The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-10


lie meetings, aud the natural rebels agninst
the Church and against orderly discipline
plotted with seeming success for the Arch
bishops overthrow. They had even ar
ranged among themselves how the thing
was to be done He was to have militant
coadjutor 10 absorb his functions. 1t was
at this period that the communication OF
a Catholic American appeared in our
columns. It made no attack on Monsignor
SAToLLt. II simply portrayed in moderate
language the actual situation OF church
anairs. and to what the revolution was
leading. 1t was simply n friendly warming
Of impending consequences.
The Sovereign pontln exercises more
unrestrained authority in this country than
he does in the Catholic countries of
Europe: where. by the stipulations OF CON
cordats. he is deprived of the power to
nominate bishops. There the sovereign
power Of tho State names The bishops. sub
ject tn papal approval. Here the power of
the Pope is supreme in the selection Ut
bishops. and it may be said in all other cs-
scntials uf Church control. IL is tr'o that
for appointment in the United Suites tho
bishops are nominated under certain
formula but the papal authority Is unre-
stricted; the Pope Is not bound lg the nom
nation, but may disregard il entirely. The
bishops of this country may therefore lie
said to lie more directly the representa-
tives Of the Vatican than the bishops
in any other jurisdiction, and more
especially entitled to papal confidence.
In 10 part NJ his spiritual dominion is
the Pope more sincerely and inteIli-
gently rcvered than in the Church in
tho United States. The preeminencs III
LEo MIL in all the qualities OF n spiritual
ruler reflects lustre on the papal throne.
Tho sauctity Of the Ppntn from what
is held tO I've an Apostolic succession,
and all that appcTtalns to- his sovereign
power. arc fully recognized 10y his people;
bat they have always been held to bc ex-
elusive. Tho Papacy has seen its vcissi-
tubes. There was Il period in tho reign OF
URBAN VI. when the College oi Cardinals,
aitor eccting Pope, Icing dissatisfied
with their choice. assembled aud recunsid-
erei their act. electing another Pope
CLEMENT VII: and two Popes reigned in
opposition. ono at Rome and the other at
Avignon. for period OF thirty-eEht years.
until the schism was substantially settled
by the election OF ALEXANDER " But there
can never again be a dispute Of like char
actcr. Pope elected and consecrated
reigns to the end OF his life; his power and
! that Of tho Cardinals is indcicasible. In
case Of permanent disability no one can
take the Pontins place. There Is no pro-
vision for regent. The Pope cannot.
however name his Successor. The election
| Of n successor belongs exclusively to the
| College OF Cardinals.
Considering all these things. while the
| authority OF NIonsignor SAroLLI was in all
respects to he obeycd. the titles given him
Of deputy Pope" aud American Pope
were deeply offensive to tho Church. II
was answered that he exercised absolute
and irresponsible power among us. aud was
| in effect Pope, whatever may have been the
COZ sequences elsewhere. 1t was in this
condition OF affairs and In the month OF
August last, that Archbishop CoRRIGAy ar
ranged the great reception which was given
| to Sonsignor SAToLLI at ST. Patrick's Cathe-
dral in this city. Every effort was made
through all the channels of the Arch
| bishops influence to havc the occasion a
great and memorable tribute to the Apos-
| tolc head OF the Church. Monsignor SAToLLI
| celebrated a Pontiical mass. attended by
the chief priests of tho diocese. while hun
dreds of the clergy from every direction
crowded the sanctuary. The press Of the day
was filed with glowing accounts Of the splen-
dor and life Of the demonstration. The as
| sembly was an historical event. Archbishop
| CoRRIGAS. In his eloquent and mastery adj
dress, delivered to the assembled thousands
Of representative Catholics, referred to the
fact that before the burden OF the good
| Shepherd Is put on his shoulders. aud the
| holy oil OF conservation Is poured upon
| his head every bishop elect takes
| n solemn oath to be from that day
forth faithful and obedient TO Blessed
| PETER. the Apostle, to the Roman
| Church. and to the Sovereign Pontiff.
/ He spoke of the conservation oath OF a
bishop as being single leaf in a beautiful
Hover representing the primacy Of the
| Apostolic See He referred to the luminous
and authoritative expression Of this truth
found In the celebrated declaration OF the
Council OF Florence. which he quoted. He
mentioned at length the fundamental prin-
ciples OF Catholic fidelity. He thanked COP
that loyalty aud fealty to the Holy Sec
| have ever been shining aud charac-
teristic traits Of this country at large.
as wsll as IL this diocese in partlc-
ular. And on the personal issue which
his enemies were making in the press.
the Archbishop spoke as follows:
For myself. II may he permitted to alluds
: to the subject. count it a special grace that
made my studies In philosophy aud theology
under the shadow OF the Vatican. In his we'll
known work, entitled Rscollections OF the
Last Four Popes.' Cardinal WIsEMAs observes
| that a. n rule. the attachment for tho Holy See
! OF those who have lived a. students In Rome
| is not much conviction Of the iutel-
| lect luminous and far-reaching as 1t is.
as deep seated and growing affection
| Of the heart How can one live amid
the constantly recurring memories of the
| martyrs. how can one visit the grand
est bssiliea on earth. and kneeling Oh the spot
where PETEB was cTucihed. not have en-
grAved deeply on his heart the divine words:
| ON thee will l build my Church. Feed my
lambs. Feed my sheep Do thou when con-