The record-union., 1893-03-04
POPE LBO'S GOLDEN JUBILEE.
Pastoral Letter Thereon From Right
Rev. Bishop Manogue.
Addressed to the Clergy and Laity of
the Diocese of Sacramentn-Jubi-
lee Offerings.

Reverend Dear Fathers and Brethren:
1t is both natural and reasonable that
loving children should partake of the joys
of a cherished father. Our brethren scat
tered over the habitable globe are, during
this month and year, swayed by laudable
impulses and holy anxiety towards the
august and venerable head of the church.
1t matters not whether they be Parthians
or Medes, inhabitants of Mesopotamia
Capadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia
Pamphilia, Egypt, Lydia, Crete or
Arabia, ali unite in rendering thanks to
God for the projection and blessings
vouchsafed to his great and exemplary
Vicar on earth. He is the representative
of Christ. He is clothed with Gods
authority. His name is holy and his title
is sanctity. Almighty God, in his own
inserutable ways, manifests to all the
power and privileges communicated to
his faithful servants. Their humility and
simplicity, a scandal to the Jews and q
folly to the Gentiles, a reproach to the
synagogue, trouble to the high priests,
a terror 20 Herod, a reflection for
Gamaliel, Stumbling g-block to the in
fidel and impious, are the Joy and conso-
lation of Gods faithful children.
Enlightened and learned pagans have
always bowed to the authority of God,
manifested in the priests of his temples
and sanctuaries. 1t has been reserved
for modern intidels to sneer at sacred
things and Gods authority. This au-
thority was acknowledged by Alexander
on his victorious march from GAIA to
Jerusalem. He reVerently saluted the
high priest and adOred the God whose
name was engraved on the golden plate
and embroidered in the sacred vestments
On the streets of Jerusalem the Jews pro-
claimed aloud, "We have no King but
Caesar" but Peter, with words not less
demonstrative and emphatic, declared,
''We ought to obey God rather than
men," Let us accompany st. Peter from
Jerusalem to Rome. In the current of
time three centuries roll along, and but
two Popes die in their beds. Like their
Divine Master, with eyes on Calvary and
hearts in heaven, they advance TO martyr
dom, giving testimony to the truth, and
sealing their faith with their blood.
Who stemmed and stopped the corrup-
ton and devastation of the northern
hordes of barbarians? On they came with
fire and sword, with torch and burnings.
on they came, and city after city disaD-
peared before them. Armies were dis
per ed like chaff before the wind, society
was shaken to its very center, and no
Before them were smiling gardens and
vineyards, in their rear bowling wilder
ness. on they came; nation, Kingdom.
empire collapsed before them, until thew
reached the gates Of Rome. How were
they frustrated in their march of blood?
Who placed a barrier between them and
the eternal city? The venerable Pontitf.
Pope Leo, advanced to encounter the
proud Attilla, 1.-The Scourge of God and
in the words of his mighty master de-
clared, THUS far and no farther" The
fierce warrior was Swayed and subdued
by the presence and appearance of the
great Pontiff, as Alexander before the
high priest Jaddua.
Who stemmed and stopped the raging
torrent of Mohammedan corruption and
sensuality in Europe? Take away the
Pope, and to-day the Grand Turk might
be debating the laws from London and
his Sultans enthroned in Paris, Rome
and Berlin, while the people Of Europe
and America would, perhaps, be little
more than turbaned tawnies.
The voice of the Sovereign Pontitf has
always been in favor of the oppressed
and always against immortality and in
justice. No matter whether these vices
come from impious tyrants, Kings, En-
perors, or vicious popular customs, thev
receive their condemnation from the
same authoritative voice. That voice
passes the boundary lines of kingdoms
and empires, rings through the islands of
the ocean, is heard from sea to sea. re-
Verberates over dark continents, on its
way TO the farthest limits of the earth. 1t
matters little whether emanatinu from
the basilica of st. Peters, the prison of
FOntainebleau, or the Vatican prison. if
is heard with Joy, received with respect
and veneration by the faithful children of
a loving father.
Wicked combinations of wicked men.
secret organizations plotting against the
Lord and his anointed, plotting against
church and State. endeavoring to Danish
God from the earth, from the family and
society; civil marriages speedily followed
by civil divorces; the vices and passions
of paganlsm are everywhere heard, everv-
where INDUCED, everywhere encour-
aged. 10 rectlty such disorders our chief
pastor, the representative of God on
earth, appeals to all men of good will, to
the family and to society to listen to his
voice, the voice Of reason, the voice of re-
Hglon, the voice of God, eXhorting them
to retrace their steps and return to the
justice, the morality and rectitude of
their fathers. With attention, reverence
and respect, hear his voice and harden
your hearts. He is pointed out to YOU i'm
the First Book of Kings: 81 will raise me
up faithful priest, who shall do accord
ing to my heart and SOUL" Such is the
visible head of the church, the vicar OF
Christ, his follower in crosses and tribn-
latlons, our great Pontiff, Leo XIII.
"Ecc0 homo''-Behold the man. BEHOLD
the man, fighting the battles of the Lord
contending against tyrants, unjust usurp-
ers, corrupt and unprincipled rulers.
contending against the corruption OF
society and the iniquities of the world.
and pleading the cause of his children
IN nGf hTrrh t,1
Wicked and corrupt men are ever
ready to answer: I'VE only follow the
crowd, the multitude, the great bulk OF
society,"" Men thus reasoned in the time
of Noah, but such reasoning offered mo
barrier to the sweeping and devastatinq
deluge, In the time of Abraham and .ot
such was the reasoning of the people OF
Sodom and Gomorrha, but such reason
ing could not avert the devouring fire
from heaven. In the days of Nabucbo-
donosor such wassthe reasoning of those
who prostrated themselves before a
sacrilegious idol. In the time of Elias
such was the reasoning of those who bent
the knee before Baal. In the time OF
Eliazar, people thus reasoned who aban-
doned The laws of their fathers. To fol-
low the multitude-to follow tire popular
customs-is the very course condemned
by the sacred scriptures and the church
OF the living God.
st. Paul warns US against conforming
to the ways of the wicked world, and St
Augustine exclaims: "Wo to the fatal
torrent of human customs! Wilt thou
never suspend thy course? Wilt thou
drag along even to the end the children OF
Adam in this immense and terrible
abyss?" In the time of Esdras uni.
versal corruption prevailed; such was the
popular custom. But did this holy man
yield to the wicked ways of wicked men!
Did he believe that a transgression thai
became common became legitimate? No
This great priest and pontiff whom the
Jews styled The Prince of the Doctor,
of the Law" took the book of the law in
his hands, explained it to the people
prostrated before him. He compelled