The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-10-31
FIRST ENCYCLlCAL,

be taken by large part of the Chris
tan world, as indicative of the policy
of the new pontiff. 1t is in line with
what should be expected from one who
has been, all his life, an active pastor
i'll direct contact with the people.
Plus X realizes fully the forces that
| are abroad in the world to destroy
religion. The effort is being made
ito uproot and destroy all relations
between man and the Divinity" The
| fight against the Church in these days
is not in favor of Professionalism but
in favor of irreligion. The Catholic
Church is the especial target of the
opponents Of religion because they
recognize that the Church is the chief
force which holds men to God. Protes-
tantism divided against ITSELF profess
ing little authoritative teaching, and
maintaining no discipline, offers but
little opposition to the Antichrist Cru
SADIE. In France, in Italy and in Aus
tria the enemies of religion are fight
ing to destroy the Church, and turn
the nations over to irreligion, and free
thought. Plus X realizes the strug-
gle that is on, and therefore he tells
the world that his chief object and
program is to win men back to God.
1t is very plain that Plus X will be
religious pope, working for the sal
walton of the world through the or
ganization of the Church. He will
work directly with the people through
the ministers of Gods church. He
will appeal to the minds and souls
of men rather than to rulers and
nations. He has given to the world
the symbol of his will in the follow.
ing words:
Some will certainly be found who
measuring divine things by human
standards, will seek to discover secret
aims Of ours. distorting them to an
earthly scope and to partisan designs.
10 eliminate all vain decisions for
such we say to them with emphasis
that we do not wish to be. and with
the divine assistance never shall lie,
aught before human society but the
minister of God, of whose authority
we are the depository. The interests
of God shall be our interests and for
these we are resolved to spend all our
strength and our very life. Hence
should anyone ask lis for symbol as
the expression of our will, we will
give this and no other: ''ro renew all
things in Christ. But if our desire to
obtain this is to be fulfilled, we must
use every means and exert all our
energy to bring about the utter dis
appearance of that enormous and de-
tcstable wickedness. so characteristic
of our time-the substitution of man
restore to their ancient place of honor
the most holy laws and counsels of
the Gospel; to proclaim aloud the
truths taught by the Church. and her
teachings on the sanctity of marriage.
on the education and discipline of
youth, on the possession and use of
property, the duties that men owe to
those who rule the State, and lastly
to restore equilibrium between the diff
ferent classes of society according to
Christian precept and customs. Such
is what we, in submitting ourself to
the manifestations of the Divine will.
purpose to aim at during our pontifi-
cate, and we will use all our industry
to attain it." 1t is impossible to escape
the conclusion that Plus X meant to
give answer to the many sermons
which have been made as to what his
policy will be, when he said "some
will certainly be found who measur-
ing divine things by human standards
will seek to discover secret aims of
ours, distorting them to an earthly
scope and to partisan designs" The
answer is simple and direct, that he
will be nothing before human society
but the minister of God" To those
who judge the officers of the Holy See
by human standards this may mean
nothing. But to Catholics it means
that Plus X will interest himself in
affairs political only in SO far as such
interest may be necessary in order to
carry out the program of winning men
to God.
Leo NH wisely ruled the Church
during most troublesome period. He
destroyed much of the hatred that
existed against the Church on the part
of Professionals He fastened the Church
upon the world more firmly than it
ever existed before the sovereign pow
err of the Papacy. although that SOW
ereign was wholly shorn of temporal
power. The Church made remarkable
progresses his reign especially in
countries.s ry entirely Independent
of the STAG snt it must be admitted
that no grer, 'ovements of people