The record-union., 1892-08-01
Executive.
Special to the REcoRD-USrox.

Special to the RECoRD-UN
ROME, July 31.-The Pope has ad-
dressed lengthy letter to the Arch
bishops and Bishops of Spain, Italy and
the two Americas on the subject of
Christopher Columbus and his dis
coveries, etc. He appoints October 18th
OF this year, or the following Sunday, if it
be opportune that after the Office Of the
day the solemn mass of the Holy Trinity
be celebrated worthiIy and in manner
suitable to the truth Of the facts of the
solemn anniversary.
In his letter the Pope says: "When
one considers with what motive above
all Columbus undertook the plan Of ex-
ploring the dark sea, and with what OBJ
ject he endeayored to realize this plan,
one cannot doubt that the Catholic faith
was superlatively inspired i'll the enter
prise and its execution, so that by this
also humanity is not q little indebted to
the church.
THE eminently distinct point of CO.
lumDus was that in crossing the immense
eXpanSe OF ocean he followed an object
more grand and elevated than others
his does not say that he was not in
| Huenced by other designs, but in reality
| his plan, his resolutions profoundly
| carried IN bis heart, was in open access to
the gospel III new lands and new seas.'
The Pope cites the fact that in Column
bus pleading with Ferdinand and Isa-
bella he explained that their glory would
increase TO a point of becoming immortal
il they decided to carry the name and
doctrine Of Jesus Christ into such distant
regions, and where not long after his
prayers were granted he was called to
witness what he wished to obtain from
God, that these sOvereigns, sustained by
his help and his mercy, should persevere
in causing the gospel to penetrate upon
new shores and in new lands.
The Pope also quotes from Columbus
| letter to Raphael Sanchez, after his re-
| turn, that Jesus Christ would rejoice in
| the triumph upon the earth and in heaven
for the coming salvation of innumerable
| people who had been previously going to
their ruin.
IF Columbus also asked Of Ferdinand
and Isabella to permit only Catholic
Christians to go to the new world, there
to accelerate trade with the nations, he
supports this motive by the fact that by
his enterprise and efforts he had not
sought for anything else than the glory
and development Of the Christian re-
! ligion.n
The Pope says the enterprise, so car
ried out, is admirably illustrated by the
events of time in effect.
Columbus discovered America about
the period when the great tempest was
going to unchaln itselfagainst the church.
lnasnuch as 1t IS permitted by the course
OF events to appreciate the ways ofDiVine
Providence it seems that this man was
destined by special plan of God 10 COM
pensate Catholicism for the injury it was
going To suffer IN Europe to call the
Indian race to Christianity. This was
without doubt the mission and work of
the church. She continued TO fulfill this
work with uninterrupted course of
charity, and still continues it, having adj
vanced herself recently so far as the ex-
trsmities OF atagonia"
In, conclusion, the Pope saws: "rTbe
magnitude Of the event, the efficacy and
variety Of the benefits which have re-
suited from its trend asSuredly to cele-
brate, he, who was the author of it, by
grateful remembrance ana by all sorts of
testimonials OF honor. But in the first
place we must recognize and venerate the
particularly divine project to which the
discoverer OF the new world was subserv-
lent, and TO which he knowingly obeyed."
CELEBRATION FORMALLY BEGUN.
CADIZ, July 3I.-Christopher Columbus
celebration formally to-day by the de-
parture hence for Huetya Of the Column
bus Caravel, Santa Maria. escorted by
British, American and French war YES
sells and tl0tilla of small steamers. A
brilliant company gathered at the fete
given by the Minister of Marine in honor
| Of the event. A bullight was also held.