Year: 1879

Venerable Brother Health and Apostolic Benediction


We derived great consolation and plea
sure from the friendly letter in which you
conveyed to Us your good wishes and
augurles Of happiness on the approach of
the solemnity of Our Lord's Nativity for
In 1t was clearly apparent your devotion to
Oar person, and your inviolable attach
mens to this Apostolic See. Aud these
sentiments, while they increase Our atfec
tion for yon, rebound greatly to your honor
and confirm with still stronger proof the
perfect and reyeIent obedience paid to Us
by the flock of the Church of Cologne COM
mitted to your care. Nor do We believe
that in any other way than by the ordipa-
ton and will OF God Who rules and gov.
erns all things has it been brought about
that similar signs of affection and devotion
have been manifested towards Us by Cur
other Venerable Brothers, the Bishops of
the Catholic world; for in this 30 great dis


turbance OF affairs this wonderful consensus
gives Us tho greatest joy and refreshment,
aud causes Us to say from Oar heart with
the Apostle, "Blessed be God who comforts
US In all our tribulations." e Cor, j And
indeed, as soon as ever, on Oar exaltation
to the height of this Apostolic Throne, We
turned to address Ourselves to all Our
Venerable Brethren in the Episcopal ate


We found in their replies such an iden tity
of thought, opinion, and almost of words,
that We not only had to rejoice at the mar
veluus unity which 1ourishes in the
Church of God, but had 10 anifest proof that
the Bishops of the whole world were the
interpreters of the sound doctrine which is
handed down by the Apostolic See aud
that they would be to Us willing and
cheerful helpers in Our Pastoral care and
labors.


Aud no " this unity, in doctrine, in coun-
Gil and IN action, gives Us ground for hope
that al! will happen according to Our de-
eires in which case not only will the
Church derive the greatest advantages but
civil society also will reap the most abun-
dant fruits. For you well know, Venera
BILE Brother, that We entertain the most
intimate conViction-a conviction which
We have often expressed and publicly
declared-that the cause of the lamen ia BILE
dangers which threaten human society is
to be sought principally in the fact that
the authority of the Chprch ia on all sides
intercepted, and prevented from publicly
exercising Its salutary influence for the
common good, and that it's liberty is 80
fettered that 1t is scarcely allowed to pro
vide for the private necessities and welfare
of individuals. And this persuasion is
generated in Oar mind not only by the
knowledge which we have of the nature
and powerful iLhacuce of the Church, but
aLso by fashionable historical proofs
from which II Is manifest that the condi-
tiou OF civ! society is then most prosperous
"htE III" GtU!cA enjoys lull HoeEty OF &C
ton, aud ihar, whenever she is shackIed
by restrictions, those principles and doc
trires which tend to the fall and dissolution
OF al human society begin 10 prevail.


SlCce, then, this has been long Ouv set
tied opinion, 1t was natural that, from the
very beginning of Our Pontifcate, We
should strive to call back Princes and peo-
pies to peace and friendship with the
Church. And to you, Venerable Brother,
it is certainly we'll known that we have
for some time directed Our efforts to the
end that the noble nation of the Ger
mans may see the end of it's dissen-
sions and obtain the blessings aud fruits of
q lasting peace without injury to the rights
of the Church; and We think that you
also know that, as far as We are concerned
We have neglected no means of arriving at
an end go noble and so worthy of Our
solicitude. But whether that which We
have undertaken and are striving to effect
will at last be prosperously accomplished,
He knows, from Whom comes everything
hat is good. and Who has implanted in Us
30 ardent desire and longing for peace.


Bat whatever may be the ultimate issue,
Ourselves to the Divine VIII, but
by the same desire, We will per-
evere in the arduous task committed to Us,
10 long as life shall endure. For so gUSat o