Year: 1873

From the Catholic Review, March lsth.l


The affection which the holy father
enteTtains for America is known to the
whole world. On every legitimate oc-
casion he gives expression to it in the
most touching manner. We are satis-
fled that Americans will return this pa
ternaI love, all the more because it
urges him to give US wholesome ad-
vice and counsel against a great danger
which threatens US. Recently an
American deputation had the privilege
of waiting on him in the hall of the
Countess Matilda, and an address hav-
ing been presented to him by Mr.. Glover,
of New York, he replied as follows:


'The beautiful and touching express
sion of devotion and fidelity which
am often hearing bring to my heart a
consolation so much the greater because
they express not only the sentiments of
those here present but also Of all the
Catholics of America. In truth,
these protestatiOns, so sincere and
energetic, render me profoundly
obliged to the nation which offers them.


eyes, I feel the obligation of being
specially mindful of it, and at the same
time of praying for a country so particu-





the fertility of its soil as in its industrial
prosperity. Be assured that beg God
to increase all these blessings, and to
fructify them more and more; but with
out emitting, let it be understood, to ad
wise everybody that these goods ought
not TO be the only love of those who pos
sess them. North America is incompar-
ably richer than every other country,
but its riches ought not to form its only
treasure.


'In the gospel which / read this
morning in the mass, Jesus Christ says:
Where thy treasure is, there is thy
heart also.' Well, America is a nation
devoted to vast commerce and traffic
of every description. So far, so good;
for, after all, it behooves all to look to
those things which are necessary to sat
isfy the wants of life; honorable trade
in that which Providence has bestowed
upon us is allowed to all, and it is right
that the fathers of families should be
particularly anxious to bring up and
maintain their children according to
the eXigencies Of their several stations
in life. There is not the least
wrong in all that; but it does not
behOove US to sentertain an excess
i've love for riches; it behooves
us not to be too much attached to
them; it behooves US not to enchain our
hearts too strongly to the treasures of
the world. This fatal worship of pros
perity which is purely material, is con-
demned by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ
had also his little purse; he bad even
an administrator, Judas; but you know
what was the end Of this latter in cOnse-
quence of his moderate love of money.
For one to possess money, then; for one
honestly to seek increasing what he has
for the purpose of being able to better
the condition of his family, there is
nothing more natural and Just, but this
is on one condition, namely, not to fix
the heart on the goods of this world, and
not to make of them a sort of worship.


"This is the only reflection which |
wished to make before leaving you.
For the rest, 1 beg Of you to pray to
God. Beseech of him to protect US
ever, and to give us strength ana cour-
age in the midst of the tribulations and
dangers which are unIoosed on every
side against the church. Here we are,
as it were, over a volcano, and by ex-
cess Of misfortune the government seems
pleased at opening the crater of the vol
cano. But God will save US.


"And now L give you my blessing,
that the lively faith which animates
and brings you here may ever go on in
creasing in your souls for your happi-
ness, and may spread more and more
throughout America, in order that those
who come to Rome from that country
may be made better if they are already
good; if not (for all are not really good
that they may return thither with their
eyes opened, and converted. Receive,
then, the blessing which give you with
all my heart. Receive it for yourselves,
for your families, for your works, for all
your affairs, and, above all, receive it
for the end of your lives, in order that
you may obtain that which constitutes
our true end; that is to say, the possess
sion Of heaven, in order that it may be
granted you to go there and express
your love for Jesus Christ, in praising
and blessing him for all eternity, Ben
edictiO, Del, etc."