Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-23
CHRISTIAN UNITY.
Encycllcal Letter on the Subject
from Pope Leo.
PLEA FOR SPECIAL PRAYERS.
To he oncred During the Nine Days
Preceding the Feast of PentecoSt
and the Eight Days Following 1T
sacred InduigeDces.

%
WASHINGTON, May 22.-Following IS
a translation. given out tonight by the
Apostolic Legation here, Of an encych-
cal letter from the Pope. The encych-
cal is addressed to the heads OF the
Catholic Church throughout the world
and is a pea for universal prayers look
ing to the unity OF Christendom, To De
offered before and on Pentecost: Most
worthy, certainly. Of the watchful love OF
a mother is the prayer which the Cnurch
never ceases TO offer to God that "her-
ever Christian people exist there should
be one faith Of mind and holiness OF
action. In like manner We, who, as we
represent the person Of the Divine Pas
tor in the world. also strive to carry
out His intention, have never failed 10
nourish among Catholics that desire for
union; and even now are we more strenu-
ously urging on those whom the Church
for so long a time and with so great ear
nestness has been calling back to her
fold. The source whence we are especially
10 expect assistance for the designs ana
offerings OF ours is not hard TO discern,
and grows more evident day by day. II
IS none other than the Father OF
Mercies' whom we rightly Invoke, ana
10 whom IL pertains TO illumne our
minds and graciously to turn our Wits
10 the way Of salvation.
Catholics surely cannot fail TO see how
grave and important Is the work we have
undertaken. On IL depends the eternal
salvation Of many, together with the
spread OF divine honor and the glory OF
the Christian name. Which things, II they
sincerely and piously consider. they VIII
surely feel in their souls a stronger burn
ing Of that divine charity which. with
Gods grace. shrinks from no labor and
leaves untried no means for the good Of
their brethren. And 50 IL will happen that
they viii eagerly, as we so ardently de-
sire not only add 70 our confidence In
happy result, but will give us all the as
sistance they can, especially that which
humble and holy prayer can obtain from
God.
mo season could be more fitting for this
work OF piety than that In which long
ago the Apostles, after our Lords ascen-
sion into Heaven, remained together IN
prayer with Mary, the mother OF Jesus.
awaiting the promised power from on high
and all the gifts and graces. In that au-
gust tabernacle and from that mystery
OF the coming OF the Paraclete, the
Church, which was conceived by Christ,
was born at His death by the coming,
as II were, by the Divine breath. began
happily her great work OF bringing al
nations into the unity Of the faith and
the newness Of Christian life.
UNION OF WILLS.
"Rich and abundant fruits followed In
a short time, among which was that
perfect union of Wills. never too often
set before us for imitation. In the multi
tude OF the faithful there was but one
heart and but one SOUL
For this reason we have thought 1t
well. by our eXhortatiOn and call, to
excite the piety of Catholics; that they
may follow the example Of the Virgin
Mary, and Of the holy Apostles during
the nine days preceding the sacred feast
OF Pentecost and pray God, with one
mind and with special fervor, renew
ing and repeating the petition, Send
forth Thy Spirit and they shall be
created, and Thou shalt renew the face
of the earth The greatest and richest
blessings may Justly be hoped from Him
who is the Spirit OF Truth; who has
spoken the secrets of God in the sacIkd
Scriptures; who strengthens the Church
by His presence. and from the
living fount Of Holiness regenerates us.
sons OF God by adoption who are in
wonderful way strengthened and per.
fected. For. by the multiform grace OF
the Spirit. there come TO them In per-
petual bounty divine light and fervor,
health and strength. solace and rest-the
desire Of seeking all good, and a fruitful
ness I'm holy works.
"Fnally. the same Holy Spirit so acts
nv His mower in the Church, that. as
Christ Is the head OF this mystic body,
the Holy Spirit may aptly be termed its
heart for. as ST. Thomas says: The
heart has a certain hidden influence. and,
therefore. the Holy Spirit Is compared
to the hes IT. since lie inyisibly WHITES
and unites the Church.
"Since. then, the Holy Spirit is. above
all things. charity, and to Him especially
are attributed the works OF love. 1t Is
greatly to be hoped that through Him
the spirit OF error and wickedness being
nut down. greater and stronger harmony
and union of mind will prevail as they
go along the Church. which, according 10
the admonitiOn Of the Apostle should do
nothing in strife; should think the same
things. and, united. should have the same
charity And so, perfecting our JOY. may
they form one strong and fiourishlng
body. not In name only, but In fact.
RECONCILIATION OF BRETHREN.
From this example OF Christian har-
mony among Catholics themselves, from
this piety In praying the Divine Para
clete. Is specially TO be hoped the re-
Cancellation of our separated brethren, foT
which we 50 earnestly labor, so that
they may come to feel the same in them
selves as I'm Jesus Christ, and, being at
| last united with US I'm faith and hope,
may be Joined with US also in the bonds
Of perfect charity.
"And now, in addition to the blessings
which the faithful who respond cheer
| fully to our call will certainly and abund
antly receive from God for such an ac
! tivity OF plety and fraternal love, IL ha,
pleased US to add and bestow the reward
| of sacred indulgences from the treasures
| OF the Church. Therefore, 10 all whS
| for nine consecutive days before Pente
| cost, either publicly or privately, rect'
some special prayers TO the Holy Christ
we grant on each of those days an in
| diligence OF seven years and seven quar-
| antines; and plenary indulgence on any
| one Of those days. or on the Day OF Pente
| cost itself, or on any day OF the follow
| ing eight days, provided that, having con
| fessed their sins and received absolutioI
| and holy communion, they pray God &C
| cordingly to the intent which we hav'
above expressed We further grant tina
those who desire to repeat for the eigh
| days following Pentecost may gain botl
of the aforementioned indulgences. Thes
| indulgences may be applied to the soul
In purgatory. and by our authority We de
| cree and order that they shall be avail
| able each year for the future; thos
things being observed which are require
| by our law and CUSTOM"
Given at 81. Peters, Rome, unde
the seal OF the Fisherman, the 5th da'
Of May. 1895, in the eighteenth year o
| our Pontihcate."
Won sUPPE DEAD.