The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-01
POPE LEO ON COLUMBUS.
The Catholic Church Is to Celebrate
His Anniversary.
THE DISCOVERIES MOTIVES
Wherein, According tn tho Pontin, He
Differed from others-His Mission to
Gail the Indians to Christianity =
Burdensd With Many Trials.


ROME, Aug. 1.-The letter addressed by
Pope Leo XIII 10 the archbishops and
bishops OF Spain, Italy and the two Amer
icas on the subject of Christopher Colum-
bus says:
From the end of the fifteenth century,
since . man from Liguria first landed,
under tho auspices OF God, on the trans
Atlantic shores, humanity has been
strongly inclined to celebrate with graf
1tude the recollection of this event. 1t
would certainly not be an easy matter to
find 2 more worthy cause to touch their nr
hearts and to infiame 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
10 him who accomplished 1t, there are
few who can be compared to him in great
ness Of soul and OF genius.
BY his work new world flashed forth
from the unexplored ocean, thousands
upon Thousands OF mortals were returned
to the common anxiety OF the human
raoe, led from their barbarous life to
peacefulness and civilization, and which
ID of much more ~ portance, recalled
from perdition to et.rnal life by the be-
stowal OF the gifts which Jesus Christ
brought to the world.
Europe, astonished alike by the novel
~ and the odigipusness OF this unex-
pected event, understood little by little
IN due course of time what she owed to
bus, when, by sending colonies to
America, by frequent communications,
by exchange of services, by the resources
confided to the sea and received
IN return, there was discovered an Access
sion OF the most favorable nature, to the
reciprocal abundance of riches, with the
result that the prestige OF Europe in
- TkAu <<rn
not BE- fitting amid these numerous tes-
timonials of honor and in these concerts
OF solicitations that the church should
maintain complete silence, since, in ac-
cordance with her character and her in
stitutions, she willingly approves and
cndeavors to favor all that appears,
wherever II Is, to be worthy OF honor and
praise.
There IL in addition an entirely special
reason tor which we believe We should
commemorate In Q grateful spirit this
immortal event. IL is that Columbus 10
one Of us. When ono considers with
what motive above all he undertook 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 and it, execution, SO that by this
title also humanity Is not q little indebt-
Cd to the church.
AV ASttSx Doyb tpgt Ahohy AiCh Va haha-
1hood and full OF experience before Coz
lumbus and after him, explored, with
persevering efforts, unknown lands across
seas still more unknown. Their memory
ID celebrated, but there is a very great
difference between them and Columbus.
Columbus followed an object more
grand and moro elevated than the others.
This does not say that he was not moved
BY desire for mastering science for glo-
~, or that he MAS not at all looking to
his personal interests. But above all
these human reasons, that Of religion
We: uppermost by great deal, In him,
and IL was this, without doubt, which
sustained his spirit and his will and
which frequently, In the midst of extreme
difficulties, filed him with consolation.
Having learned by astronomy and
ancient documents that beyond the
limits OF the known world, there were
large tracts Of Of territory uns1piorsd, he
those who were plunged In lamentable
darkness. subject to insensate rites and
TO the superstitions OF senseless divini-
ties He considered that they led a
savage life, with ferocious customs; that
MORE misersbiy still, they wsre wanting
things and that they were plunged in ig-
norance OF the only true God.
Therefore, he aimed first of all to pro-
pagate the name of Christ and the
benefts OF Christian charity In the West.
In proof Of Columbus religious zeal, the
latter cites the discoverer's declarations
on the subject TO Ferdinand and Isobella,
70 Pope Alexander vi, and to Raphael
aanches, and also Isabslla's testimony to
that effect.
II IVES inevitable, says the letter, that q
man overwhelmed with burden of tri-
ala % great and SO intense would have
succumed had he not sustained himself
nv fhA r, oaa ~ fnlHilSnn n
noble enterprise which he conjectured
would be glorious for the Christian name
and saiutary for an infinite multituoe.
Continuing the letter says that, in effect,
Columbus discovered America about the
period when q great tempest was going to
unchain itself against the church.
It really seems that the man for whom
Liguria honors herself was destined by
= special plan OF God TO compensate Cath
olicism for the injury which 1t was go-
Ing TO suffer In Europe. To call the In
dian race to Christianity was without
doubt the mission and the work OF the
The letter states that Columbus ma
tured his grand plan OF discovery In
convent with the advice Of a monk; in
voked the divine blessing OF the different
stages OF his enterprise and took
possession of the land he discov-
cred, in the name OF Jesus Christ. It
declares that In order to celebrate worth
lily the solemn annivereary of Columbus, |
the sacredness OF religion must be united
20 the splendor Of pomp.
The Pope. therefore, DEGREES that on
Oct II, or the following Sunday, IL the
respective diocesesan bishops Judge 1t to
b opportune, after the Office of the day
the solemn mass OF the very Holy Trinity
shall be celebrated in the cathedral and
collegiate churces Of Spain, Italy and the
TWO Americas. In addition to these
countries, he hopes that upon the initia-
tive OF the bishops, as much may be done
In the others.
THE OLD SANTA MARIA.