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 CIRCULAR 
 
 I'HOMIUJATIXCJ IX TIIK DIOCESE OK CHATHAM, 
 
 THE ENCYCLICAL LETTER 
 
 OF OUR.HOLY FATHER POPE LEO XIII, 
 
 AGAINST AFRICAN SLAVERY 
 
 A\I> ORl)ERIX(; A 
 
 COLLECTION IN THE CHURCHES 
 
 On the Feast of the Ei'ifhaxv Each Yeah. 
 
 ■■41 
 
 ^ nie dd rUniversiti, 
 <^6bec 4; QUE. 
 
 ^^i 
 
 ■Jl 
 
 '"ifDtl 
 
CIRCULAR 
 
 PBOMULOATING IN THE DIOCESE OF CHATHAM, 
 
 The Enctclical Letter op Our Holy Father Pope Leo XIII, 
 AGAINST African Slavery and orderino a Col- 
 lection IN THE Churches on the Feast of the 
 Epiphany each year. 
 
 Rev. and Dear Sir: — 
 
 A few days aj?o we received through our venerable Metro- 
 'politan, the Archbishop of Halifax, the official copy of an Eln- 
 cyclical Letter recently addressed by Our Holy Father, Pope 
 Leo XIII, to all the Bishops of the Catholic world, ordaining 
 that henceforth. in every Catholic Church on the Feast of the 
 Epiphany each year, a collection be taken up from the faithful 
 to be transmitted to the Ordinary, who will duly forward it to the 
 Propaganda, Rome ; and the committee appointed for that pur- 
 pose by the Pope will distribute the alms thus received among 
 the various missionaries in Africa, who ai'e sent to bear the light 
 of the Christian Religion to multitudes who are still in pagan 
 darkness and worse than anti-Christian slavery, in that vast 
 continent. 
 
 We beg to send you herewith a copy of the said letter, such 
 as received, in Latin, preceded by translations in English and in 
 French, and request that you will read the same (in the vemacu- 
 . lar of your people) on the first Sunday after its reception, an- 
 nouncing at the same time, that on the following Sunday a 
 collection will be taken up in that Church or congregation, for 
 the object specified, according to the wishes of the Pope. This 
 collection will be repeated each succeeding year on the Feast of 
 the Epiphany or following Sunda3\ 
 
 There is another anliual collection to be taken up each year, 
 on Good Friday, in behalf of the Franciscans who are charged 
 with the care of the sacred places of pilgrimage in the Holy 
 Laud, which collection in its totality as soon as received, will, as 
 in the past, be transmitted by the Bishop, to the Rev. Father, 
 Commissiary of the Holy Land for Canada, (at present Father 
 Frederic de Ghyvelde, O. S. F.,,residing at Three Rivers, P. Q.) 
 
 Knowing as we do the limited financial resources and strait- 
 ened circumstances of our faithful people in this young end 
 struggling Diocese, where a sufficiency of Churches, CTei^, 
 religious schools, and institutions, though gradually increasing, 
 
) 
 
 are not yet sufficiently numerous and well founded ; and also 
 knowing the noble spirit of generosity and piety, with which 
 they have in the past responded to every call made upon them, 
 wo should feel loth to appeal to our flock for contributions to- 
 wards distant and outside objects, were it not for the authorit- 
 ative voice of the Sovereign Pontitf, who as the fatuer of all the 
 faithful, feels for all, especially the most needy, and begs in their 
 behalf even from those who have but little, a portion of that 
 little, to relieve and sustain their afflicted brethren ; and indeed, 
 of all outside calls, the two objects above specified justly claim 
 the consideration of all Christian people. 
 
 The sacred places in the Holy Land dear to the hearts of all 
 christains, the places that were sanctified by the presence of Our 
 Divine Lord, where the great mysteries of our religion,, the In- ' 
 carnation, Birth, Death, and Resurrection of Our Saviour took 
 place, where the Holy Qhost first descended upon the disciples 
 and first members of the christian church, and where so many 
 miracles and great events in connection with the establishment 
 of Christianity occurred — these holy places hkve ever been the 
 objects of the christian's affection, their preservation and honor- 
 able religious condition, to receive the visits of pious pilgrims, 
 have ever been the object of the paternal official solicitude of the 
 Pope in every age. It was for this that the wars of the Cru- 
 sa(^ were indicted by Popes, md carried on bv christian kings 
 and people, against the Saracens who desecrated the holy places 
 and used toipsult, persecute and put to death the christians who 
 undertook pious pilgrimages in those cradle lands of their 
 holy religion. That whole country, Syria, in which are located 
 Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Calvary, Mount Olivet, etc., 
 still continues to be in the possession and under the government 
 of the Turkish Sultan. The power and influence of the chris- 
 tain nations of Europe during the past centuries, were not able 
 to deprive the Turkish empire of these holy places. But their 
 diplomatic relations with tne government of the Sultan of Tur- 
 key, obtained certain permissions and priveleges from the Turk- 
 ish government, by which religious communities of monks and 
 nuns, some under the patronage of France, some under that of 
 England, others under that of Austria, and some schismatical 
 Greeks under the patronage of Russia, are located adjacent 
 to, and are the guardians of these holv places respectively. So 
 that christian Snivellers and pilgrims from the various countries 
 of Europe and America, can now happily and without molesta- 
 tion or insult visit those sacred shrines, and while there receive 
 needed information, guidance and hospitality, from the christian 
 religious families and persons who are located there, and who 
 
s 
 
 ftre supported by the donations and contributions distributed 
 amongst them by the christian people and nations who patronize 
 them, and without whose help they could not support themselves 
 in that now almos!. desert country. It is for this object that Our 
 Holy Father has ordered the annual collection on Good Friday 
 to be made for the Franciscans of the Holy Land. 
 
