Year: 1878

/ our uty to make every effort Co appease
them and render their consequences least


hurtful. 1t becomes necessary then, for


Pastors not only to redouble their diltgenct
and zeal in teaching the Cdtechisns, but to
seek by ne,c and e1fcaciOus means to make


amends for the faults Of others. We do not
doubt that the clergy of Rome will do its


duty in tbis respect, by attending to the


ministry, ana that they will 60 to work


with the most pious care to secure the youth
of Rome from the dangers that threaten
their faith and their morality. We are
also convinced that the Catholic Societies
that exist in this city with 80 mnch profit
to religion, will bring all the means at
venting this most cherished city from
losing the sacred and august character of
religion, and the envied glory of being the
holy city, and from being the victim of
error aud the theater Of infidelity. And
you, SigDor Cardinal, with that sagacity
try to increase the number of oratOries and
schools 10 which young people assemble to
be instructed in the holy Catholic religion,
in which, by the special grace of God, they
were born. Endeavor to have this done,
as it already is with the best of fruits in
come churches, where virtuous and chari-
table laymen, under the guidance of one





to teaching the catechism to children and
see TO it that parents are exhorted by their
respective pastors to eend their children,
and that they be reminded of the daty
that is incum bent upon all to require relig
ious instruction in schools for their children.
1t will alsO be highly beneficial to establish
Catechetical instruction for adults in con-
venient places, AS to keep constantly
alive in their souls the salutary inetruc
tlons learned in childhood. Never cease
to reapimate the piety and to rekindle the
zeal of priests and laity by directing their
attention to the Importance of their work,
to the merit they will obtain with God,
with US, and with society at large, and We
will deal with the most zealous among
them, with all the consideration they
merit.


Finally, we are not unmindful of the
fact that material means are necessary for
the better ettainment of our design, aud
that these are in NO way commemorate
with the requirements. But il constrained,
as we are, to live on the offerings of the
faithful, who are themselves in great dis
tress, because of the sad and troubled times
through which we are passing, we cannot
render all the assistance our heart would
prompt us TO. we shall not therefore fail to
do all in our power to remedy the evil
entailed by neglect Of religious instrue-
tion first upon the child, and then upon
civil society. -


But after ali, we muat in the first place
invoke the Divine aid, without which all
our hopes of success are vain. We appeal
to you, then, Signor Cardinal, and earn
estly urge upon You to exhOrt the Roman
people to offer up fervent prayers TO the
in this holy city the light of
Catholic faith, that heretical sectp, now
received with 80 much honor, are trying to
obscure or crush altogether out of exist
ence, aud that impiety, too, that ia con
spring to overturn this most solid rock of
Peter, of which it is written that the gates
of hell shall never prevail against it. De-
votion to the Immaculate Mother of our
Redeemer is very old in the hearts of the
Roman people; but at this time, when
dangers are most pressing, they must have
much oftener and with greater
ardor than ever to her who crushed the
serpent and all manner of beresies. In
these days that bring to our mind the SOL
emn recollection of the glorious Apostles
St. Peter and st. Paul, let them PROSTATE
themselves in their baeilicas, and implore
them to intercede with God for the city
they sanctlfied with their own blood, and
to wh ch they beQueathed their relics aa an
earnest of their unceasing protection. Let
us besiege the heavenly patrons of Rome,
who, by their blood, by the labOrs of their
Apostolic Ministry, ard by their holy
examples strengthened in the hearts of our
fathers the very faith that it is new sought
to root out of the hearts of our children
and God will be moved with pity for US
and will not permit His religion to become
the sport of the wicked.


In the meantime, SiguOr CArdtual, re-
ceive the Apostolic Benediction, which
from our inmost heart, we bestow upon
you, upon the clergy aud upon all our
beloved children.


LEO PIP. Kill


From the Vatican, June 26, 1873.