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Lea diagrammes suivants illuatrent la mdthoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) f IIS m ^i^ m : i^ ' i^ !!i||2p lllllv^^s 1.8 _J APPLIED IM^GE 1653 East Main Street Rochester Ne* York 14609 USA (716) 482 - OJOO - Phone (716) 288 - 5989 - Fox ^:? A—'^ /S-^9 PASTORAL LETTER OF HIS LOEDSHIP THE BISHOP OF MONTREAL PtIDLISHI.NG Tirt: Apostolic Letter of Our Holy Father Pope Pius IX to the Protestants and other Non-catholios. BY THE GIIACE OP 001) AND THE FAVOR OP THE APOSTOLIC SEE BISHOP OF MONTllJJAL ASSISTANT AT THE PONTIFICAL THRONE. To the secular anJ regular Clergy, tlio Roligimis Coninninilios, and all the Faitlifiil of Our I»iocese, Health and Blessitig in Cnir Lord. § 1.— rREAMBLE. On the thirteenth of September hisl, Our Holy Father the Pope addressed to our separated brethren an Aposto- lic Letter breathing nothing but charity, to invite them to seek the true relidon, in order to profit by the (Ecumeni- cal Council which he convoked on the twenty-ninth of June last. This Letter has been sent to Us, D. B. B., in order that we may take some means by which those, who, living outside of the fold of Jesus Christ cannot hear the voice of his Vicar upon earth, may be made acquainted with the Pastor of the whole Catholic Church. Wherefore, after carefully considering the matter in the presence of God, we have judged it our duty to make use of you all, D. B. B. to bring this important Letter to the knowledge of those to whom it is directly addressed. In consequence thereof; We cause it to be published in all the cliurches of this Diocese, charging you, I). B. B. to be the faithful in- terpreters of the sentiments which animate our common Father towards brethreli w^hom we all love in Jesus Christ. This means has appeared to us the most proper for attain- ing an object so desirable for all the children of the Church. Fov many of thorn live in your midst : thoy are your neighbours, your I'riendb, your follow-eitizens, your asso- ciates, your patrons or your cUents, and perhaps e^ mi your near relativ(>s. It lollows therefore, that you have ii.timate relations with them, more or kvss frequently, either on account of business, or on account of politeness, iriend' ship and civility. Amid this intercourse, it is quite luituidl that yon should speak to them of our ^rrand beautiful ceremonies, and of the instructions which are given in our churches, iiv this means you excite in them a laudable curiosity which induces them to come and see what is done, and to hear what is said at our religious assemblies. There are furthermore, many among them who like to hear the word of God, and who feel th(>mselves interiorly attracted tow^ards the religion of their forefathers. Besides, they are tired at seeinij' themselves continually fluctuating amid doctrines which change like the wind, and which, conse- sequently, are unable to satisfy the hearts of those who seek the truth with sincerity. On the other hand. Clod who has created them like ourselves to hit own image, and redeemed them at the price of his blood in orderlo give them et(>rnal happiness, does not fail, in his inlinite goodness, to warn them inte- riorly, that they are on a false road, walking in the way of error ; and that they ought to seek the truth, which alone, can procure them peace of heart. If then, D. B. B., you tell them thatO. 11. F. the Pope, whose name is so glorious throughout the whole world, has addressed them a Letter which breathes naught but love and charity ; and that in all the churches, this admi- rable document is read ; may we not presume that they will like to hear it read and explained by your pastors, and even to procure themselves copies of it, in order to examine it more attentively in private. The missiou you have to fulfil, D. B. B., is very sim- ple, but also very important, if you seriously consider it. For vou are charged to collect with religious respect, the words which fall from the mouth of the Church's common Father, to be penetrated with them yourselves, in order