Year: 1868

rise TO the social schisms, and that there
from spring those innumerable eects and
communions which are daily increasing to
the detriment of Christian and civil So
ciety.-


Whoever. in fact, recognizes religion as
the foundation of human society, cannot
refuse 10 admit and avow the influence ex-
ercised over civilized society by those di-
visions and disagreement Of principles of
that nature. add of religious societies
struggling one with the other; and also
with what power the denial of authority
established by God to regulate the convic-
tions of the human intelligence; aud to
direct the actions Of men, both in their
social and private life, has excited, has
developed, and has fomented those most
unfortunate troubles, those events, aud
those disturbances which agitate aud affect
almost all nations in . most deplorable
manner.


Therefore, 10 order that all those who
are not instiled with the principles Of the
unity and truth of the Catholic Church
should seize the occasion offered to them
by this council, in which the Catholic
Church, to which their ancestors belonged,
shows proof of its complete unity, of its
vigor, and of its unextioguishsble vitality;
that they should obey the necessities of
their hearts; that they should strive to
bear themselves away from that state in
which they can not be assured Of their
salvation; that they should address with
out cessing the most fervent prayers to
God that He should dissipate the cloud
of error, and that He should bring them
back into the bosom of the Church, our
holy mother, where their ancestors receiv-
ed the sanitary pourishment Of life. and
alone preserves in its integrity the doc
trine of Jesus Christ, handing it down and
dispensing the mysteries of celestial grace.


We therefore, who ought most jealous
ly to fulfill all the duties Of good pastor,
in accordance with the charge of our spos
tolic ministry, intrusted to us by Christ
our Lord Himself, and who ought to em-
brace all men in the world in our pattern
al charity, we address this letter to all
Christians separated from Us, a letter in
which we exhort and supplicate them to
hasten to return to the fold of Christ.


1t is because we heartily desire their
salvation in Jesus Christ, aud fear one day
to have to render an account of their soul
to that same Jesus Christ, our Judge, if
we do not point out to them and open TO
them as much as in us the way which they
must follow if they would gain their SAL
vation.


Also. in all our prayers and supplica-
tions, while performing acts Of grace. We
never cease humbly to ask for them both
by night and day the celestial light aud
the abundance Of grace from the eternal
Pastor of souls. And, whereas, despite
our unworthiness, We fulfil upon earth the
functions of the vicar of Christ. we await
with open arms the return Of those wan
dering sons of the Catholic Church. in or
der that we may be able to receive them
with all affection into the dwelling of the
celestial Father, and make them participa-
tors in his everlasting treasures.


1t is that much wished for return to the
truth aud communion Of the Catholic
Church upon which depends not only the
salvation of each one in particular, but of
the whole Christian society; and the world
will never enjoy true peace until it forms
one flock under one pastor.


Given at Rome, at st. Peter, Sep ITEM
Der 14th, 1868, in the twenty-third year
of our pontifcate.