% ^"V ,0 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) k A "m <•/ .^ i< f/. 1.0 I.I ■^ 1^ If 2 2 " 1^ 12.0 IL25 M 1.4 1.6 A AJV/UJ^aiJlilVj Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 »;"o ^-l^^'.*, '^'^^ /. t/. ^^^ % 1^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical IVIicroreproductions / Institut Canadian de microraproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Noias/Notes techniques at bibliographiquas The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommag^e Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur^e et/ou peilicul^e Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiquas en couleur □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bieue ou noire) I I Coloured ptates and/or illustrations/ D D n D Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relii avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serree pei t causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long da la marge intdriaure Blank leaves added during restoration may •appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ M se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutAes lors dune restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque eels dtait possible, ces pages n'ont pas iti film^es. Additional comments:/ Commentaires jrupplimentaires: L'Iristitut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il tui a iti possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-^tre uniques du point de vue bibliographique. qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mithode normale de filmage sont indiquAs ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur □ Pages damaged/ Pages endommag^es □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaur^es et/ou pelliculdes Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages ddcolor^es, tachet^es ou piquees Q Pages detached/ Pages ditachees Showthrough/ Transparence I I Quality of print varies/ Qualiti inigale de I'impression Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponibia D Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., hava been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'arrata, une pelure, etc.. cnt iti film^es i nouveau de facon a obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiqu^ ci-dessous. lOX 14X 18X 22X n 12X 16X 20X 26X 30X 24X 28X n 32X Th« copy filmed hare has baan rappcducad thanks to tha ganarosity of: Seminary of Quebec Library Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha bast quality possibia considahng tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spacifications. Original copias in printad papar covars ara fllmad beginning with tha front covar and anding on tha last paga with a printad or lllustratad imprea- sion, or tha back covar whan appropriate. All othar original copiaa ara filmed beginning on the first page with a printad or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the laat page with a printed or illustrated impraasion. The last rasorded frame on ^ach microfiche shall contain the symbol —^(meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever appliea. Maps, platea, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand comer, laf ; to right and top to bottom, aa many framea as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaira filmA fut reproduit gr4ca it la g4n4rositA da: S^minaire de Quebec Bibliothdque Lea imagea suivantea ont M reproduites avec le plus grand soin. compte tenu de la condition at da la nettet« de l'exemplaira film«, at an conformiti avec lea conditiona du contrat da filmage. Lea axempiairas originaux dont la couverture an papier eat imprimte sont filmfo an commanpant par la premier plat at en terminant soit par la derniAre paga qui comporta una ampreinta d'impraasion ou d'illustration, soit par la saccnd plat, salon la cas. Tous las autres axempiairas originaux sont filmte an commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impressicn ou d'illustration at an terminant par la darniire paga qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un dee svmboles suivants apparaitra sur la darniAre image de cheque microfiche, salon la cas: le symbols — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE ', le symboie y signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmte A das taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsc^ue le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il eat filmA d partir de I'angle supirieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, an prenant la nombre d'images n^cessaira. Las diagrammas suivants illustrant la m^thoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 I . Jjm. J MWMMI j, jpil, I AfcWB !W W WP'TrB mmmmmmmss INAUGURATION PASTORAL LEHER OP HIS