 The object of the other annual collection to be made on the 
 feast of the Epiphany for christianizing and delivering from 
 both spiritual and corporal slavery and barbarism, the vast mul- 
 titudes of the "Dark Continent," to whom the light of the Gos- 
 pel has not yet penetrated, is a most just and important one. It 
 IS most appropriate that the Sovereign Pontiff wno in his life is 
 realizing the prophetic title attributed to him "Lumen in Coelo," 
 should interest hin^self in the conversion to the chiistian faith, 
 as well as the deliverance from barbaric slavery, of those fellow- 
 creatures of the interior of Africa, towards whom the civilized 
 nations of Europe are giving their attention. The explorations 
 of so many travellers recently, through the interior of 
 Africa, the wars waged by English troops in Egypt, among 
 whom were several from our Canadian provinces, the 
 trade and commercial relations opening up between outside 
 Christian peoples and the Africans, make opportune and favor- 
 able the time and means intended by the Holy Father for hid 
 most laudable missionary designs and enterprises in that contin- 
 ent. Hence I trust this collection of the Epiphany for the Afri- 
 cans will be generous and duly sustained. 
 
 I avail myself of this occasion to announce that the dispen- 
 sation from the obligations of fasting and abstinence, on account 
 of prevalent influenza, proclaimed to the faithful under our 
 jiinsdiction in our circvm>r letter dated Feb. 27th, 1890, as 
 authorized by the Pope'& a-cree, is hereby withdrawn ; and fur- 
 ther that 'the regulations fci* Lent this year will be the same as 
 those in existence m our Diocese during the previous nine years. 
 
 Given at Chatham, N. B., this Slst day of December, 1890. 
 
 t«^ AMES ROGERS, Bishop of Chatham. 
 
 d 
 
J 
 
 THE POPE'S ENCYCUCAL LETTER. 
 
 Venerable Brother. 
 
 Health and Apostolic Benediction. 
 
 As you have known, venerable Brother, there was scarcely 
 anything dearer to the Church from the be^nning than to see 
 the slavery which oppressed so many human beings by its mis- 
 erable yoke removed and entirely destroyed. A careful cus- 
 todian of the 'doctrine of her Founder, Who from His own mouth 
 and through the voice of His Apostles had taught the fraternal 
 amity which unites all men, inasmuch as they have the same 
 origin, are redeemed at the same price, and are called to the same 
 eternal bliss, she took up the neglected cause of the slaves and 
 stood forth a strenuous defender of liberty, although her action 
 was gradual and temperate in accordance as circumstances and 
 times required. That is to say, she did this with prudence and 
 discretion, constantly demanding what she sought in the name of 
 religion, justice and humanity ; by the adoption of which course 
 shenas most admirably furthered the prosperity of nations and 
 civil culture. Nor did this zeal of the Church for setting slaves 
 free grow weak with the lapse of time ; nay, the more fruitful it 
 proved, the more ardent it oecame. This is most certainly at- 
 tested by the monuments of history which have for that work 
 commended to posteri^ many of Our predecessors, amongst 
 whom are conspicuous St. Gregory the Great, Hadrian I., Alex- 
 ander III., Innocent III., Gregory IX., Pious II., Leo X., Paul 
 IIL, Urban VIH., Benedict XIV., Pious VIL, and Gregoiy XVI., 
 who labored most earnestly that the system of slavery might be 
 abolished wherever it flourished, and that care should be taken 
 to prevent it from taking root again where it'had been destroyed. 
 
 Such a praiseworthy inheritance bequeathed by Our pi^e- 
 cessors could not be repudiated by Us ; wherefore We have 
 omitted no occasion of openly reprehending and condemning this 
 cruel plague of slavery ; and the opportunity occurring We treat- 
 ed of this matter in the letter sent to the Bishops of Brazil on 
 the 7th May, 1888, in which we congratulated them on what 
 had been done in that country, in a laudable manner, by private 
 individuals and by the State for the liberty of the slaves, and at 
 the same time We showed how much slavery is opposed to re- 
 ligion and the dignity of man. When We wrote that letter Wa 
 were, indeed, greatly moved by the condition of those who were 
 in servitude to others ; but We have been much more keenly 
 affected by the account of the miseries with which all the in- 
 habitants of certain regions in the interior of Africa have to 
 

