The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-04
lPPROVED BY THE POPE.
His Holiness Writes to Cardinal Gibbons
In Reference tn the Catholic University.

The Osservatore Romano Of July 18th
publishes an interesting and important
letter OF the Holy Father to his Emf
hence Cardinal Gibbons concerning the
Catholic University of America. The
following is the translation:
To our beloved son, James Cardinal Glib
hons of the title OF ST. Mays. be-
yond the Tiber Archbishop OF Balti-
more:
Beloved son, health, and Apostolic Ben
ediction. Another opportunity Tor mani
Testing our affection and our watchful
care towards your Catholic University
is afforded us by the most pleasing news
concerning IL which we have received
from Won. Seeing that we have our
selves by apostolic authority, establish
ed IT, and invested II with the rights ana
privileges by law provided. we greatly
rejoice. not only that II has approved
itself TO us by the fruitfulness OF us
good results during the past six years
but also that 1t Is on the point OF uhdcr-
taking still wider work. That we hoped
for this development OF It's growth we
declared in the letter recently addressed
10 us by yourself and the other BISHOPS
of the United States. And now we
learn that through your ready response
and through the liberality OF the falth-
full. new departments Of earning are 10
october. which shall offer fresh advan-
tages to ecclesiastical students. and shall
at the same time provide the laity with
superior facilities for higher education.
You have wisely determined that these
etudics should de comprised under
faculty Of philosophy, but q philosophy
equipped and adorned with those various
auxiliary studies, which. when fully and
lcarncdly pursued. on the one hand, lend
light for the discovery OF truth. and add
glory TO truth discovered. and on the
other hand, enhance the truth IN public
esteem and thus render IT more prac-
tically fruitful. OF such results We find
good promise in the names of the dis
tinguished professors already chosen, cs-
recially because of their resolve faith
fully TO follow. as we have prescribed,
that surest method of philosophic study
pointed out by st. Thomas Aquinas.
SO excellent an undertaking could not
but receive the approval and the best
wishes of this apostolic see, whose Gus
tom il has ever been TO promise and IN
every way TO foster all learned studies.
We wish. therefore. that the University
may, through this new development, more
and more advance. wax strong and Hour
ish. for the advantage and honor. both Of
religion and OF the republic. To II let
the Catholic colleges be earnest TO send
up their most talented and promising stu
! dents: in IT, let the bonds Of holy unity
among Catholics be knit close and strong
an example Of surprising utility and
from 1t, as from fountain open 10 all,
may a great power Of both learning and
practical influence. pour far and wide
for the best welfare OF all.
Meantime. 20 yourself, beloved son, 10
all the Archbishops and Bishops, pro-
tectors OF the University: 10 those
| through whose generous muniiccnce n is
supported and developed 10 the profess
sors and students Of the new depart
| ments. and 10 all connected with the in
sttution, we most lovingly bestow the
apostolic benediction.
Given at St. Peters. i'm Rome. the 18th
day of June. 1896. in the eighteenth year
of our pontihcate. LEO Kill. Pope.