The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-08-06
LEO ON COLI LUMBUS.
The Pope's Letter to the Hierarchy
Of Spain, Italy and
America.
LIFE OF THE DISCOVERER
Religiou Moved Him and he Sought
to Garry Enlightenment to
Barbarians.


Barbarians.
ROME, July 3l.-The following is the
text Of the letter addressed by Leo XIII.
to the Archbishops and Bishops of
Spain, Italy ard the two Americas, on
the subject of Christopher Columbus:
Letters of our Very Holy Father, Leo
XIII, Pope by Divine Providence, to the
Archbishops and Bishops Of Spain, Italy
and the two Americas, upon Christopher
Columbus.
To the Archbishops and Bishops Of
Spain, Italy and the two Americas. Leo
XIII, Pope.
Venerable Brothers; Greeting and
Apostolic Benediction:
From the end of the fifteenth century,
since man from Liguria first landed,
under the auspices of God, on the trans
atlantic shores, humanity has been
strongly inclined to celebrate with graft
tude the recollection of this event. It
would certainly not be an easy matter to
find more worthy cause to touch their
hearts and to infame their zeal. The
event, in effect, is such in itself that no
other epoch has seen grander and more
beautiful one accomplished by man.
AS to who accomplished it, there are
few who can be compared to him in
greatness of soul and genius. BY his
work a new world flashed forth from the
unexplored ocean, thousands upon thou
sands OF mortals were returned to the
common society of the human race, led
from their barbarous life to peacefulness
and civilization, and, which is Of much
more Importance. recalled from perdition
to eternal life, by the bestowal OF the
gifts which Jesus Christ brought to the
world.
Europe, astonished alike by the nov
city and the prodigiousness of this unex-
pected event, understood little by little
In due course of time what she owed to
Columbus, when. by sending colonies to
America, by frequent communications,
by exchange of services, by the resources
confided to the sea and received in re-
turn, there was discovered an accession
O. the most favorable nature possible to
the knowledge of nature, to the recipro-
cal abundance of riches, with the result
that the prestige of Europe increased
enormously.
CHURCH CANNOT BE SILENT.
Therefore, it would not bs fitting,
amid these numerous testimonials on
honor and in these concerts of felicita-
tions, that the Church should maintain
complete silence, since, in accordance
with her character and her institution,
she willingly approves and endeavors
to favor all that appears, wherever it is,
to be worthy of honor and praise. Cn:
doubtedly she receives particular and
supreme honors to the virtues preemi-
nent in regard to morality, inasmuch as
they are united to the eternal salvation
of souls; nevertheless, she does not de-
spise the rest, neither does she abstain.
from esteeming them as they deserve; it
is even her habit to favor with all her
power and to always have IN honor those
who have we'll merited of human society
and who have passed to posterity.
Certainly, God is admirable in his
saints, but the vestiges of His divine vir-
tues appear as imprinted in those in
whom shines superior force Of soul and
mind, for this elevation Of heart and this
spark OF genius could only come from
God, their author and protector.
tits in addition an entirely special
reason, for which we believe we should
commemorate in grateful spirit this
immortal event. 1t is that Columbus is
one Of us. When one considers with
what motive above all he understood the
plan Of exploring the Dark Sea, and with
what object he endeavored to realize this
plan, one cannot doubt that the Catholic
faith superlatively inspired the enter
prise ana lts execution. so that Oy this
title, also, humanity is not little in
debted to the Church.
There are without doubt many mon Of
hardihood and full Of experience, who,
before Christopher Columbus and after
him, explored with persevering efforts,
unknown lands across seas still more un-
known. Their memory is celebrated,
and will be 90 by the renowD and the
recollection Of their good deeds, seeing
that they have extended the frontiers Of
science and OF civilization, and that,
not at the price Of slight efforts, but with
an exalted ardor 81 spirit, and often
through ill'' extreme perils. T is not the