 8 
 
 utruggle. It is truly woful and horrible to reUt 
 loarnfrotn aure informants, nearly four hundred \ 
 eans,without distinction of ose or sex, are every year forcibly torn 
 from their rural villafi;e8, whence, bound in chains and oeaten 
 with scourges, they are dragged a long distance to the market- 
 places, where like cattle for sale, they are exhibited and disposed 
 of. As these things have been attei^ed by those who have seen 
 thum, and, as the reports have been confirmed by recent explor- 
 ers of Central Africa, We have entertained an ardent desire of 
 aiding those unfortunate creatures, as far as Our power will per- 
 mit, and relieving their wretchedness. Without delav, thereu>re, 
 We requested Our beloved son, Cardinal Charles Miurtial Lavi- 
 gerie, whose apostolic energy and seal are well known to Us, to 
 go through the principal nations of Europe in order that he 
 might pomt out the ignominy of this most aigroceful traffic and 
 induce rulers and states to come to the assistance of those afflict- 
 ed people. Wherefore, We have to thank Christ our Lord, the 
 beloved Redeemer of all people. Who in His bounty has not suf- 
 fered Our efforts to remain without effect, but has willed that 
 ihoy should be, as it were seed sown in fertile ground, which 
 gives promise of a satisfactory crop ; for both the rulers of 
 states and Catholics throughout the world — all, in fact, to whom 
 the laws of nations and nature are sacred — have entered into 
 rivalry to examine as to the best method and means to be adopt- 
 ed for the radical abolition of this inhuman traffic. The solemn 
 congress held not long since at Brussels, at which representa- 
 tives of the rulers of Europe assembled, and the more recent 
 gathering of private men who met at Paris for the same great pur- 
 pose, are proofs that tlie cause of the African race will be defend- 
 ed with a force and oonstancyproportionate to the miseries under 
 which they are suffering. We are, therefore, unwilling to let 
 pass the occasion of returning due praise and thanks to the 
 rulers of Europe and other men of good will, and We earnestly 
 pra;^ Qod to grant a successful issue to their designs and under- 
 takings in such an important work. 
 
 But, besides the anxiety to defend liberty, another desire 
 touches more closely our Apostolic ministry, which bids us take 
 care to propasate in the regions of Africa the Qoepel doctrine 
 by which their inhabitants sitting, as they are, in darkness and 
 sunk in blind superstition, mav m enlightened with the light of 
 DiV^ine truth through which they may become vrith Us sharers 
 in the inheritance of the Kingdom of Qod. This object We 
 sought to attain all the more earnestly because when they have 
 received this light they will also shi^e off the yoke of human 
 slavery ; for where Christian customs and laws prevail, where 
 
li 
 
 retif(iuii Imm tAUi^Iit men to olwerve juntice and honour human 
 rlignity, where the Hpirit of fraternal charity which Christ 
 lireathed haH Hpread far and wide, there neither slavety, nor a 
 Htate of Hlaverv, nor barbariNin can exist; but gentleness of man' 
 ners and Christian liberty adomo<l by civil culture, flourish. 
 Already many Apostolic men, pickefl Christian soldiers, as it 
 were, have entered those regions, and there have not merely ex- 
 erted themselves actively but laid down their lives for the sal- 
 vation of their brethren. Still "the harvest is rich, indeed, but 
 the labourera few." Hence it is necessary that as many more as 
 rMMsible, led by the same spirit of Qod, and fearing no dangers, 
 mconveniences, nor labours, should proceed to the regions where 
 this shameful traffic is carried on, with the view of carrying to 
 the inhabitants the doctrine of Christ which is bound up with 
 true liberty. But the undertaking of such a work demands ra- 
 sources commensurate with its extent ; for not without immense 
 expense can we look forward to the establishment of missionary 
 institutions, the making of long journeys, the preparation of 
 houses, the raising and completion of churches, and the carrying 
 out of other necessary requirements of this kind, which expense 
 must be borne for some years until the missionaries shall oe in 
 a position to support themselves in the places where they shall 
 have taken up their residence. Would that we had resources 
 which would enable us to take upon oui'selves this burden, but 
 since the straitness of Our circumstances stand in the way o£ 
 Our desires, with paternal voice, We address vou, Venerable 
 Brother, other sacred administrators, and all Catholics, and We 
 recommend to your and their charity a work so holy and salu- 
 tary ; for We wish that all should become sharers in it, if only 
 by a small contribution, in order that divided amongst many, 
 the burden may be lighter to bear for each, and that all may 
 abundantly receive the grace of Christ (the furtherance of 
 Whose Kingdom is in question) and that by that grace all 
 may obtain peace, pardon of sin, and the choicest blessings. 
 
 Wherefore We decree that each year, wherever the mysteries 
 of the Epiphany of Our Lord are celebrated, there shall be held 
 on that day a collection, as of alms, in aid of the work We have 
 described. And We have chosen that solemn day above others 
 because, as you well know, Venerable Brother, on that day the 
 Son of Qod revealed Himself to the nations when He showed 
 himself to the Magi, who were therefore happily called by St. 
 Leo the Great, Our predecessor, "the first fruits of our vocation 
 and Faith." We are, therefore, buoyed up by the firm hope 
 that Christ Our Lord, moved by the charity and the prayers of 
 His children, who have received the light ox truth, will also shed 
 
 I' i 
 
tho light of HiH Divine rflvelatitin on this mont wreteliod portion 
 of the human race, ami will ruscue it from tho mire of super* 
 ntition and the mfvrable condition in which it has m lung bcvu 
 cast down and neglected. 
 
 We desire that the money collected in the chu.ches and 
 chapels under your jurisdiction nn the day mentioned be for- 
 warded to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda at Rome. It 
 will be the duty of that Congregation to distribute the money 
 amongst the missionH which exist or shall lie established to abol- 
 ish HMkvery most effectually in Africa. The distribution will 
 take place this way : the money obtained from the nations which 
 have their own Catholic missions for the redemption of the 
 slaves, as We have stated, will bo devoted to the support and as- 
 sistance of tho9e missions. The Sacred Congregation, to whom 
 the necessities of these same missions are known, shall with pru- 
 dent judgment distribute amongst the more needy the remain- 
 der of the contributions. 
 