LORDSHIP ANTOINE RACINE FIRST BISHOP OF SHERBROOKE 20th OCTOBER 1874. w^mm INAUGURATION PASTORAL LETTER OF HIS LORDSHIP ANTOINE RACINE FIRST BISHOP OF SHERBROOKE. By the mercy of God and the favor of tlie Holy Apostolic See, First Bishop of Sherbrooke. To the Clergy, to the religious communities and to all the faithful of the Diocese of Sherbrooke, Greeting and Benediction in Our Lord. Speaking through Our Holy Father the Pope, Our Lord Jesus-Christ has made known to us His supreme and divine Avill, and has commanded us to come to you, Our Dearly Beloved Brethren. By a Bull dated from Rome, the twenty eighth August, of the present year, the Vicar of Jesus-Christ has erected into a distinct diocese, under the name of the Diocese of Sherbrooke : 1st. That part of the Diocese of St. Hyacinth included in the tovvushii)s of Stukely, Ely, Melbourne, Bromptou, Oxford, Ascot, Eato.a. Clifton, Comptou, Hatly, Magog, Bolton, Sutton, Potton, Stanstead, Barreston, Barford, Hereford, excepting the following parts of the townships which shall remain attached to the Diocese of S. Hyacinth, to wit : 1st. the part of the township of Ely, included in the parish of St. Joh.i the Baptist of Roxton ; 2nd. The part of the township of Stukely, included in the parish of St. Bernandine of Watei'loo ; Srd. In fine, the part of the township of Bolton, included in the parish of St. Edward ; wwm W mm •MP wr 2ncl. That part of tlie Diocese of Three Rivers inchuling the townships of Shijiton, Cleveland, Windsor, Stoke, Wottoii, lliini, Dudswell, Weedon, Garthly, Stratford, Wesbury, Newport, Auckland, Bury, Tingwick, Winslow, AVhitton, Emberton, Marston, Hampden, Ditton, Chesham, Clinton and Woburn ; 3rd. That part of the Diocese of Quebec including Ut The township of AVolfestowii, excepting the part belonging to the Parish of St. Ferdinand of Halifax ; 2nd. The" townships of Spalding and Ditchfield; 3rd. That part of the township of Ireland which belongs to the Parish of St. Julian of WolfestoAvn. By anotlier Bull dated from Rome, the first September last, our Holv Father the Pope, notwithstanding our unworthiness, has a2)poin- ted us first Bishop of this Diocese. And now, at this solemn moment, wlien we begin the sublime- and dread mission in behalf of your souls, redeemed by the blood of Jesus-Christ, which the Divine Pastor has confided to us, what words shall we speak to you ? The loving words of the Apostle St. Paul to the Philippians : " Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus-Christ. Gratia vobis, et pax a Deo Fatri nostra, et Domino Jesu Christo. 1 give thanks to my God, continues the same Apostle, in every rcmcmlraiicc of you. Always, in all my prayers, making supplication for you all, with joy ; for your comtnunication in the gospel of Christ from the first day unti} now. Being confident of this very thing, that 'lie, who hath hegxin a good icork in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus. As it is meet for me to think this for you all : for that I have you in my heart. And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge and in all understanding : filled with the fruit of justice, «!Hffl|J"!V'"!i"' ig"'^WI»Jl.l)l WIIUI. I % i) through Je»ii»-Girhf, unto the glory of and praise of God (Philip- pians I.) Called to the episcopate, and beinp; unuble to exonerate our- eelves from the heavy burden inij)osed upon us^, should we not tremble at the sight of our weakness and unworthiness. It seems to ua that we felt the whole weight of this dignity, which fdls our soul with awe, when, before God's altar, we answered the questions of the consecrating Bishop, ere he conferred uj)on us the ])lenitudo of the Priesthood of Jesus-Christ. These, O. D. B. B., are the questions which were put to us, they contain all our (jutios ; and better than any words of ours, will they make you understand how much reason we liavc to tremble, and to ask the assistance of your prayers. " Will you adapt, submit, your intelligence, your reason, to the " maxims of the Sacred Scriptures, to the teachings of the Divine " Word? Judge of the faith, and interpreter of Holy Writ, will you " identify your mind with the tieporit of Revelation, no longer hold " to your private opinion, but contract with the Sacred Writings a " new relation, an eternal alliance, to expound to the faithful all " you shall have understood in those holy books?" We answered : " We will ". " Will yoii submit to Catholic Tradition, to the decrees of the " Holy See, to the authority of Peter and his successoi's ? Legislator " of the people, will you govern them, not according to your ideas, " but aoconling to the laws ? Will you become familiar with the " teaching, the legislation of all christian ages? Will you