The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-10-31
To the Clergy and Laity He Asks for the
Blessing of Health and Apostolic
Benediction.
Matters Pertaining to the Temporal and
Spiritual Welfare of the People of all
Nations Ably Discussed.


(Jerem. 1:1O. Conscious. however. Of
our weakness we feared to undertake
Il duty of the utmost urgency and
difficulty. But since ii has pleased the
Divine Will to raise us, weak rs we
are, to such height OF power, we turn
our thoughts to Him who comforts us;
ana setting to work with reliance upon
the might of God. we declare that our
one intention in assuming the Pom
tiGcnte is to "rcstore all things to
Christ" QIphcs. IIO). so that "Christ
may be all in all' (Coloss. II1:2). No
doubt there are those who. Judging
of divine things as human affairs, will
cndcavOr to discover what are the OBJ
iects we have in view and to mis-
represent our Intentions, referring
them to worldly and party purposes.
In order to do away with vain hopes
we proclaim to them with all sincerity
that we do not desire to be anything.
and that with Gods help we will be
nothing before human society but the
minister of God, of Whose authority
we are the depository. The interests
| of God will he our interests. for which
we are resolved to spend all our
strength and our life itself Where
fore If anyone asks of us II watchword
which will be the expression of our
will, this one we will always give
'"To restore all things in Christ" In
this sublime undertaking, venerable
brethren, we are inspired with the
greatest engerness by the knowledge
that we shall have you all as strcnu-
GUS co-opcmtors. If we entertained
n doubt on the point we should un-
justly believe you to be either ignorant
or Indifferent with regard to the wick
cd warfare that is now stirred up and
carried on nearly everywhere against
God. For truly "The 'Gcntiles have
ragged and the people devised vain
things against their Creator Ops H:D;
so that the cry is pretty common
amongst the enemies of God, depart
from us" dob XXI:14). And accord
ingly we see all reverence for the
eternal God quite extinct in the ma
jority of men, and that no account is
taken in public and private life Of
His Supreme Will; nay, that every
effort is made and every artifice used
that the very recollection and knowl-
edge Of God should be destroyed alto
gether. Whoever considers this must
certainly fear that this perversity of
mind is sample and perhaps the
commencement of the evils reserved
for the last days, and that the son of
DerditiOn Of whom the Apostle speaks
QI Thess. II:3) may be already in the
world. Such, in fact, is the audacity
and fury with which religion is assail-
ed on all sides that the dogmas of the
faith are attacked and attempts are
being made to destroy completely the
relationship of man with God. II
CONTRA" man-and this, according to
the same Apostle, is special mark Of
anti Christ with supreme temer-
ity, put himself in the place of God,
raising himself up above everything
that is called God;" so much so that
although he could not altogether blot
out the mark Of God in himself, re-
jecting His Majesty he has made of
the visible universe, as it We're, tenn
pie to himself in order to be adored
by others. Gle stitch in the temple
of God, showing himself as if he
were God" GIoThess. II:4). In truth,
no one of sound, mind can doubt with
what result this strife of men against
the Most High is being carried on. Man,
abusing his liberty, can violate the
law and majesty of the Creator of the
universe: but the victory will always
be with God; nay, destruction is even
then all the nearer when man in the
hope of triumph becomes most audaci-
Gus. God Himself gives us this as.
surance in the Holy Scriptures. I'm
mindful, as it were, of His power and
His greatness, ''He overlooks the sins
of men" (Wisdom XL:24); but i'm