 We doubt not that Ood, who abr»unds in mercy will gracious- 
 ly answer the intentions We have i'ormed for the benetit of tho 
 unhappy Africans and that you, venerable brother, will willing- 
 ly exercise your zeal and lend your assistance so that they may 
 be amply fulfilled. We trust, moreover, that the temporary and 
 special aid, which the faithful will contribute for the purpose of 
 wiping out the shame of this inhuman traffic and sustaining the 
 ministers of the Qospel in the places where it flourishes, will not 
 result in any diminution of the liberality with which .they arc 
 wont to assist Catholic missions through the institution foun- 
 ded at Lyons for the Propagation of the Faith. On that useful 
 work which we have on a former occasion commended to the 
 zeal of the faithful, We bestow, now that the opportunity oc- 
 curs, a fresh testimony of praise, desiring that it may widely ex- 
 tend its beneiihs, and may enjoy a healthy prosperity. Mean- 
 while, to you, venerable brother, and to the clergy and faithful 
 committed to your pastoral care. We most lovingly impart th(i 
 . Apostolic Benediction. 
 
 Given at St. Peter's, Rome, on the 20th Nov., 1890, the thir- 
 teenth year of Our Pontificate. LEO XIII, POPE. 
 
IJi 
 
 8 
 
 LETTRE 
 
 DE SA SAINTETe' LE PAPE LEON XIH 
 
 AUX EVEQUES DU MONDE CATHOLIQUE 
 
 SUR L'ABOLITION DE L'ESCLAVAGE 
 
 Venerables Freres, 
 
 Salut et benediction apostolique. 
 
 L'Eglise catholique, qui embrasse tons les hommes dons sa 
 matemelle affection, n'a eu dans^ tons les temps rien de plus a 
 coeur, comme vous le savez, Venerable FrSre, que de voir I'es- 
 clavage, lui faisait peser un ioug cruel sur un si grand nom- 
 bre des mortels, ^re supprime et disparaitre enticement. Gar- 
 dienne vigilante de la doctrine de son Fondateur, qui avait 
 enseigne aux hommes, par lui-meme et par la voix des Ap^res, 
 le lien fraternal qui les unit tous, comme sortis de la m€tao ori- 
 gine, rachetes du meme prix, appel^ au m^e bonheur ^temel, 
 elle prit en mains la cause abandonn€e des esclaves et se niontra 
 le champion valliant de la libertcf, bien que, selou I'exigence ' 
 des choses et des temps, elle agit graduellement et ^vec mesure. 
 Elle accompiit en effet cette oeuvre avec sagesse et maturity, ne 
 cessant de poursuivre son but au nom de la religion, de la jus- 
 tice et de t'humanit^, et elle merita ainsi excellemment du pro- 
 gres et d^ la civilisation. 
 
 Ce zele de I'E^lise pour I'affranchissement des esclaves ne 
 s'affaiblit pas avec le cours des ^es ; au contraire, plus il obte- 
 nait de succ^s, plus son ardeur croissait. Cela est atteste par les 
 monuments les plus certains do I'histoire, qui a recommande a 
 ce titre a la posterite nombre de Nos prrfdcS&esseurs, parmi les- 
 quels on distingue saint Gregoire le Grand, Adrien I, Alexan- 
 dre ill. Innocent III, Gregoire IX, Pie II, Leon X, Paul III, 
 Urbain VIII, Beiioit XIV, Pie VII, Gregoire XVI, qui consacr#- 
 rent tous leurs efforts d: faire disparaitre I'institution de I'escla- 
 vage de la ou elle existait, et i^ empecher que, 1& bu elle ^lait 
 supprimee, ses germes ne vinssent a roprendre vie. 
 
 Nous ne pouvions repudier un helitage si glorieux transmis 
 par Nos pr^d^cesseurs ; c'est pourquoi Nous n'avons neglige 
 aucune occasion de reprouver publiquement et de condamner 
 cet horrible fleau de I'edclavage ; et nous avons traits avec soin 
 de cette question dans la Lettre que Nous avons adress^, le 3 
 des nones de mai de I'ann/e 1888, aux ^veques du Br^sil, par 
 laquelle Nous les avons Micites de tout ce que les particuliers 
 et le pouvoir avaient accompli de louable dans ce pays pour la 
 

 9 
 
 lib^rt^ des caclaves, et Nous avons montr^ en meme temps com- 
 bien I'esclavage est contraire ti la religion et a la dignite hu- 
 maine. 
 
 A la veVite, pendant que Nous ecrivions cette Lettre. Nous 
 e'tions vivement ^niu de la condition de ceux qui sont la pro- 
 pri^t^ d'un autre; mais Nous etions bien plus cruellement 
 affccte^par le rScit des maux qui assaillent tous les habitants de 
 certaines re'gions de I'Afrique intdHeure. Cast chose lamentable 
 ajisur^raent et horrible i rappeler ce que nous apprennent des 
 te'inoignages certains, que pres de quatre cent mille Africains, 
 sans distinction d'aee ni de sexe, sont chaque ann^e arrach^ 
 par violeQce des villages qu'ils habitent d'ou, charges de chai- 
 nes et accabld^ de coups, lis sout traines par de longs chemins 
 sur des marches pour y etre exposes et vendus comme un vil 
 b^taU. 
 
