The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-14
POPE DEPLORES 1T.
Possible Separation of
the Church and
State.
AN ENCYCLICAL LETTER
Read in AllCatholic Church
es in Worcester,
Sunday.
AN ENCYCLICAL LETTER


city yesterday. there was read. by di-
rection of Bishop Beaver Of the Spring
field diocese, an encyclical letter from
Pope Leo XIII. Significant references
are made to the separation of church
and state, which the pope deplores.
In addressing the pastors of the Wor-
cester churches, the bishop said it was
his earnest wish that priests and peo-
pie assemble about the affairs and
unite in the conservation Of the sacred
heart Of Jesus, ordained in the ency-
chcal letter from the head of the
church. To facilitate this purpose, the
bishop desires that a holy iridium pre-
cede the day upon which this consecra-
ton is effected.
The bishop points out that the pope
mas already by apostolic letters, pro
nulgated the holy year of universal ju-
pllee, designating it to begin on the eve
OF Christmas of this year and to end
the Christmas of the year following
The design is to excite the religious fer
Vor OF the people. AS preparation
Tor this solemnity, the pope invites all
10 dedicate themselves to the sacred
heart of Jesus by a general act of con-
secration.
The history of this devotion goes back
to the early ages and special efforts
were made TO popularize it among the
FAITHFUL during the certificates of In
nocent XII, Benedict XIII, Clement
Kill, Plus vi, and Plus TX. 1t was
however, reserved for Leo XIII to raise
the feast of this devotion to a double
OF the first class" and to appoint g
day upon which the whole Catholic
world, and all VIII feel so disposed, may
come together and consecrate them
selves to the sacred heart.
In a word, says the bishop, his holi-
ness calls upon all mankind to conse-
crate themselves to the sacred heart
as means of sanctif1cation and a
fruitful source of blessings for the
world
The encyclical letter from the pope
IS addressed to "Our venerable brothers
the patriarchs, primates, archbishops
bishops and other ordinaries in peace
ana communion with the apostolic see. .
Here is an abstract of the letter:
Following the example of our pre-
oecessors, Innocent XII, Benedict XIII
Clement XIII, Plus VI and Plus XI, TX
we nave more than once already striyer
10 maintain faithfully and bring into
greater prominence that most approved
form OF piety which consists in devotion
70 the most sacred heart of Jesus, es.
peclally when by a decree of June %
1888, we raised this feast to a double
OF the first class. And now we are
thinking of still more striking form
OF homage, which we regard as tT1e
crown and completion of all the honors
hitherto paid to the sacred heart. ant
whlcn' we trust, will prove most pleas
ing TO our redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Not, indeed, that this is now pronosec
Tor the first time. Twenty-Five years
ago on the occasion of the second cen.
tenary of blessed Mary Alacoque's re.
celving miraculously the command r.
propagate devotion to the divine heart
petitions were sent to Plus XII from
all parts, not only by private indiyid.
uals, but by bishops, praying him t.
consecrate all mankind to the most au.
gust heart OF Jesus. 1t was decided
at the time that the project should bt
deferred until it had matured.
In the meantime such dioceses- as de.
sire 10 do so were to be privileged tc
consecrate themselves after a fornn,,is
expressly prescribed for the purpose
NOW we have judged that new condi
tons have ripened the time for puttins
the design into effect
Inc pope then goes on to speak O.
Christ as prince and lord of all. whose
sway extends not only over CathoIi,
peoples, or such as having been duly
ragenerated in holy baptism, belong a,
least by right to the church. althougl
following false doctrine or disjointet
from the bonds of charity, but embrace.
besides all those who live outside tn,
christian faith, so that on the diyin,
power of Jesus Christ the whole human
race depends"
In speaking of the empire of Chris
as supreme, the pope says: A matter
calling for particular attention is Jesu!
Christ's affirmation of his dominion. no
by the words of the apostles and pro
phets, but in his own words, Whel
asked by the Roman governor oar
thou then king?'' he unhesitatingl,
replied Thou sayest that 1 am
King" (John, xviii37) And the magni
tuce and limitlessness Of his kingdom
are now clearly shown in his words Il
ms apostles "All power is given to m,
IN heaven and on earth" Matt, xviii
$50 II all power was given to Christ. 1
Follows necessarily that his empir,
must be supreme, absolute and inde
pendent, with nothing equal or similar
to it; and since it was given in HEAVIER
ana on earth, heaven and earth mus
obey it. And, in fact he did exercis,
this truly singular and special power il
commanding the apostles to propagat,
his teachings to lead men, through bap
tism, to form one body in the church
and finally to impose laws from which
none may exempt himself without i'm
periling his eternal salvation.
| Christ. the pope continues, gave hi
blood for the whole world and all PEG
pies. In his goodness, however, h,
/ leaves it to us if we are so minded. /,
add to this double title Of authorit,
and lordship, a third title-that Of vol
untary conservation.
AND can we ever forget all those hap
less beings on whom Christ's doctrin,
has rot yet shone? We that represen
the person of him who came to saw,
all who were lost, and who gave hi
blood for the salvation Of mankind
Nay. As we INCREASINGLY take care t,
send the missionaries of Christ a,
| teachers throughout the world, in orde
that they who still sit in the shadow O
death may be called to the true life, s,
now commiserating their lot, we offe
them as far as we may, and we recon
| mend them, with all our soul to tn
sacred heart of Jesus.
This conservation will moreover brin,
hope of more prosperous life to the ma
lions, inasmuch as 1t will conduce to tn
establishment or strengthening O
these bonds which by the natural law
unite even states to God. In modern
times, unhappily, everything has bee
done to raise wall of division between
the church and civil society. In the or
ganization and government Of state
no account is taken Of the authorit
OF sacred and divine right under tn
guilty plea that religious activity mus
In no way influence civil life This whei
all Is said means nothing but the sup
planting Of the faith of Christ, and /
II were possible, the very Punishment .
God from the earth.
When mems minds are so carrie,
away by audacity. little wonder is /
that so many states have been involve,
in such confusion and tempest that non,
may live without fear and danger. Il,
contempt of religion even the souudes