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Lea diagrammea suivanta illuatrent !a m*thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 riFLD BX 1756 MR RARE ( iRCTT>\R fjyrrE RJGHT REV. DP. MOLLOCSK. TO n\i: lerfy and Laity of the Woe««e of M, iM>in I 111'- Et«^rnul ti the occasion of t}: of the Janjanese M IB^ib^^^^ // 1 \J 'm , "v I y CIRCULAR LETTER OF Tllli 08U376 RIGHT REIL -DIL JMULLOCK, •/ ^ C lerg^f TitKT Laify of tlic Dfocesc of St. 'John's, On his return from the Eternal City, where he hiul been oa the occasion of the Canonization of the Japanese Martyrs. ^Z"^*" Publiwhed by UER.\AKD DVFFV, < Rccoi Ofi c, Ht. Johit's, IVrwroiindlaiid, lbC2. ■4 \ J mmtmm i <• # ■m \ CIRCULAR LETTER OF THE RIGHT REV. Da MULLOCK, TO THE Clergy and Laify of the Diocese of St. John's. Deaely Beloved Brethren, — In respoTjd'ng to tlie call of our Holy Father Pius IX., to attend at the C»inonization of St. Peter Baptist and his com- panions the Japmeso Martyr?, and of St. Micliacl de Sanctis, I was obliged for a short lime to leave you and proceed to the Holy City. Though on my arrival here and on the Sunday I'ollovving I addressed you in the Cathedral, still, as many could not 8» sist then, I judged it better to give in this lorm a succinct account of the great ceremony, and to add a few observations on what came under my knowledge duri'ig my absence. Never before, in the history of the Catliolic Church, was such an assembly of Bishops from all parts of the world summoned together. It was at the same time the grandest, and most striking manifestation of the Ca- tholicity of the Church, and the great moral and spiritual power of the succesjor of St. Peter, Pius IX. The power of the greatest temporal sovereigns is limited to their own realms, the power of the Popedom overshadows the ^arth. Thus we have seen that our Holy Father, merely by ex- pressing a desire that all Bishops who could without detri- ment to their own Diocese absent themselves, should repair to Rome, collect around him the - representatives of 100 millions of Catholics from every part of the world. Ireland, England and Scotland, Sweden, Prussia, Poland, Russia, the Germanic States, Catholic and Protestant, Austria Proper, Bohemia, Hungary, all are represented. Catholic Spain and France send half their Bishops. I''rom all parts of ihe Turkish Empire in Europe, Syria and Egypt, the Bishops of kJ?, cirry nto L:,(,n, Orofk an.l Armeninn, hnHon lo ohoy tlio . voice of tl.eir Spiridial Kalicr. Kvon the distant Pacilic is rcpro-enlcd. Soiitli America goiuls several of iier IJi^hons i.<.twiil,.tan'' ■ multitutlc, nnd of the Bishops and Clergy. Lcl us for a mo* nicnt reflect on this Canonizution. Is it tor tliu great and powerful of the world that this extraordinary celebration, of which an Imperial coronation is but a shadow, is held ? These Saints whom all the world combined to honor, were they like Cicsar or Napoleon, the lords and conquerors of the earth ? No, they were poor and bumble, their strength and power '■were in their humility ; like their Divino Master who from the Cross conquered the World, they obtained all their honours by being tied to Crosses, and suffering an ignominious death in a far distant land. Over three centuries have now passed since St. Francis Xavier first planted the faith in Japan, and made numerous converts. The field was white for the harvest, and God sent laborers into his vineyard. For 40 years peace reigned and the multitude of Christians every day increasing renewed in that distant region tbd example of the Apostolic times. One of these revolutions so frequent and sudden ia the East took place, and the re'^ns of power were seized by a tyrant culled Taicosama ; at .irst he seemed to favor the Christians, but this did not last long, and in 1587 ho promul- gated a decree, banishing all Missionaries from the Kingdom, though subsequently he relaxed its rigor so far as to allow the Jesuits to remain but for the aervice of the Portugueba alone. The Viceroy of the Philippine Islands having soma weighty affairs to arrange with Taicosama sent four Francis- cans, three priests, and a lay brother to Japan, in the quality of Legates. They gladly accepted the charge with the hope that the Ambassadorial character with which they were in- vested, might enable them to preach the gospel with greater liberty. Their names were Fathers Peter Baptist, Barthole- mew Ruis, Francis of St. Michael, and Brother Gonsalvo Garcia, a lay-brother and interpreter. They were kindly re- ceived by the Emperor, presented their gifls and obtained leave to visit the principal cities. He was very much struck with their poverty, humility, and disinterestedness, and espe- cially with the coarse habit of St. Francis. He eveu gavo them leave to build a small Convent in Meaco, but on con- dition that they should not preach or make any Converts among the Japanese. These Apostolic men however, knew that they should " obey God, not man," that our Lord com- manded the Gospel to be preached to all Nations. Accord- ingly, not only did they mak<3 Converts, but sent to Manilla for more Missionaries, and were speedily joined by Father Martin Blanco, and Father Michael Aqairre of the Aiscension. The number of Converts