 Comme ces faits ont 6te attest& par des t^moins oculaires et 
 confirmd& par les recents exploratenrs de I'Afrique equatoriale, 
 Nous avons ete enflamme du desire de secourir selon Nos for- 
 ces ces malheureux etxie soulager leur infortune. C'est pourquoi, 
 sans aucun retard. Nous avons confie' a Notre chers Fils le car- 
 dinal Charles-Martial Lavigerie, dont I'activit^ et le zlle aposto- 
 lique Nous sont connus, le soin d'aller dans les principales villes 
 de I'Europe pour faire ressortir I'ignoroinie de cet infame n^goce 
 et pour incliner I'esprit des Princes et des citoyens a preter as- 
 sistance 4 une race mal heureuse. 
 
 « 
 
 A ce sujet. Nous devons des actions de grace au Christ Sei- 
 gneur, Redempteur tres ai mant de tous les peuples, qui n'a pas 
 permis, dans sa bont^ que Nos sollicitudes fussent vaines, mais 
 qui a voulu qu'elles lussent comme la semence conii^ a une 
 terre fertile, promettant une joyeuse moisson. Car les chefs des 
 peuples et les catholiques du monde entier, tous ceux enfin a 
 qui le droit des gens et les droits de la nature sont sacr^s, ont 
 nvalis^ dans la recherche des meilleurs moyens a employer 
 pour extirper radicale^nent ce commerce inhumain. Le conges 
 solennel t«nu il y a peu de temps it Bruxelles, auquel ont pris 
 part les d^egueS des piinces de TEurope, et Tassembld^ plus 
 rdcente dans laquelle des hommes priv^ se sont r^unis it Paris 
 dans le in^e but, teimoignent ostensiblement que la cause des 
 nd]gres sera d^fendue avec une force et une Constance propor- 
 tionnees & la masse des maux qui les ecraseni Cest pourquoi 
 nous ne voolons pas laisser ecnapper Toccauon qui soffre de 
 nouveau de louer et de remericier comme ib le meritent les 
 princes de I'Europe et les autres hommes de bonne volonte, et 
 Nous prions instamment le Dieu tout-puissant qn'il daigne don- 
 
I 
 
 10 
 
 ner le succes a leurs clesseins et aux comraenceraents d'nna si 
 grande entrfeprise. 
 
 Mais, outre le aouci de protewer la liberty, une autre solicitu- 
 de plus grave tient de plus pres a* Notre minis^fere apostolique, 
 lequel ^us preacrit de teiller rf ce que la doctrine evanseliqu^ 
 soitpropa^^e dans les regions de TAfrique, afin qu'elle illumine 
 les habitants de ces terres assis dans les te'nebres, aveugUs par 
 d'epaisses superstitions, des clarteS de la verite' divine, qui les 
 rende participants avec nous de I'h&ritage du royaume de Dieu, 
 Nous poursuivons ce but avec d'autant plus d'ardeur qu'ayant 
 re9U eette lumiere, ils secoueront aussi le j6ug de la servitude 
 humaine. Lsl, en effet, ou lea nioeurs et les lois chr^iennes sont 
 en vigueur ; la ou la religion a instruit les hommes a observer 
 la justice et i^honorer la dignite humaine; la 6u s'est large- 
 ment repandu I'esprit de la charit^ fratemelle que ^esus-Christ 
 nous a enseignee, il ne pent plus subsister ni servitude, ni feifo- 
 cite, ni barbarie ; mais on voit fleurir Tameldite des mceurs et 
 la liberte chr^tienne omee des biens de la civilisation. 
 
 Deja plusieui-s hommes apostoliques, comme des soldats 
 d'avant garde de Jesus-Christ, ont aborde ces regions et y ont 
 repandu non seulement lour sueur, mais aussi leur vi^ pour le 
 salut de leurs fr^res. Mais la moiason est abondante etpeu nom- 
 breux sont les iravailleurs ; c'estpourquoi il faut qiie d'autres, en 
 grand nombre, sous Faction du nrekue esprit de Dieu, sans crain^ 
 dre aucun p^ril, aucune difficulte, aucun labeur, s'en ailknt 
 vers les regions ou s'exerce ce honteux commerce, pour porter 
 ff leurs habitants la doctrine de Jesus Chii^t uuie a la vraic 
 libert*^ 
 
 Mais I'entrejMnse d'une si grande oeuvre recliaila6 desressour- 
 cds €|;ales c( ses proportions. Car ce n'est pas sans de grandes 
 de^)€!nses qu'on peut pourvoir a* Tetablissement des nrissionnaires, 
 aux frais de longs voyages, a la mise en etat des maisdns, a la 
 Construction et a romementation des e'glises et aux autres neces- 
 site^ du m^ie getire ; toutes c(s depenses devront ^re suppw- 
 tees durant qudques ann^s, jusqu'a ce que, dans les lieuxoh 
 ils 86 seront Itublii^, les predicatours de I'Evangile puissent se 
 sufflre avec lettrs propres mo^ens. 
 
