Year: 1878

we were called, through your Sutiages, in
the past month, to assume the government
OF the Universal Church, and to hold here
on earth the place of the Prince of Pastors,
our Lord Jesus Christ, we felt ourselves
moved by great apprehension and fear,
onacc0unt OF that thorough knowledge which
we experience of our own unWOrthness, as
well as the weakness of our strength, to bear
such burden, which appeared the greater
on account Of the splendid and illustriOus
fame of our predecessor, Plus TX. He, that
great pastor of the flock of Christ, always
combating more and more energetically for
truthand juStice-SO eXemplarily sustaining
the great burden of the administration of
Chrlstanity-haS rendered not only this
Apostolic Chair more reSplendent with his
shining virtues, but the entire church
with love and admiration. And
III the same manner as he has
surpassed the whole series Of Roman Pom
tittS in the length Of his reign, 50, may we
say, he has surpassed all in the public tes-
timOny Of constant sympathy and YeneratiOn
which he experienced. On the other hand,
our hearts were filled with sorrow at the sad
condition in which We find not only human
society, but also the Catholic Church and in
an especial manner this Apostolic See, viO-
lenty despOiled of her temporal dominOns
IhNi ICUNiOCl W ouNu u uCSICt dS W Dt COlll-
| pletely unable to enjoy her full, free and in
dependent power.


And although we felt ourselves compelled
to refuse the great honor offered us, yet with
what heart could we resist the will of Cod
which was so luminously made known to us
through the harmony of your SuttrageS,
seeking only the welfare CT the Catholic
Church, and succeeding so promptly in
completing the election of the new Pontitf?
For this reason, then, did we believe our
selves obliged to accept the burden present.
ed to us, in obedience to the will Of God, in
Whom we place all our trust, firmly hoping
that he who has elevated us to so high Il
position will give power and vigOr to our
weakness.


Now, venerable brethren, this being the
first time we have addressed you, in your
presence therefore do we declare that moth
ing shall be held more sacred by us, with
the aid of divine grace, than the invioable
preservation of the Catholic faith and the
most scrupulous charge of the rights of the
church and the Holy Apostolic See, and the
salvation of all men, needless of the great
ness of the fatigues for its accomplishment.


To the fultillment, then, of this part Of
our ministry, we contide none the less in
your counsel of wisdom, which we desire
may never be wanting to us, and this we
wish you to understand not by the way of
compliment, but as a solemn declaration Of
our will. For that command, narrated in
the Holy Writ, which God made to Moses,
is deeply fixed in our minds, who, terrified
at the great weight laid upon him, should
call together seventy of the ancients of Is
rael that they might divide the work with
him, with whose help and counsel thus
to overcome the enormous cares of the
government of the people Of Israel Having
this example before your eyes, being called
as leaders and governors, though unworthy,
of the whole of the Christian world, we can
not do less than ask in you help to our IA
tisues, and comfort to our minds, that you
may hold in the Church Of God the same po-
stion as the seventy of Israel.


Besides, we well know that which is said
in the sacred Scriptures that "there is safety
where there is much COUNSEL" also that
which the holy Council Of Trent attests, that
the Sovereign Pontiff should find assistance
in the counsel of the cardinals; we know
finally that st. Bernard calls the cardinals
the assistants and COunselOrs of the SOver-
eign Pontitf; and thus we, having for five
and twenty years had the good fortune to
form Part Of the honors of the Sacred Col
lege, carry to this throne for you, not only q
heart full of affection and sympathy, but still
more the consolation of having, in the eXer-
else of our duties to the Church, compan-
ions and co-operators in our Obligations and
sharers in our glOries and hOnOrs.


Moreover, it is with the greatest pleasure
that we communicate to you, venerable
brethren, the completion Of work, to the
glory of our holy religion, which was under
taken by our glorious predecessor, Plus N,
and which has already been discussed by
those among you who form part Of the
sacred congregation of the Propagation of
the Faith, namely, the establishment Of the
Episcopal Hierarchy in the illustriouS king
dom of Scotland. We, by the grace of God,
have had the consolation OF completing the
apostolic bull which, on the fourth day of
the present month of this year, we COM
manded to be published. With joy, indeed,
are we able to answer the most feryent
prayers of those most beloved children OF
Jesus Christ, the clergy and faithful Of Scot
land, who have ever shown the greatest de-
yotion towards the Catholic Church and the
Chair of St. Peter, and we most firmly hope
that this work of the Holy Apostolic See may
be crowned with heavenly fruits through
the mediation and prayers of those celestial
patrons of Scotland in that region where
every day more and more SuScipiunt mOnteS
pacena, pOpulO ct COLES juStiti1m. (The
mountains IcColNo P0aNOj "iO' viz Aiii' ~"
tice for the people.)


Finally, venerable brethren, in no way do
we doubt that you, united in the same spir-
it with US, will work increasingly for the
defense of the Holy Apostolic See and the
increase of the glory OF God, for remember
that common shall be our reward indeed II
common are our trials in the interest of the
Church. Pray, therefore, humbly with us
that Goo, rich in his mercies, through the pow
erful intercession Of his immaculate mother
st. Joseph, patron Of the universal church =,
may be propitious in his bounties, and hap
pily direct our minds and actions through
the days of our Pontiicate, and finally that
we may conduct the bark Of Peter, which
has been contided to us, through the Jury
of the winds and the waves to the desired
port of tranquility and peace.


Mr.. Gladstone, it is said, during his


loft bic friop lie