Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-21
THE POPE'S LATEST PUBLIC VI.
TERANCE.
His New Encyclicai Letter and Views
On Socialism.
From the London Times.

From the London Times
Yesterday (November s., In oil the churches
OF the Roman Catholic province of Westminster,
an "Encyclical Letter" from Pope Leo KILL,
addressed to 'The Patriarchs, Primates, Arch
bishops, and Bishops of the Catholic World in
Grace and Communion with the Apostolic See"
was publicly read. The letter was written on
the occasion OF the seventh centenary of the
birth of st. Francis Of Assist and In the course
OF his review of the saints career, his holiness
takes the opportunity of contrasting the social
condition OF the nineteenth with that Of the
twelfth century.
1.-The period (the twelfth century, u.s." saws
Hrs Holiness, 'sufficien.iy we'll known with its
character OF mingled virtues and vices. The
Catholic faith was deeply rooted in mems sonls.
and 1t was glorious sight to see niultitudes
inilamed by pety, set forth to Palestine. re-
solved to conquer or to die. Nevertheless,
RIGHTEOUSNESS had greatly impaired popular
moralities, and nothing was more needed by
men than return to Christian sentiments.
Now, the perfection of Christian virtue lies in
that disposition OF the soul which dares all that
is arduous ard difficult; its symbol is
the cross. which those who would follow
Jesus Christ must carry on their shout
der. The effects of this disposition are
heart detached from mortal things severe
self-deIial, and Il gentle and resigned endur-
aDcc Of adversely In fine. the love Of God and
OF ones nciT!i5Or is the mistress and sovereign
OF al other virtues: such is its power that it
survives all the hardship5 which accompany
tue fuiincnt CT duty. and renders the hardest
labor not only bearabe. but agreeable There
was Gearth OF such virtue in the twelfth CEN
fury: Tor too many among men, cnslavod by
the things ofthiS world. either coveted madiy
hon0rs and wealth or lived Il life of luxury and
SELF iication. All power was conferred in q
few. ard had for the most part become an in
strument of oppression to the wretchcd and
GrSp!Scd masses: ard those even who Gu5iit bv
Their profession TO have been an example to
others had not avoided the cOnta gion of the
prevalent vices.
"Ihc extinction of charity everywhere was
followed by moral diseases manifold and deadly
envy, jealousy. hatred; ard minds were so
divided and hostile that on the slightest pretext
neighboring cities wAGed waramOng themselves
ana fellow citizens armed themselves against
one another" PicturinG Francis of Assist as
reformer specially called to wage war against
the then prevailing vices of society. the SOW
ereign Pont,f portrays him as 'amid the ef}emi-
macy and faStldiGusnesS OF the times going
about roughly clad. begging his bread from
door to door. and not Only enduring what is
generally deemed most hard to bear-the sense
less ridicule of the crowd-but even welcoming
1t with wondrous readiness and JOY" His
twelve companions are described: Poor ignO-
rant. unre'ined: they mingle with the people: in
tie highways AMI in the public squares. with no
preparation oi place or pOmp of rhetoric. they
set themselves TO PXhort E."n to d@spiSe earthly
things and to think of the time to come 1t is
marvellous to see the fruits produced by the en-
teipriSe OF silch workers apparently so made
Qliate. Crowds gathered round them eampr to
hear them, faults we're bitterly bewept. injuries
were forgotten. and peace was restored by the
appeaSng of iiScOrtis"