made irritated the Bonzes, and they called on Taicosama to enforce the law. Although tha Jesuits were partially tolerated, still three Japanese Members of tha Society, were arrested, along with the Frauciscans, and all 8 l! concfemncd to an ignominious deatli. Tlie names of ti.e Martyrs were Sl Peter Baptist, the Superior of ti.e. Fran- ciscans, a Spanish Nobleman of Castile, -.vho had forsaken all to follow Christ and preach llira crucified. Father Martin Aquirre of tho Ascension, also a Spanish Nobleman of Guiposcoa, who, despising the world and its riches, after . dist.ngursh.ng himself in the Unirersity of Alcala, went first on the Mission to Mexico, then to Manilla, and obtained the- Crown 01 Martyrdom in Japan, at the age of thirty. Father Martin Blanco, of the same age, was born in Gallicia, in bpam, he was a man of most mortified life, and perfectly ac- quainted with the Japanese language. Brother Piiilip a Jesu l.as Casa?, was born in Mexico, entered the Order of St. Jrancis, and was a striking instance of God's mercy, as he fled from the Convent and returned to tho world ; but touched by grace he at length begged to be re-admitted, and was received into the Convent of Manilla. Driven by shipwreck o Japan, he continued to labor for the salvation of souls, till his Martyrdom. Brother Francis, of St. Michael, also a ay- ^ brother born near Valladolid, in Spain, a man of most hofy J.fe, first was employed in Mexico, afterwards in the Philippini Islands. Brother Gonsuivo Garcia, a lay-brother, born in the iwast Indies, of Portuguese parents, was first received amonff . the Jesuits, subsequently joined tho Franciscans, he was in! terpr.ter and Catechist of the Mission. The other Franciscan Martyrs all belong to the 3rd 0«dcr, and were Native Japanese ; their names were Paul Suzuqui, Gabriel a Disco, only 19 years of age ; Joba Quizua, Thomas Danchi, Francia of Mecao, a physician, Thomas Cosaqui, who served at the altar, only 15 years old; Joachim Saquijor, the cook of the Convent and Hospital ; Bonaventure a Meaco, a servant of the Convent, baptised in his youth, brought up in idolatry, but re-converted and was a most fervent Christian • Leo Carazuma, one of the interpreters ; Mathias, who was 'taken m place of another; Anthony, only 13 years old, his father was a Chinese, his mother a Japanese, he was a scholar in ' the convent, and a ways served St. Peter Baptist's Mass; 1.0U13 Jbarchi, a scholar, also only 12 years old, and a few months baptized; Paul Yuaniqui Ibarchi, lately baptised; Michael Cosoqui, a friend and neighbour of the Franciscans i-eter hequeixem was taken while serving the martyrs in prison ; Cosraas Requisa, though rich and noble, gave himself up to the service of the poor in the Franciscan Hospital, and ' was only lately baptised and made a member of the Order- nri!!r%?"p^"*i^-r"'*f'° ''^'^'' serving the martyrs in pribon ;St. Paul Miki, a Jesuit student, was about bein» or- daincd Priest; John Soan de Goto, also a student and Gate- "Amu 21 years old; James Kisai, bl years old, ho Lad the care of the domestic affairs, and was remarkable for his con- tinual meditation on the passion of Christ. These three Jesuit Saints were native Japanese. The Confessors of the Faith were sentenced to the death of the cross by the tyrant Taicosa- ma. The sentence was posted up in Mecao, and the next day tliey were brought out and their right ears cut off, and then paraded through the city, their hands tied behind them. Ihe day following, the 3rd of January, tied on asses, they commenced their painful journey from town to town, they were then but 24 in number, but Peter and Francis, who followed to serve them, were taken up and suffered with them. It would take too long to recount the sufferings of the martyrs by sea and land, till they arrived at Nagasaqiii where, upon the 5th of February, in 1597, their executioners, fearing that they would be rescued by the Christians, tied them to crosses and pierced them through and through witli spears. The father of one of the children, Anthony, besousht lum to have pity on him and apostatise, li)ut the ftoble yomli refused, and taking off the garmenj he wore castittdhi^ parent saying, " Behold the robe you gave me, I willlow naked follow my Redeemer." The father of John de Goto, on the contrary, exhorted him to keep firm and seal his faith with his blood. Paul Miki preached most eloquently from the Cross, and Peter Baptist with his dying breath, a sponge being placed in his hand, baptised a woman who was deaf and dumb, and not alone gave her spiritual life but restored her to speech and hearing. Their bodies remained on the crosses for two months uncorrupled and untouched by the birds of the air, till at last liberty was given to bury them. Their Beatification took place In 1628 under Urban 8th. The Canonization, as we hare seen, by Pius IX., in 18C2. A holy Confessor, Michael de Sanctis, was also canonized. He wa^ born in Catolonia, in Spain, in 1591, and from his cliildhood led an angelic life. At an early age he joined the austere Order of Discalced Trinitarians. His life was seraphic, his evangelical poverty so great that like his Master he had not even a cell of his own. He lived for God alone aad for