Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-09

The following pastoral tettsr roW a.Ss-
&sshncp Gibbons was read - slithc csureaee
a ne srchdipccsc yesterdav;
~Jssnse Gibbons, by the grace Of God snd
thc favor Of the Apostolic 500 Archbishop
81 Baltimore and Apostolic Delegate;
"Tc the Clergy and taithtu ct tne nsv's'
dlo<exe az baltimore: Venerable brethren
n he elcrgy and dearly beloved cbil;lrcn OF
ire i.slty. --our Holy Fxiher. Leo Kill,
IN, a. bis Maternal soiicituds for the welfare
- IN the faithful committed 10 his care.
- desired ali the bishops 81 the Church III
~. Irny,cd States 10 assemble In plenary
.s,rrriI "a consider the bet means for pro-
~scfior the salvation of souls In this portion
AZ cur Lerd's vineyard: and because oi the
iof5rm health Of has eminence tho Cardi.
nsI.Archbishop Of New York. who was
20 well qualified 20 preside not only
on account az his high Office. but
also OF his mature wisdom and weight Of
merits, his Holiness was pleased 10 appoint
us 70 convoke, by his apostolic authority.
the third Plcnary Council Of Baltimore,
aud TO preside over the same as apostolic
delegate
eve therefore. dearly beloved brethren
and Children, now make known 20 you
thai. in virtue Of this authority. we have by
our letters. OF date ot March 9th OF this
wear, conyokcd the third fienafy Council
10 convene in our metropolitan church,
"A Baltimore, on the OH day OF Noycm-
her, In this year Of our Lord 1884. Eiga.
teen years have now elapsed since the
last Plcnary Council was held, and we
have reason 10 be deyoutly thankful TO
God for tie steady progress which religion
has made in the United States since that
pcriod. II cannot fail to lie source OF
consolation and benefit 10 the chief pastors
a.. II In In
after 80 long an interval 10 recount their
trials, their hopes, and their success Ia
their respective fields Of labor, 10 inter-
change views. to eulighten Que another by
mutual counsel. and to derive that strength
s~d confidence which result from the re-
union Of earnest men engaged In the same
holy mission.
"The steady expansion OF the hierarchy
and Of the faithful during the last two de-
css,es OF years naturally calls for the en-
aciment Of special statutes to meet the ext
= ycrcies Of The times, and our gradual
Transition from a missionary state 10 The
fixed and normal condition OF the Church
demands an adjustment Of legislation more
suitable 10 our improved situation.
"Eyery state aud diocese OF the Union
will he represented 81 the approaching
Council hy prelstos aud priests, and al
though they are descended from divers
nations and speak every European tongue,
they are all united by the bonds OF CON-
mon iath and animated 10y the spirit OF fra
ierrai charity. having zone Lord. one
faith, one baptism, one God ana Father OF
all tEphes a. To them may NJ truly
applied the WORDS Of the Psalmist: Be
hold how gcod and how pleasant a thing it
Is for brethren to dwell together m unity
lPSalm cxXXii.)
.sTbe object for which this Council Is
summoned. a. you are well aware, Is not
10 formulate new dogmas Of faith. for The
only doctrine we preach 10 YOU Is the
faith once delivered to the saluts. Jude
l,30 Nor will our deliberations have any
political significance, since we have no POI
iitical grievances TO redress, nor political
asriraiions 10 crafty. The Church Of Goi
has no direct relations with politics: pc.
litlcal iniriguCs form no part OF her divine
mission; the kingdom Of Christ and Of His
church SIS not Of this world (John XYiii.)
She .rendcrs TO Casar the things that are
Casar's. and 10 Col the things that are
Gods Matthew XXiI.)
1.-THE enactment OF sautary laws for the
promotion OF piety ald sound morals. the
correction Of abuses, the establishment a.
far a. l. practicable OF greater uniformity
IN ecclesiastical discipline. the develop
quiekoning and strengthening Of the bonds
81 charity which should bind us Has mem-
bers Of the Christian family to our God and
10 Zach oiber-thesc are the signal blessings
at which we sim in assembling
"You know. brethren Of the laity, that by
our ordination a. priests and conservation
n bishops we are iTreyOcibly dedicated to
yOur service whether we preach the word
or administer the sacraments, or celebrate |
the sacred mysteries, or erect temples OF |
worship. II Is for your sakes that these Ia |
bors are accomplished: our Lord gave |
some TO be apostles. and some prophets, and |
some eyangelists, ard Others pastors and |
doctors, for the periecting OF the saints, for
he work oi the ministry, for the buiIding
up Of the body OF Christ (Ephes. iy)
90 II we meet in council our object is to
make you more upright citizens, 10y bec0m-
Ing hoier Christians; for righteousness
exal,eth a nation, but sin maketh nations
miserable. proverbs xiy.)
1--WE have all, both clergy and people,
been redeemed by the same blood OF Jesus
Christ; We are all in the same bark OF
Peter, and are steering for the same eternal
shores: we have all the hope OF the same
heavenly inheritance As our spiritual in-
ferests are the same. so should we be
actuated by the same zeal for the advance
mcnt OF religion.
ave therefore rely on your generous
COOPERATION, aud invoke your pious inter-
est In the successful Issue OF tie Council
We ale sure, brethren Of the clergy aud
children of the .laity, that following the
traditions Of your fathers you will ioyfuily
welcome and Hospitality entertain the pre- |
la,es and clergy who will be your hoDored |
guests during the Council. aud that you |
Will emulate In this regard the veneration |
OF the primitive Christians OF whom the !
apostle writes, You receive me a. an angel |
oi God. even as Christ Jesus (Gal. w.
ave beseech you especially, brethren,
through our Lord Jesus Christ. aud by the
charity OF the Holy Ghost. that you help us
by your prayers for MS TO God.' (Rom. XIV
Praying at all tunes in the spirit
that speech NAV be given Us, that we may
open our mouth with confidence to make
known the IN, stery OF the gospel for which
we are ambassadors. (Ephcs. viz Pray
that God may oniighien the minds, purify
the hearts, and direct the will OF
the assembled prolaies. that all our
acts NAV contribute to His glory.
the propagation OF His Church. and
the sanclitcation OF its members. May
our legislation tend TO the stability Of the
Commonwealth and the maintenance OF the
pace and tranquility Of Our beloved coun-
Try. May the Supreme Legislator, the
Source Of All Light. be the sole suggeStor
and guide Of our Judgments. so that we
may In no wise stray from the path OF
equity. May we 30 temper justice with
charity that our decisions may be approved
by Him by whom kings reign and law
giyers decree lust things proverbs xiv,
3i)
With the view OF obtaining the Divine
light by union Of prayer we deem II advis-
able 10 order and promulgate the following
exercises 81 devotion for this archdiocese
al. The collect DE spiritu Sancto will
be added IN the mass by the priests OF the
archdiocese henceforward till the close OF
the Council.
"'2. All the religious communities OF
both sexes viii reclte daily the hymn OF the
Holy Ghost, yeni Creator Spiritus.
"'3. The Litany OF the saints will be
publicly reclted IN the parish churches
either before OF after the High Mass on
every sunday till the first sunday Of No
ytmbsr, inclusive.
"Given Ut our residence, IN Baltimore,
on the feast Of 81. Augustine, 1881.
"JANEs GIBBONS,
Archbishop OF Baltimore.
Apostolic Delegate.
"a. A. Curtis, Secretary"
The DEGREES 81 the last Pleuary Council
Ct Baltimore, In 1896. are held IN very high
esteem by the Catholic Church In Europe
and other paTts 81 the world for the INTEL