Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-10-04
AIfxasaria 6aseftf.
MONDAY EVENING. OCT. 4, 1872.
4ENCYeLICAL OF THE POPE.

8ENCYoLICAL OF THE POPE.
The apostolic deleea'e in Washing
ton has just received the latest cycli
cal of Pope Leo XIII. The encyciic, |
was written at the Vatican. on the 18th
of September, and, like all the official
documents coming from the Pope, i
l,sars the seal of the Fisherman's ring.
Il will be known among the papal
briefs as ''Augustissimae Virginia Ma
siae"-the NEST august Virgin Mary.
The month of October is dedicated IN
the Catholic Church to Mary, Queen
Of the Holy Rosary, and the present
letter from the Pope is to exhort the
faithful to greater fervor IN practlclng
this devotion.
The Pope has already this year sent
five encyclical letters to the universal
church, and about ss many more on
themes particularly relating to condi-
l'"ns in several countries, as the brief
dressed to the Anglical clergy the
address of the Belgian bishops on the
:5cial question, and TO the French
hierarchy Oh the same subject.
The present letter is addressed TO all
venerable brothers, the patria pri-
mates, archbishops, bishops and ord!-
ates having peace and communion
with the apostolic See," aud begins as
follows:
Anyone who has considered the dig
pity, height and glory to which God
has raised the Blessed Virgin will at
ouce understand why an especial wor-
ship should be given her. From all
eternity God had determined that the
Blessed Virgin was to become the
MCt1er of the Word that was TO assume
the flesh of humanity ; thus she Is IL u
threshold way endowed by nature,
grace aud beauty, so that the church
has distinguished her as meriting the
words II came out of the mouth o. the
most high, the first born of all crea-
lures" From the moment time begao,
and the sin OF our first parents CON-
municated itself to all prosperity, that
same Virgin was then made IS the
harbinger to peace, and salvation 10
the human race.
Tue only Son of God on earth has
honored His Holy Mother. Re made
her the channel Of u two fold benet
when the infant eaped in the womb ofSt.
Elizabeth, and when he changed water
into wine at the marriage feast OF Cona,
aud again when at the last hour
of his life on earth be was sealing with
his divine blood the New Testament.
We succeed as the Son of Mary, and
shall never cease to honor such moth.
or 80 long as life lasts.
The Holy Father tn L goes on and shows
that the Blessed Virgin, knowing the mind
of God, is in position to obtain, through in
tercession the most valuable f.vors Tor the
human race He depoIninates her as omni-
potentis-the omnipotent suppant. He de.
scribes the rosary and its mysteries, explains
how the repetition of the Halt Mary, and
meditation upon the Joyful, orrowful MS
tories, is one of the best devotions. BE then
praises the CoDfraternity of the Rosary de-
seribes those who regularly recite it as sol
d:ers Of the Church and in this ago OF a.so-
cations among thu soci ties Of men, designates
il as the surest means for bringing about CO.
operation and combined effort for the welfare
OF the hum % race
Tho ency. lica grants no new indulgences
and is directed so ely to the encouragement
o. spiritual devotion. The Pope touchingly
alludes TO his advancing yeais and the short
period Of labor still before him.