 Plut a Dieu que Nos ressources f ussent suffisantes pour Nous 
 p^rniettre d'assumer cette charge ! Mais, puisque I'eta^ae d^tresse 
 ou Nous sommes s'oppose K cette realisation de Nos vcbux, NoiUs 
 vous adressons un appel paternel, rf Vous, V^nA^bles'Firelfes, Il 
 tons les ekutres eveques et i? tous les catholiques, et Nous recom'- 
 mandons a votre charite comme i la leur une o6nvre si sainteet 
 salutaire. Nous souhaitons, en effet, qu&tous y participenti fu- 
 ce par la plus l%ere aumdhe, aiin que, repartie entre plus de 
 
i, a la 
 neces- 
 
 il 
 
 ninnde, la chai^ soit plus facile a porter pour chacun ; afin 
 aussi que la ^race de Jesus Christ, dont il s'agit d'elendre le r^- 
 gne, se r^pande sur tous et qu a tous elle apporte la paix, le par* 
 don des p&ch6s ct tous les dons de choix. 
 
 C'est pourquoi nous Itablissons que, chaque iinnee, au jour et 
 dans tous les lieux oii Ton cflebro la f^ de TEpiphanie du 
 Seigneur, une qu^ sera faite pour venir en aide & I'oeuvre dont 
 Nous venons de parler. Nous avons choisi entre les antres, cette 
 solennitrf parce que, comme vous le coinprencz tr& bien, Vefirf- 
 rablos Freres, c'est en ce jour que le Fils de Dieu s'est premilre- 
 ment revele aux nations en se fcisant voir aux Magis qui, a 
 cause de cela, ont ^t^ heureusement appel^ par saint L^on le 
 Grand, Notre predecesseur, les pr^iices de noire vocation et de 
 noire fox. Aussi Nous avons bon espoir que Notre Seigneur 
 Jesus Christ, touche de la charity et des pri^res de ses fils qui 
 ont recu la . lumieVe de la vente, illuminera semblablement par 
 la revelation de sa divinit^ cette partie si malheureuse du genre 
 humain, et qu'il I'arrachera au bourbier de superstition et 2t la 
 condition miserable oh, dans I'abjection et I'abandon, elle est 
 depuis si longtemps plongee. 
 
 C'est en outre Notre volonte que I'argent recueilli au jour in- 
 diqu^ dans les eglises et les chapelles souuiises a votre juridic- 
 tion soitenvoy^a Rome, «k la Sacr^-Congregation de la Propa^ 
 gande. C'est acelle-ci qu'il appartiendra de partager ces oflran- 
 des entre les missions qui sont ou seront install^ dans les 
 rd^ons de I'Af rique priTicipalemeni nottr y detruire I'eaclavage ; 
 et la rSgle de la repartition sera que i argent provenant de nations 
 ayant leurs missions catholiques pour la liberation des esclaves, 
 ainsi que Nous I'avons dit, soit applique «? soutenir et A aider ces 
 missions. Quapt au restedes aumShes, il sera distribue avec un 
 sage discemement entre les missions les plus pauvres par la 
 m^e Sacr^fe-Congr^atioUi qui est au courant des , besoms de 
 ces missions. 
 
 Nous ne saurions douter que le Dieu riche en misericoirde 
 n'accueille avec bon to les voeux que Nous formons pour les mal- 
 heureux Africains, et que vous, V^n^bles Freres, vous ne don- 
 niez av<;c empressement votre zele et vos efforts pour qu'ils soient 
 pleinement accomplis. De plus, Nous avons confiance que ce 
 secours temporaire et particulier, apport^ par les fiddles pour 
 faire disparaitre la tSche d'un tra£c inhamain et pour soutenir 
 les messagers de I'Evangile dans les lieux oi!l ce trafic existe, 
 n'am^nera aucune diminution dans la libdi^it^ avec laquelle ils 
 ont ooutume d'aider les missions catholiques en versant leurs 
 otfrandes a I'cEUvre fondee a Lyon sous le nom de Pro]^ation 
 de la Foi. Cette oeuvre salutaire, que Nous avons deja recom- 
 
12 
 
 mandee a* la sollicitude des fiddles, aujourd'hui encore Nous 
 aaisissons I'occasion do I'honorer par un nouvel eloge, en expri- 
 mant le desir qu'elle ^tende au loin sa bienfaiaance et qu'elle 
 jouisse d'une florissante et heureuse prosp^riteT 
 
 En attendant Nous vous donnons tres affectueuseinent la 
 benediction apostolique, a* vous, Venerables Freres, ainsi qu'au 
 cler^e et aux fiddles confieS a*votre vi^lance pastorale. 
 
 DonneVRome, pres Saint Pierre, Te 20 novembre de I'ann^e 
 1890, la treiziline de Notre Pontiiicat. / 
 
 LEON XIIi; PAPE. 
 
