The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-28
THE NEW AMERICAN CARDINALS.
Allocution Of Leo XIII Announcing the New
Members Of the Sacred College.

This is day which will be memorable in the
history of the church in America. Two Ameri-
can cardinals were this morning created in the
bishops of the two Oldest sees in the United
States and in Canada, Observation-Disclosures
and Quebec. Indeed, the consistory itself was
remarkable, no less than seven cardinals having
been created, three for France, two for America,
and two for Italy.
It will be more interesting to your readers to
have at once the brief allocution, or address, OF
the Holy Father on this solemn occasion.
1--WE have thought proper to call you together
to-day, venerable brothers, not only in order
that we might give bishops to the widowed
churches of the Christian world, but that we
might treat together of the creation CT cardinals,
a thing demanded of us by the honor and lustre
of your body, as we'll as by the circumstances OF
the times. For you have mourned with Us over
the many members of your college who have de-
parted this life during these late years, and
whose places we have resolved to fill
But inasmuch as our apostolic soiicitude en-
braces the Catholics Of all nations. whom we
love with deep and fatherly Affection and as
it is for us great happiness to find some favor
able occasion Of giving them proof OF our love,
we have this time chosen an opportunity OF
adding to your order some distinguished bishops
from both the new and the old worlds.
And first Of all we turned our eyes to France,
where prelates of the rarest distinction. attached
to this apostolic see by ardent and most constant
devotion, offer in their own persons great and
most praiseworthy example of union with the
head of the church, and where the faithful peo-
pie committed to their care are interchangeable In
showing their love for the church by countless
works of piety and charity. and give the most
splendid proofs of their unalterable fidelity to
the Vicar of Christ amid the many great diff
cu,ties which besst them. devoting meanwhile
their iabors and money to the defense OF Catho-
lie interests
'"By thus publicly proclaiming the names of
these (French) cardinals, we have resolved to
give not only to the whole body Of the hierarchy
in France. but to the entire French nation this
public and unusual pledge of our love, and
thereby to draw closer the bonds OF affection
and reverence which unite this generous nation
to the Roman Church and the Roman Pontih-
cate.
''Then the United States of America and the
Dominion of Canada claim our attention The
hourishing condition of the Catholic religion In
the Federal Union its growth and increase from
day to day. the nearer approach to canonical
forms which the organization OF the churches
there daily assumes, are to us kind of admoni-
ton and almost prayer to give to another or
their leading bishops place among the car
dinals
''As to the Canadians everybody knows with
what irmness they continue attached to the
Catholic faith. how hearty is their love for the
church, how openly they proved their flial love
and fidelity to the Roman Pontiff amid his
sorest trials. For this reason feel sure that
the raising of one Of the Catholic archbishops to
this high dignity will rebound to the honor of
Catholcity. will be source OF rejoicing to the
people Of Canada, and will increase and confirm
their ever ready and constant devotion to the
Roman Church.
Wherefore, these are the persons whom we
have selected from different countries to add to
your college: Victor Felix Bernadon, Archbishop
Of Sens and Auxerre Alexander Taschereau,
Archbishop of Quebec; Benedict Maria Lang
enieux, Archbishop of Rheims; James Gibbons,
Archbishop of Baltimore; Charles Philippe Place.
Archbishop of Eennes.
'sAll these have commended themselves to US
by their ardent zeal in advancing the cause Of re-
ligon and procuring the salvation Of souls, by
their great devotion to the apostolic see. and
their ability in the management of public af-
fairs
.'Nor have we forgottan Italy, from among
whose sons we have deemed deserving of this
great honor Augusta Theodoi. our domestic
prelate most distinguished among the clergy OF
Rome, vino has already filed various offices and
charges with great credit, and has lately been
the faithful and di!igent project or our house.
hold and Camille Mazeila, a member of the So
cisty Of Jesus, ilustrious alike for his learning
and his virtues.
"What is your opinlonP
The five archbishops arc cardinal priests, the
two Italians cardinal deacons.
AS the Osservatore Romano comes to me in
the evening with the allocution and the report
of the proceedings, l cannot help turning nv
thoughts toward Baltimore and Quebec and the
two illustrious prelates thus raised to the SUI
preme honor of the Roman purple Cardinal
Gibbons is still in the fullness of life fifty two)
and has, in all probability, long, useful and
glorious career before him. It is not two years
since he shone at the head of the eighty. three
prelates assembled in the national council Of
Baltimore, as much by his gentleness and mod
esty as by his solid learning and safe practical
Judgment No man in our new world ever
an assemblage of church dignitaries and priests.
And now that the ''acts and DEGREES" of the
council are here in Rome in the hands of Pope,
cardinals and canonists, there is but one voice
in praise of the eminent prelate, who after the
Pope himself, had most to do with this great
ecclesiastical gathering and the admirable work
done by it.
Baltimore has reason to be proud of her carai-
nal archbishop, and we American Catholics are
proud of Baltimore, and heartily congratulate
her on the additional glory reflected on the see
of John Carroll by the Roman purple, so richly
inscribed and sure to be so worthily worn by his
successor AID multos annos
But long before there was a bishop in the
United States Francis de Laval Montmorency
was bishop in Quebec (1658.) Cardinal Arch
bishop Taschereau is his sixteenth successor
In the founds ton, maintenance and prosperity
of Laval University, created by the seminary to
which the noble M6ntmorency left his all in this
world Alexander Tascherean. after Louis
Jacques Casault, had th> chief part 1t is the
noblest Catholic school on the American CONT
nent Cardinal Taschereau sas watched over
aud protected it from its birth With fatherly
interest. And is he not rewa.'ded in the
glorious fruits his work has borne?
My readers will forgive me if go back to the
year 1882, when. as student, entered the sem
mary at Quebec Alexander Taschercau was two
in tha oh aoJ -
school-fellows till we were ordained priests. al
most together, he on the 10th and on the 18th
of September, 1912. Why do / mention this?
Simply to bear witness to the many noble quail
ties displayed by the boy, the priest and the
archbishop-ever the quiet, unpretending. studi
Gus character all through lfe foremost among
his mates Of the college, his colleagues in the
priesthood and the episcopal Office by his intense
application to study and his devotion to duty
He would not forgive me were to say more