Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-08-01
To the ArchbishOps and Bishops on
the Subject Of Columbus.
CELEBRATION OF A GRAND EVENT
Extolled by His Holiness in I'M
pressive and Beautiful Lam
guage - Humanity Has Been
Strongly Inclined to Celebrate
With Gratitude the Recollec-
ton Of this Even" The Part Of
the Catholic Church.

ROME, July 3I.-The following are
extracts from the letter addressed by
Leo XIII to the Archbishops and Bis
hops of Spain, Italy and the two Amer
icas on the subject of Christopher Col
umbus:-
LETTER OF OUR VERY Holy FAITH
ER, LEO Mi Pope BY DIVINE PRovI-
DENCE.
"To the ArcbbishOpS and Bishops Of
Spain, Itdly, and Of the tlCO americas
1lpon Christopher Columbus.
VENERABLE BROTHERS, GREETING
AND APOSTOLIC BENEDICTIoN:-From
the end of the Fourth century, since a
man from Liguria first landed, under
the auspices of God, on the trans-At-
lantic shores, humanity has been strong
ly inclined to celebrate with gratitude
the recollection of this event. 1t would
certainly not be an easy matter to lind
a more worthy cause TO touch their
hearts and to infame their zeal. The
event, in effect is such in Itself that no
other has seen a grander and more beau
tiful accomplished by man; as to he
who accomp plished il, there are few who
can be compared to him in greatness
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
society Of the human race, led from
their barbarous life TO pescefulness 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, astonised alike by the nov
city and the prCdigiousness OF this uD-
expected event, understood little by lit
tie in due course of time, what she
owed 10 Columbus, when, by sending
colonies to America, by frequent COM
municatiOns, by exchange OF service, by
the resources C onfided 10 the sea and
receive in return there was discovered
an accession of the most favorable ma
ture possible to the knowledge OF ma
ture, TO the reciprocal abundance OF
riches with the result that the prestige
of Europe increased enormously,
Therefore, it
WOULD NOT BE FITTING
amid these numerous testimonials OF
honor and in these concerts Of felcita-
tions that the church should maintain
complete silence, since, In accordance
with her character and her institution,
sheapprOves and endeavOrS to favor all
that appears, wherever IL is to be worthy
of honor and praise. Undoubtedly she
receives particular and supreme bonorS
TO the virtues preeminent In regard TO
morality, inasmuch as they are united
10 the eternal salvation OF souls; never
theless she does not despise the rest,
neither does she abstain from esteem
ing them as thev deserve. IL is even her
habit to favor with all her power and TO
always have in honor those who have
well merited Of human society and who
have passed to posterity.
Certainly God is admirable In his
saints; but the vestlges Of His divine
virtue appear as imprinted In those in
whom shines a superior force OF soul
and mind for elevation of heart and this
spark of genius could only come from
God. their author and protector.
ut is, in addition, an entirely special
reason for which we believe we should
commemorate in a grateful spirit this
immortal event. 1t is that Columbus Is
one Of US. When one considers with
what motive above all he undertook the
plan of exploring the Dark Sea and
with what object he endeayored I o re-
alize this plan, one cannot doubt that
the Catholic faith superlatively inspired
the enterprise and its execution so that
by this title also humanity is not little
indebted to the church.
THE enterprise so carried out Is ad-
mirably illustrated by the events OF that
time. In effect Columbus discovered
America about the period when
A GREAT TEMPEST
was going TO unchain itself against the
Church. InAsmuch as that is permitted
by the course OF events to appreciate
the ways OF Divine Providence, II really
seems that the man for whom Liguria
honors herself was destined by a special
plan OF God to compensate Catholicism
for the injury which it was going 70
suffer In Europe.
ITO call the Indian race TO Christian
| ity, this was without doubt the mission
and the work of the Church. In this
mission. commenced from the beginning,
she continued 10 fulfill it with an unin-
terrupted course Of charity, and she
still continues IL. having advanced her
self recently so far as the eXtremities Of
| Patagonia. As TO Columbus, certain as
he was OF tracing out and Of preparing
the ways Of the gospel, and fully ab-
sorbed In the thought caused all his
actions TO converge 70 10, not undertak-
ing anything OF any kind, but under the
shield OF religion and with the escort Of
piety.
In order to celebrate worthily, aud
In a manner suitable 10 the truth OF the
| facts the solemn anniversary OF Colum-
bus the sacredness of religion must be
united TO the splendor OF the civil pOmp.
This is why, as previously, at the first
announcement Of the event, public ec-
tions OF grace were rendered TO the
providence OF the immortal God upon
the example which the supreme pontitf
| gave, the same also now, in celebrating
the recollection Of the auspicious event.
/ We esteem, that we must do as much.
Why decree TO this effect that the day
/ OF October 10, or the following Sunday,
if the respective diocesan Bishops
Judge It 70 be opportune that after she
Office Of the day the solemn mass OF the
very Holy Trinity shall be celebrated:in
the Cathedral and collegiate churches
of Spain. Italy and two Americas. In
addition to these countries, we hope
that upon the initiative Of the Bishops.
as much may be done in the others, for
its fitting that ell should concur in eel