The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-24
sull Text Of an Approved TransIa-
ton Of the EpistIe
Received From The Vatican by Cardinal
Gibhons Of Baltimore.
to Opinions Expressed
In the Life of Father Hecker"
Paws a Handsome Tribute to
the American People, "Who Are
Alive to Every Good Work
Which Promotes the Good Of
Humanity and the Sp1endor OF
Civilization"

Humanity and the Splendor Of
Civilization"
BALTIMORE, Feb. 23.-The follow
ing is the full text of an approved
translation of the letter of Pope Leo
XIII to Cardinal Gibbons on American
ism, the Latin original having been re-
ceived recently by Cardinal Gibbons, to
whom it was forwarded by Cardinal
Rampolla, the Papal Secretary of State:
ITO. Our Beloved Son, James, Cardi-
nal Gibbons Cardinal Priest of the Lit
tie Sancta Maria, Beyond the Tiber,
Archbishop of Baltimore: Beloved
son, health and apostolic blessing. We
send you by this letter renewed ex-
preston of that good will which we
have not failed during the course of our
pontificate to manifest frequently to
you and your colleagues in the episco-
pate and to the whole American people,
awaiting ourselves of every opportunity
offered us by the progress of your
church, or whatever you have done, for
e-guarding and promoting Catholic
interest. Moreover, we have often con-
sidered and admired the noble gifts of
your nation, which enable the Ameri-
can people to be alive to every good
work which promotes the good of hui
mainly and the splendor of civilization.
Although this letter be not intended, as
preceding ones, to repeat the words OF
praise so often spoken, but rather to
call attention to some things to be
avoided and corrected, stin because it
is conceived in that same spirit of apos
tolic charity which has inspired all our
letters, we shall expect that you will
take it. as another proof of our love, the
more so because it is intended to sup
press certain conditions which have
arisen recently among you to the detri-
ment of peace of many souls.
1T is known to- you, beloved son, that
the Life of Isaac Thomas Hecker, es
pecially interpreted and translated in a
foreign language, has excited not a lit
tie controversy, because therein have
been voiced certain opinions concerning
the way of leading Christian life. we,
therefore, on account of cur apostolic Of
fee, having to guard the integrity of
the faith and the security of the faith
full, are DESTROYS of writing to you more
at length concerning this whole matter.
new opinions is that in order to more
easily attract those who differ from her,
the church should shape her teachings
more in accord with the spirit of the
age and relax some of her ancient
severity and make some concessions to
new opinions Many think that these
concessions should be made not only in
regard to the ways of living but even
-,
the deposit of the faith. They contend
that it would be opportune, in order to
gain those who differ from US. to omit
certain points of, her teaching which
are Of lesser Importance. and to tone
down the meaning which the church
has always attached to them. 1t does
not need many words, beloved son, to
prove the falsity of these ideas if the
nature and origin of the doctrine which
the church proposes are recalled to
mind The Vatican Councils says con-
corning this point: For the doctrine
of faith which God has revealed has not
been proposed, like a philosophical in
vention, to be perfected by human in
genuity, but has been delivered as
divine deposit to the spouse of Christ
to be faithfully kept and infallibly de-
clared Hence, that meaning of the
sacred dogma is perpetually to be re-
tanned which our Holy Mother, the
church, has once declared, nor is that
meaning ever to be departed from I'M
der the pretense or pretex of a deeper
comprehension of them '-(Constituti
de Eide Catholica, chapter IV.
I'VE cannot consider as altogether
blameless the silence which purposely
leads to the omission or neglect of some
of the principles Of Christian doctrine,
for all the principles come from the
same author and master, the only be-
gotten son. who is in the bosom of the
father.'-(John l., 49,. That they are
adapted to all times. and all nations is
clearly seen from the words of our
Lord to His Apostles: Go, therefore,
teach all nations: teaching them to OBJ
serve ali things whatsoever have COM
nanded you, and behold, / am with you
always. even to the end of the world =
Matt. xvii. 49,"
Concerning this point, the Vatican
Council says: 'All those things are to
be believed with divine and Catholic
faith which are contained in the word
of God. written or handed down, and
whcih the church, either by solemn
Judgment or by her ordinary and uni
versal magisterium proposes for belief,
as having been divinely revealed (Const.
de Eide. Chapter IIL)
Let 1t be far from anyone's mind to
suppress for any reason any doctrine
that has been handed down. Such
policy would tend rather to separate
Catholics from the church than TO bring
in those who differ. There is nothing
closer to our heart than to have those
who are separated from the fold of
Christ return to it, but in no other way
than that pointed out by Christ.
The rule of life laid down for Cath
olics is not of such a nature that it can
not accommodate itself to the exigen-
cies of various times and places The
church has. guided by her divine mas
ter, kind and mercifu1 spirit, for
which reason from the very beginning
she has been what ST. Paul said of
himself became all things to all men
that might save ALL
History proves that the Apostolic
See, to which has been intrusted the
mission not only of teaching but of
governing the whole church, has con-