show fide- " litv, submission, and obedience in all things to the Vicar of Jesus- " Christ ? " We answered : " We will ". " Preacher of christian morality, Avill you renounce the passions " which enslave the world ? Will you renounce the concupiscence of " the flesh, observe chastity, purity, sobriety, and propagate these " admirable virtues ? Will you renounce the concupiscence of the " eyes, despise the perishable concerns of this world, and know no " other traffic than of things divine, and the salvation of souls ? Will f .i.,-«l JU. .JJB WfW^^K RRHP llMiUP mmmm mmmmmmmmmm mft ■^ u you renounce tlie pride of life, practise luiniilitv, fiv honors, nnd " teacli others this spirit of renouncement?" We answered • " W<. "will". " Finally, you who are about to become Fn her and Pastor, you " to whom will apply the ^oor, strangers, orphans, and the needy, " will you, for God's sake, be to them affable and merciful ? Vis pau- " peribus ct percf/rlnis omnihusque indigentUmH esse propter notiini " Domini affabilis et viisericors f Will you be to them affable and " merciful, that is to say, when your hands are empty will you give " them, at least, the alms of a kind ami compassionate word ; and " when they shall be filled, the alms of a benefit, of an assistance, " given with love." We answered : " We will ". Such is, O. D. B. B., a summary of the duties imposed on your Bishop ; obedience will not allow us to exempt ourselves therefrom. The Holy Ghost expresses them in this text of the acts of the Apostles : Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you Bishops, to rule the church of God, which lie hath purchased wM His own blood. (XX. 28.) When, before God, we meditate these words, in fear we cannot but repeat the words which Moses spoke to God on Mo>'nt Horeb, when about to begin the mission confided to him. " Who am If Lord / that J should go, and should bring forth the children of Lrael out of Egypt f — Quis sum ego ut vadam et educam Alios Israel f (P^xod. III. 2.) You are aware, O. D. B. B., that the episcopal dignity is no favor, it is a heavy burden, it is a ministry terrible to the angels them- selves, the dangers and responsibilities of which we understand, to day better than ever. •" The love we bear you, the charity you owe us, the interest of your souls, all obliges you, O. D. B. B., to call down upon us lif'ht and strength from on high ; it is but just that you should aid us,V your fervent prayers, in the fulfilment of our duties. Our inoxporience calls for pnrticulnr assistnnce, amid the (lifliciiltieH which the organization of ii new diocese necc8«arily entails. And yon, our heloved Felli)\v-luhorera in the guidance of souIh, you, whoHC ministry is so onerous, who maintain the works of Faitli and of Charity ; you, whose enlightened zeal and ardent faith luive fornuMl the consohition and joy of your venerable Pantora, pray for your Hishop. We denire to be a Father in your midat, gladly we shall operj to you our heart, receive the secrets of your soul, partici- pate in your joys, and share your sorrows. And you, ihe beloved spouses of Jesus-Christ, the ornament and honor of our Diocese, pray for uh. Avert, by your prayers, the anger of God ; be ever angels of peace, preparing for your bishop the way to souls. Better to fulHl this great mission, confided to you by the Church, be ever faithtul to your holy vocation, strangers to the world, forgetful of self, and living in union and charity. And you all, fiiithful of the Diocese of Sherbrooke, you whom we are happy to eall our brethren and wtll-beloved sons, " Our moiilh is open to you, our heart is enhirgcd," — Os nodrum patet ad V08, cor nostrum dilatatuvt est. [11 Cor. G. 11.) Pray that God may strengthen us to bear so weighty a burden, but which, by your respect and docility, will be rendered" light and easy. We understand, O. D. B. B., how justly you regret to be sepa- rated from dioceses so well organized as the Arch-diocese of Quebec, and the dioceses of St. Hyacinth and Tlnee-Kivers, and to see torn asunder the sweet ties wliich united you to the venerable and illus- trious Pastors, Avho have hitherto governed, and directed, you in the Avay of salvation. But the Supreme Head of the Church, at the request of the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Quebec, has judged it advan- tageous that you should have in your midst, and in this fine part of our country, so favored by the richness of the soil and the salubrity of the climate, a Bishop, to dispense the treasures of grace, wliich the 8 Prince of PtintorH Iiiih plnced in ]m hmuh, more easily visit the (listantj)nriHhcH of the territory under his juriHcIiction, and better ascertain their material, moral, and religious, condition. For