The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1879-01-26
Important Letter from His Holiness to the Arcl
bishop Of Cologne.

Venerable Brother Health and Apostolic Benedction.
We derived great consolation and plea
sure from the friendly letter in which you
conveyed to Us your good wishes and
auguries Of happiness on the approach of
the solemnity of Our Lords Nativity for
in it was clearly apparent your devotion to
Oar person, and your inviolable attach
ment to this Apostolic See. And these
sentiments, while they increase Our atfec
tion for you, rebound greatly to your honor
and confirm ith still stronger proof the
perfect and reverent obedience paid to Us
by the flock of the Church of Cologne COM
mitted to your care. Nor do We believe
that in any other way than by the ordina-
tiou and will OF God Who rules and gov
erns ali things has it been brought about
that similar signs of affection and devotion
have been manifested towards Us by Cur
other Venerable Brothers, the Bishops of
the Catholic world; for in this 30 great dis
turbance OF affairs this wonderful consensus
gives q tho greatest joy and refreshment,
and causes Us to say from Oar heart with
the Apostle, "Dlessed be God who comforts
US in all our tribulations." i2 Cor, D And
indeed, as soon as ever, on Oar exaltation
to the height of this Apostolic Throne, We
turned to address Ourselves to all Our
Venerable Brethren in the Episcopaate,
We found in their replies such an identity
! of thought, opinion, and almost of words,
that We not only had to rejoice at the mar
|
Church of God, but had manifest proof that
| the Bishops of the Whole world were the
| Interpreters of the sound doctrine which is
handed down by the Apostolic See aud
that they would be to Us willing and
cheerful helpers in Our Pastoral care and
| labors.
Aud no " this unity, in doctrine, in coun-
Gil and in action, gives Us ground for hope
| that all will happen according to Our de-
sires; in which case not only will the
Church derive the greatest advantages but
| civil society also will reap the most abun =
dant fruits. For you we'll know, Veners
BILE Brother, that We entertain the most
| intimate conviction-a conviction which
| We have often expressed and publicly
declared-that the cause of the lamen table
| dangers which threaten hRman society is
| to be sought principally in the fact that
the authority of the Chnrch ia on all sides
| intercepted, and prevented from publicly
| exercising Its salutary influence for the
common good, and that it's liberty is SO
| fettered that it is scarcely allowed to pro
vide for the private necessities and welfare
of individuals. And this persuasion ia
generated in Oar mind not only by the
| knowledge which We have of the nature
| aud powerful iLHaence of the Church, but
aisO by urqaestiOlable historical proc fe
from which II IL manifest that the coudi-
tiou OF civil society ie then most prosperous
| wheE ;ho CnUIch enjoys full liberty of &C
]
| by RESTRICTIONS, those principles and doc.
| triues which tend to the fall and dissolution
of all human society begin TO prevail.
SlDce, then, this has been long Our set
tied opinion, it was natural that, from the
very beginning of Our Pontifcate, We
should strive to call back Princes and peo-
pies to peace and friendship with the
Church. And to you, Venerable Brother
it is certainly we'll known that we have
for some time directed Our efforts to the
end that the noble nation of the Ger
mans may see the end of its dissen.
sions and obtain the blessings aud fruits o!
q lasting peace without injury to the rightt
| of the Church and We think that you
also know that, as far as We are concerned
| We have neglected no means of arriving al
| an end 30 noble and 80 worthy of OuI
! solicitude. But whether that which We
have undertaken and are striving to effec;
will at last be prosperously accomplished
| He knows, from Whom comes everything
that is good. and Who has implanted in u
80 ardent desire and longing for peace.
But whatever may be the ultimate issue
resigning Ourselves to the Divine Will, but
animated by the same desire, We will per
severe in the arduous task committed TO US
80 long as life shall enGare. For so great &