his neighbours salvation, and at length, consumed more by the fire of Divine love than by disease, he died in the Convent ot Valladolid, in the 34th year of his age. Such are the glorious Saints whose Canonization we have celebrated and whose intercession we invoke. It is wonder- ful to see the Father of the faithful amidst all his sorrows, the spoliation of his States and the atrocious persecution of the Church in Italy, celebrating this grand Festival with .i splendour never attained in what are called the palmy days of the Popedoir. Never before, however, ^Nas the power of the Pope so great, eo deeply rcoted in the hearts of ihe people 10 I as at present. The apparent Aveakness of the Pope at Rome, lias strengthened him over the world. Tiie unheard of as- sembly of the Bishops of the world and the spirit of martyr- dom which animates them, willing if necessary, to follow tl "ir Father to exile and to death, the enthusiasm of the people which I ha* e witnes;3ed, especially in France, where thousands) accompanied the foreign Bishops to the place of embarkation cheeri!'.g them, and singing the hymn of the Blessed Virgin till their voices were lost in the distance, as the vessel re- ceded from the shore, all this gives to Pius IX. a force which man cannot take from him, and before which millions of bayonets are powerless. Was not even the enthusiastic re- ception you gave me on my return from the centre of Catho- licity, a proof of your ardent attachment to the Catholic Faith in its Head, Pius IX. the great and the good. It is consoling too to the friends of the Popedom to see amidst the wreck and ruin of beautiful Italy, the limited territory he still preserves like the Afk of Noah, the only place of security in that un- liappy land. The pop'^Juiicn of Rome has increased during the last few years over 10,000. On every side you see pro- gress in public and private buildings. You can see no star- vation, you hear of no ejectments^ no agrarian outrages, no partial administration of justice, no complaints that vengeance or impunity is dealt to the criminal in the name of law, ac- cording not to the crime, but to the dictates of party. I firmly believe that no more paternal government exists than that of the Sovereign Pontiff", and if the primary object of govern- ment be the greatest happiness of the greatest number, and not the support of idlers who have no means of living unless at the public expense, I unhesitatingly assert that no where is that object more fully realised than in the States of the Church. 'Tis said that the Pope is kept on his throne by foreign bayonets. 'Tis true he is protected from the ferocious hordes of Sardinian revolutionists by the French arms, for in presence of the French Eagle the daggers fall from the hands of those hungry infidels, but the Pope requires no protection against lus own subjects all he wants is non-intervention. Let the Sardinians be prevented from invading the property of Christendom, and the Pope would be secure on the oldest throne in the world. The so-called Italian Parliament voted Rome their Capital, as well might the American Congress vote Quebec their chief fortress, Cuba their summer garden, or Newfoundland their advanced Naval Station — Rome be- longs to Catholicity. Without a Temporal Sovereignity in the present state of the world it would be (unless by some extraordinary disposition of Providence) impossible for the Pope to have liberty to govern the Church, He cannot be the subject of any King or Emperor, he may be their prisoner 11 as St. Peter and luany of liis predecessors were, but Christen- dom would not long suffer this — the most powerful of th^m a'l, once tried it, and the solitary grave of St. Helena lells the result. Would it be possible for the Pope to collect around bin, as at the late Canonization, the Bishops of the World had he not an independent tei.itory. There all could meet in peace. If the Pope was a subject of the King of Italy, or the Emperor of France or Austria, such a meeting would be impossible. It was most consoling also to mark the strength of the Holy Father, for the lying infidel press had so often talked of his failing health that his devoted children* feared thei-e might be some truth in it. I will not dilate on the benevolence and amiability of His Holiness, even hia enemies allow that He empowered each Bishop present to publish a plenary Indulgence in every parish on his return to his Diocese, and impart the Apostolical Benet'iction. The illustrious Senator and Conservators of Rome conferred on each Bishop present the dignity St. Paul gloried in, the rights and privileges of a noble Roman citizen. The gieat celebration is now at an end ; but it has moved all mankind, and shown the enemies of the Church that Faith, as the Apostle says, conquers the world. In conclusion, Dearly Beloved Brethren, I cannot find words sulTicient to thank you for the extraordinary manifestation of love, respect and afTection, shown to me on my return. I can only repay you by my prayers, and if possible, by my exertions for your spiritual ana temporal welfare. I remain, Dearly Beloved Brethren, Yours devoted in Jesus Christ, t JOWi T. MULLOCK, Bishop of St. John's, St John's, July 28th, 1862.