The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-08
THE COMING PLENARY COUNCIL.
Pastoral Letter to the Faithful from Arch
bishop Gibbons, of Baltimore.


BALTIMORE, Sept IA pastoral letter from.
churches of the archdiocese to-day, relative to
the assembling Of the plenary council in No
vember The pastoral says:
Our Holy Father, Leo Kill out of his pa
ternal socitude for the welfare of all the faith
full committed to his care, has desired all
bishops of the church in the United
States to assemble in plenary council
to consider the best means for promoting the
salvation of souls in this portion of the Lords
vineyard: and, because of the inferior health of
his Eminence the Cardinal-archbishop of New
York, who was so we'll qualified to preside not
only on account of his high Office, but also be-
cause of his mature wisdom and weight Of
to convoke, by his apostolic authority,
the third plenary council at Balti
more and to preside over the same as
apostolic delegate. We, therefore, dearly be-
to you that in witness of this authority. we
have. by our letters of date of March727, of this
year, eonvoked the third plenary council, to
convene in our metropolitan church, at Balti-
more, on the 9th of November, this year of our
Lord 1884
Eighteen years have now elapsed since the
last plenary council was held and we have rea-
son to be devoutly thankful for the steady
progress which our religion has made in
the United States since that period. 1t cannot
the chief pastors of the church in America to
meet again, after so long an interval, to recount
their trials, their hopes and their success in
their respective fields of labor, to interchange
views, to enlighten each other by mutual coun-
sell and to derive that strength and confidence
which result from reunion of earnest men en-
gagged in some holy mission. Every State
and diocese in the Union will be represented at
the approaching council by prelates and priests,
and although they are descended from distant
nations and speak every European tongue, they
are all united in the bonds Of a common faith
and animated by the spirit Of fraternal charity
THE object for which this council is sum
moned. as you are well aware, is not to formulate
new ddgmas Of faith for the only doctrine we
preach now is the faith once delivered
to the saints nor will our deliberations have
any political significance, nor. since we have no
political grievances to redress, political aspira-
tions to gratify; the Church of God has no dit
rect relations with politics Political intrigues
form no part Of her divine mission the kingdom
of Christ and of His church is not Of this world.
She renders to Caesar the things that are
Cfesar's and to God the things that are Gods. !
The enactment of sautary laws for the
promotion Of piety and sound morals the
correction Of abuses, the establishments,
SO far as is practicable, Of greater uniformity
in ecceestical discipline: the development Of the
Christian commonwealth, the quickening and
strengthening Of the bonds Of charity, winch
should bind us all as members of the Christian
family TO our God and to each other, these are
the signal blessing at which We aim in as
sembling together. May the Supreme Legislator
the sources Of all light be the sole suggestor
and guide of all our judgments, that we may in.
no wise stray from the path of equity. May we
temper justice with charity that our decisions
may be approved by Him by whom kings reign
and law givers decree just things II