the Bishop, as his name indicaten, ia placed in the Churcli of Jesus-ChriHt us an ever watchful eye, to inciuiro into the spiritual necessities of the faithful, and bestow upon them his care. You see, O. D B. R, that the immortal Pius IX, ulthoujrh overwhelmed with tribulations, omits nothing which can contribute to your spiritual welfare. Manifest your gratitude by Drayinc for him with redoubled fervor. >/ l j t» Thewiserulesofdiscipline, in vigor in the Arch-diocc?e of (Quebec, and the dioceses of St. iryacinth and Throe-RiverH sliall continue to be obligatorv in the parishes, which formed a part of these respective dioceses, until a more thorough knowledge of the new Diocese of Sherbrooko shall permit uh to establish a uniform rule based on the wise rules which maintain the Ecclesiastical discii)line of this Province. ■^ To-day, we are happy to render the solemn Iiomnge of our respect and gratitude to tlie venerable Bishops wlio havo^roverncd with so much wisdom and solicitude, the ilock committed to our care' You, O. JD.B. B., " Eevicmber your Trelates who have spoken the word of Godlo you. (Ilebs. XIII. 7.) The zeal they have shown tor your spiritual welfare, the interest they will ever bear to vou undoubtedly render this obligation most agreeable t(^ your grateful AVherefore, having invoked tlie Holy Name of God, we have ruled and ordained, rule and ordain, a.s follows: n tt'^i^^'t^^i \^yih\Uy and promulgate by the present, the Brief of Uiir Holy latlier, Pope Puis IX., dated the twenty eighth August of this year, erecting the new Diocese of iSlierbrooke ; r. 1 '^f' '^^^% ^'"''f ?^ ^^''^ Dedication of St. Michael, Archangel, titular of our Cathedral, shall be celebrated, each year, throughout tljG (liocm>. on the twpnty ninth day of Septcmhcr, under tho rite of tirat clu88, with an Octave, according to the rubrics ; 3rd. Wo permit, until tlio firHt of next February, the pnefita of our diocese, to exercise all tho extraordinary powers and tncultics given to them by the respective ordinary. Those who during the interval, believe that the continuation thereof may be prohtablc to souls, will show us the documents. With regard to the same powers, given verbally, they will cease on tho first day of pfovember next; *' 4th. We renew and confirm, as far as required, all the ordinances, statutes, rules of discipline, prohibitions, and reserved cases, 111 vigor, at present, in tho territory under our jurisdiction ; 5th. We ordain that the prayer for the Pope bo said at all the masses, when the rubric permits, and that the Litany of the Blessed Virgin with the versiole and prayer which follows tho anthem of the Blessed Virgin at the end of Complin, according to the season, be recited for the ^Sovereign Pontiff, after each mass ; 6th. Until the first Sunday of Advent, inclusively, on all bundays and Holydays of obligation, three Paters and Avcs, with the invocation : Sancte Michael, Archongele, ora pro nobis, once, will be said according to our intention, to implore God's blessing on our enis- copate, and render it fruitful. ^ • ^^I'^oi^culate Virgin ! under thy auspices we enter on poa- session of our Church Take us, O good Mother, under thy protec tion, and lead by the hand him, who, from his infancy, has tenderly loved thee. "" ^ . .„ 9 ^^^'^^t Mother of the Saviour, and our Mother ! deign to accept the offering of our hearts. Listen to the prayers of the Pastor, the Clergy and the Faithful. Thou art the Mother of Holy Hope, remember thy former mercies to thy children, and thy devotedness to the Holy Church Let thy ever-bleosed name be our help and our consolation, during our episcopate. ° -r X 10 Glorious Prince of the heavenly host I St. Michael, Archangel, for the Church it was thou didst first arm thyself against Satan and his angels I To thy kind protection we commend, to day, the diocesa confided to our care. We beseech thee, by the glory thou enjoyest in heaven, and the power God has given tliee, grant us thy asgistance, now, and ever. Be our Patron, our Advocate, our Protector. Jiaintain the faithful in the true Faith ; from the attacks of the devil defend them dunng life, and particularly at the hour of death. Shall this our present Pastoral Letter be read in our Cathe- dral, to-day, and at the prone of all parochial churchey or chapels, and others where public service is performed, and, in Chapter, in all religious communities, on the first Sunday after its reception. Given at Sherbrooke under our signature, the seal of the Diocese, and the counter-signature of our secretary, on this the twen- tieth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four. ■'■¥^^ ^ ANTOINE, BISHOP OF SHERBROOKE. By His Lordship's command, F. P. DiGNAN, Pst. Secretary.