The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-01-04
CONCENTRATING THE POPE.

1t was fifty years ago that the present
reigning Pope took upon himself the obli-
cations of priest of the Roman Catholic
church. From st. Peter there have been,
including the present occupant of the
chair of st. Peter, 265 Popes, and the aver
age pontifcal reign has been less than
seven years. All faithful Roman Catholics
regard the Pope as the legitimate successor
of Saint Peter and the visible head of the
church, and when be speaks as Pope his
words have super-authority. The Roman
Catholic church is pre-eminently a mis-
sionary church, and its missionaries are in
all lands, and wherever found it will be
noticed that they have one work to per-
form, and only one work. These mis-
sionaries readily adjust themselves to all
forms of governments and to all conditions
Of society-and quite as readily to all eli
mates. They are cross-planters. The cross
is the symbol of their faith. TIE hum
blest church, as we'll as the grandest cathe-
dral is surmounted by the cross. The
Cross of Christ is their shibboleth of the
church. 1t points back to Calvary aud
forward to duty and to victory.
The Roman Catholic church has a head,
and hence, as general proposition, it is a
unit. 1t takes a long pull. a strong
pull, and a pull all together. 1t
don't permit divisions, schisms.. The
Roman Catholic clergy are univer-
sally educated men. They determine
what is required in the way of faith dog
mas, tenets, and once determined, changes
are made only thong intervals, if ever.
As result, the average Roman Catholic
knows definitely what he believes-and
what is more, he knows it by heart. He is
taught it at home, in the school and In the
church. He is trained up in the way he
should go, and the intention is, that in
after life, he will be true to his early teach
ings and, as a general thing, be develops
what Sam Jones would call immense
Suitability"
On the occasion of the Pope's jubilee,
the fiftieth anniversary of his priestly
Office, congratulations are sent from all
quarters of the habitable globe, and sixty
seven Bishops OF the Roman Catholic
Church in America, on December ODD.
presented his Holiness with a congratula
tory letter, in part as follows:
MosT Holy FATHER: As the devotion
OF Christian people, the dignity OF your
See, and the importance of the deeds done
by you certainly demand, the whole world
DOW congratulates you on the fiftieth
joyful and glorious anniversary of that
day whereon you received the Christian
priesthood. Just half q century has
elapsed since you dedicated yourself Who'll
ly to God and solemnly pledged yourself
10 serve in performing the sacred rites of
His temple and in furthering divine wor-
ship. Nor have you ever been found
wanting in the fulfillment of your duty or
your promises. All are aware that scarce
~ were You admitted to the service OF the
affair when you became model for your
fellow citizens in every virtue. Then,
when you were honored with the Bishops
mitre, nothing was nearer your heart than
the upholding and extending of the honor
and authority Of God and holy church by
upright laws and regulations. But when
the provident mind Of your predecessor
appointed you to aid in carrying on the
public business OF the church, it can
scarcely be told with what prudence.
what wisdom, and what happy success
you acquitted yourself of your charge
And when at length you were elevated
10 that exalted DOsition To
which your virtue, your divinely
conferred genius, and the other endoW-
ments of your mind have hidden you, you
assuredly proved not only that the Oardi.
nails who elected you, but that God Him.
self in His mercy, looked to the good of
the church in these evil days. For, mind
full OF what has been done by your prede-
cessors, and walking in the footsteps of
those who, under the same name which
yon bear, have, with so great honor osou-
pie d the chair of st. Peter, you have left
nothing uninterrupted to bring back to the
pathway OF rectitude both those of your
own flock and those without the fold who
have strayed from Christian truth.
1t should be said that the signatures to
the address includes Cardinals and Arch
bishops, and it will be observed that the
congratulations overflow with loyalty
and admiration. The Pope is the
head OF the church, the central
sun. Everything revolves arodnd
the Pope. There is no wrangling. Har-
mony prevails, and the church is therefore
enabled to move right along in its chosen
pathway. 1t may possibly occur to Protest
ents that II they want to make greater
Roadway in the world, they will be re
quired to exhibit more harmony, more
unity than now distinguishes their opera.
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