13 
 
 VENERABILIS FRATER 
 
 SaLVTEM et apostoucah benedictionem 
 
 Catholicae Ecclesiae, quae oinnes homines materna caritate 
 complectitur, nihil fere antiquius fuit inde ab initio, ceu nosti, 
 Venerabilis Frater, quani ut servibutem, quae uiisero jugo prein- 
 ebat mortalium quamplurimos, sublatam cernerct penitusque dele- 
 taiD. Sedula enim custos doctrinae Condi toris sui, qui per se 
 Ipsum et Apostolorum voce docuerat homines f ratemam neces- 
 situdinem quae jungit universes, utpote eadem origine cretas, 
 eodem pretio redemptos, ad eaindem vocatos beatitatem aeter- 
 nam, suscepit neglectam servorum causam ac strenua vindex 
 libertatis extitit, etsi, prout res et tempora ferebant, sensiiu rem 
 gereret ac temperate. Scilicet id praestitit prudentia et consilio 
 coustanter postulans quod intendebat religionis, justitiae et 
 humanitatis nomine ; quo facto de nationum prosperitate cultuque 
 civili meruit optime. — Neque aetatis decursu hoc Ecclesiae studi- 
 um adserendi mancipia in libertatem elanguit ; imo quo fructuo- 
 sius erat in dies, eo flagrabat irapensius. Quod certissima tes- 
 tantur monumenta historiae, quae eo nomine plures commen* 
 davit posteritati Decessores Nostros, quos inter praestant S. 
 Gregorius Magnus, Hadrianus I, Alexander III, Innocentius III, 
 Gregorius IX, Pius II, Leo X, Paulus III, Urbanus VIII, Bene- 
 dictus XIV, Pius VII, Gregorius XVI, qui omnem curam et 
 operam contulere, ut servitutis institutio, ubi vigebat, excideret, 
 et caveretur ne unde exsecta fuerat, ibi ejus germina re- 
 viviscerent 
 
 Tantae laudis hereditas a Praedecessoribus tradita repudiari 
 a Nobis non poterat : quare nulla praetermissa a Nobis occasio 
 est, improl^ndi palam damnandique tetricam banc servitutis 
 pestem ; ac data opera de ea re in htteris egimus, quas III Nonas 
 Maias anno moccclxxxyiii ad Episcopos BrasUiae dedimus, 
 quibus gratulati sumus de iis, quae pro mancipiorum libertate in 
 ea regione gesta fuerant laudabili exeroplo privatim et publice, 
 simulque ostendimus quantopere servitus religioni et humanae 
 dignitati adversetur. Equidem cum ea sciiberemus, vehementer 
 commovebamur eorum couditione qui dominio subduntur alieno ; 
 at multo acerbius afiecti sumus narratione aerumneunim, quibus 
 conflictantur incolae universi regionum quarumdam Africae in- 
 terioris. Miserum sane et horrendum memoratu est, quod certis 
 nunciis accepimus, fere quadringenta Af rorum millia,nullo aetatis 
 ac sexuB discrimine, quotannis abripi per vim e rusticis pagis, 
 unde catenis vincti ac caesi verberibus longo itinere trahuntur 
 ad fora, ubi pecudum instar promercalium exhibentur ac veneunt. 
 
/ 
 
 u 
 
 — Quae cum testata essent ob iis «jui viderunfc, et a recentibus 
 exploratoribus Africae aeqntnoctialis confirmata, desiderio incensi 
 suinus opittilandi pro vinbus miseris illis, levandique eorum- 
 calainitatem. Propterea, nulla interji'cta mora, dilecto Filio 
 Nostro Cardinali Cavolo Martialt Lavigeric, cujus perspecta Nobis 
 est alacritas ac zelus Apostolicus, curaiu deuiandaviinua obeundi 
 praecipuas Europae civitates, ut mercatus hujus turpissiiiii 
 ignoininiam ostenderet, et Principum civiumquo aniinos ad opem 
 t'erendam aeruninosae ^enti iuclinaret. — Quain ob rem gratiae 
 Nobis habendae sunt Cbristo Domino, gentium omnium Re- 
 deraptori amantissimo, qui pro bsaignitatc sua passus non est 
 euras Nostras in irritum cedere, sed voluit esse quasi semen 
 feraci creditum humo, quod laetam aefgetem pollicetur. Naroque 
 et Rectores populorum et Catholici ex toto terrarum orlie, omnes 
 demum, quibus sancta sunt gentium et naturae jura, certarunt 
 inquirere, qua potissimum I'atione et ope conniti praestet, ut 
 inhumanum illud * commercium evellatur radieitus. S<ilemnis 
 Conventus non ita pridem Bruxellis actus, quo Legati Principum 
 Europae congressi sunt, ac recentior coetus privatorum virorum, 
 qui eodem spectantes magno animo Lutetiam convenere, mani- 
 festo portenduut tanta vi et constantia Nigritarum causam 
 defensum iri, quanta est ea qua premuntur aerumnarum moles.- 
 Quare oblatam iterum occasionem noluraus omittere, ut meritas 
 agamus laudes et gratias Europae Principibus ceierisque bonae 
 voluntatis hominibus, atque a summo Deo precamur enixe, ut 
 eorum consiliis et orsis tanti operis prosperos dare velit eventus. 
 
