are ignorant OF tn
b chief mysteries of our holy religion. Labt
s with all your might to wipe of this reproac
h from Rome labor that by means OF your ze
and yoar prayers souls may be converted, CT
the truth may shine forth everywhere throuR
.s ont this Holy City.
Such are the words which have exert'
10 myself to say to you on the present occasion
Il my weakness not permitting me TO say MOI
p your religious houses, and all the souls tn
77t are entrusted to your charge. May this Der
~ diction accompany you all the days of your Ii
c. praises when it shall please God to call y
IN into Paradise.