 At vero praeter tuendae libertatis curam, gravior alia pressius 
 attingit apostolicum ministerium Nostrum, quod Nos curare 
 jubet, ut in Africae regionibus propagetur Evangelii doctrina, 
 quae illarum incolas sedeutos in tene:bris, a caeca superstitione 
 ofiiisis, illustret divinae veritatis luce« perquan nobif»cum 
 fiant participes hereditatis Regni Dei. Id autem eo 
 curamus enixius, quod illi, hac luce recepta, etiam humanae 
 servitutis ab s6 jugum excutient Ubi enim ohrisliani inore& 
 legesque vigent, ubi religio sic homines instituit^ ut justitiam 
 servent atque in honore habeant humanam dignitatem, uhi late 
 spiritus manavit fratemae caritatis, quam Christus nos docuit, 
 ibi neque servitus, nee f eritas, neque barbaria extare potest ; sed 
 floret morum suavitas, et civili ornata cultu Christiana libertas. — 
 Plures jam Apostolici viri, quasi Ghristi milites antesignani 
 adiere regiones illas. ibique ad fratrum salutem non suoorem 
 modo sed vitam ipsam profuderunt. Sed mesaie quidem mvMa, 
 operarii autem pauci : que.re opus est^ ut alii quamplures eodem 
 acti spiritu Dei, nulla verentes aiscrimina, incommoda et labores, 
 ad eas regiones pergant, ubi probrosum illud commercium exer- 
 
15 
 
 cetur, allaiuri illarum incolis doctnnani ChriHii verae liliertAti 
 conjunctatn.— Verum tanti oporis aggressio copias flagitat ejus 
 ainplitudini pares. Non eniiii sine inj^^enti tiuinptu pruspici 
 potest MiHsionariorum iustitutioni, longis itincribus, parandis 
 aedibus, teinplis excitaiuUs et instruendis, aliisque id genus 
 neccHsariis, <{uae quidein iuipendia per aliquot annos snstinenda 
 erunt, donee in iis locis uu? cons >derint evangelii praecones, suis 
 se sumptibus tueri possint. Utinam Nobis vires suppeterent 
 quibus possenius hoc onus suscipere. At quum votis Nostris 
 obsistant graves, in quibus vei-sanmr, reruni angustiae, te, 
 Venerabilis Frater, aliosque sacrorum Antistites et Catholicos 
 oinnes patema voce coupellannis, et Vestrac corunique caritati 
 conimendamus opus tarn sanctum et salutare. Omnes enini 
 participes ejus optamus iieri, exigua licet coUata stipe, lit 
 dispartituin in piures onus levius cuique toleratu sit, atque ut 
 in omnes effundatur gratia Christi, de cuius regni propugnatione 
 agitur, eaque cunctis \mcein, veniam peccatoruni, et lectissiina 
 quaeque munera impertiat. 
 
 Propterea constituiinus, ut quotannis, qua die in quibusque 
 locLs Epiphaniae Domini celebrantur mysteria, in sub.si<]iuni 
 mcmorati operis pecunia stipis instar corrogetur. Hanc autem 
 solemnem dieiu prae ceteris elegimus quia, uti probe intelligis 
 Venerabilis Frater, ea die Filius Dei primitus sese gentibus 
 revelavit dum Magis videndum se piaebuit, qui ideo a S. Leone 
 Magno deccssoro Nostro scite dicti sunt vocationia no8tr(m 
 jideique lyrimitiae. Itaqne bona spe nitimur fore, ut Christus 
 Dominus permotus caritate et precibus fiKorum, qui veritatis 
 lucem acceperunt, revelatione divinitatis suae etiam miserrimam 
 illam hiimani generis partem illustret, eamque a superstitionis 
 coeno et aerumnosa conditioue, in qua tamdiu abjecta ot nep|;lecta 
 jacetj eripiat. ' •dtcit 
 
 Placet autem Nobis, ut pecunia, praedicta die, collecta in 
 ecclesiis et sacellis subjectis jurisdictioni tuae, Romam mittatur 
 ad Sacrum Consilium Christiano nomini propagando. Hujus por- 
 ro munus erit partiendi earn pecuniam inter Missiones quae ad 
 delendam, potiasivium servitutem in Africae regionibus extant 
 aut instituentur : cujus partitionis hie modus erit, ut pecunia 
 profecta ex nationibus, quae suas habent catholicas missiones ad 
 vindicandos in libertatem servos, ut memoravimus, istis 
 missionibus sustentandis juvandisque addicatur. Reliquam vero 
 stipem ideini Sacrum Consilium, cui earumdem missionum 
 necessitates compertae sunt, inter egentiores prudenti judicio 
 partietur. 
 
 Equidem non ambigimus, quin vota Nostra pro infelicibus 
 Airis concepta, benigne excipiat dives in raisericordia Deus. ac 
 
'/ 
 
 16 
 
 tu Vencrabilis Frater, ultro collaturus sis studium operamque 
 tuam, ut ea expleantur cumulate. — Confidimus insuper, per hoc 
 temporarium ac peculiare subsidium, quod fideles conferent ad 
 inhumani commercii labem abolendam et sustentandos evanfi^elii 
 nuncios in locis ubi illud viget, nihil iraiuinutum iri de liberali- 
 taie qua Catholicas inissiones adjuvare solent cotlata stipe in In- 
 stitutum quod Lugduni conditum a wofpaaaiione fidei nomen 
 accepit. Salutare hoc opus, quod fidelium studiis pridem 
 commendavimus, hac nunc opportunitate oblata novo omamus 
 laudis testimonio, optantes ut late porrigat beneiicentiam suatn 
 et lacta floreat prosperitate. Interim Tibi, Venerabilis Frater, 
 Clero et fidelibus pastorali vigilantiae tuae commissis, Apostoli- 
 cam Benedictionem peramanter impertimus. 
 
 Datum Romae apud S. Petrum, die XX Novembris anno 
 MDCCCXC, Pontilicatus Nostri decimo tertio. 
 
 LEO PP. XIII. 
 
 1 
 
 t