to transmit them to brethren whom you love, but whose errors you deeply deplore. You thus become echoes of that mysterious voice, which pronounces so "V 8 'J' many oracles, makes known ,so many truths and spreads abroad so many llamos ol'dirine charitv, ibr the salvation oi countless millions oi' souls. For this end, it Ix'hoves you to be well acquainted with this Letter, which contains the o-nmd principles upon which repose all the solidity and harmony of our holy re- lig'ion You will therefore make it a duty to study it care- tully by hstenino- attentively to the instructions which will be given to you upon it, by reading- f jr vourselves this solemn appeal of the best of Fathers to 'cherished children, w;hose loss he bitterly rog-rets, and by contem- plating- in it, the immensity oi the purest charity with which it overflows, in order to let us see the leno-thand the depth and the width of his fatherly love. ° There is here question, note it well, D. B. B., of doin<.' everythmor m your powder that this Apostolic Letter may not be a Dead Letter. Now it would be one, were it to pass unperceived : if no body spoke of it ; it it did not come to the knowledge of those whom it ought to warn that they are walking in a bad way ; if it w^ere not well understood; if it did not excite a lively interest, as is be- comhig to a document of sueli o-reat importance ; if it were not appreciated as it ought to be ; if it were not protected iioamst false interpretations which will not fail to be made ; li, in a word, it did not produce, throughout the whole world, a great movement in the minds and hearts of those who call themselves the children of God. But if this Letter were to be only a dead letter, I). 11. B., would it not be a veritable dishonor lor our holv rehgion, a great ignominy for our common Father, and li profound humiliation for ourselves ? Undoubtedly, vou all feel this acutely in the innermost of vour souls : and you resolve to apply yourselves seriouslv to the work, to render yourselves capable of fulfilling fhe mission ^ith which you are charged. lieligion expects of vou that you will ao your duty. Once more, it is necessar -. that the Apostolic Letter addressed to our separated brethren by O. H. F. the Tope, should come to their knowh'df>'e, through the medium o ..od catholics, who will comnTu- nicate it to them by ever: means in their power. You will therefore listen with holy avidity, to the instruction.s which your zealous pastors will not fail to give you on the subject. Rest assured that the Lord will inspire them those pfinciplL wh of t ^""^ '^*'"'^ "' "^"^^ «^- ^o seize hearts.^ ^ '^^'''^ '^ '^ necessary to euffrave in all inflam^your tS^TofdTi!;'''^'^ \Jr'' ^^^^^ '^^uld the common Fatho?oP f J 'f ^l'*^- *^*^ ^'"^^t« "^^de bv eonversion^ift^^a^Lf ^^^^^^^^^^^ .tt'^l^^ ^-"y. for the dress^l to 'thet'tS ^iu"^ ^''^''iK t^"«^ ^^ ^as ad- self to them as thi s cJe sof o7s;''p^f ^' ^^^^^^ ^^^ vernment of fh.. \, l^i u i *' ^^"^^^' ^^^ over the ffo- attent^o llhHnt mate^^n^^^^ ^^^* ^« ^^"« t^eir self and all the Cithol o S '''^'''? ^^^?*« ^^^^^^'^ him- in cecumenieal councH ^^^«^^P« ^^'^^^n he has convoked immortal PiiLlx" Sn v . ^^ ''^^"^"^. ^«P« '' ^^e seen this admirable Ponf,T/' """i' "\^V5^ ^f them have to him, have assisted Itlhf' ^"^^j^^a^d him. have spoken he has'be Jn the ob Lt durfn^V ^^"^«»«tr,^tr s of which hcate ; anditmart^raffirS^ttVr^""^^^"""^^^ are the most honLable on !-- ^^''S """^^^ ^^«°^ ^ho their lofty sendments r^^n.nf k""* °^*^^'' education and dom and We t^mf^n'sTo^hi^^^ov^^^^^^^^^^ ^^« -- the RTttSnXt?sT'siv"fP"^"'^^I ^^^^"-' «-^e dred years since the ties wer^' 1 r'^ *u-^'.^ *^"^^ ^^^"- IbrefathersofoiVseparL^^ which united the the Pope has hardlXen biow,^^^^^^^ *^' ^^"^^ S^^' name of Antichrist • and Pn^rii! ^^^'^i f ''^ "»^^" ^^^ ^- unfortunate and fatal eDooh h\ u ^'i* ^i""^ «^»«« that them that he truly occS the .l!^-''"^?^?^.?""^ "^^orm ffoverns the ChJrcT^^h ^u^t ^' ^J ^\^^^^^ tord himself has /verunf^hh^ •'u^'7dl the'V?^ Bishops reco-nise him as their di^" that if *M'^ soon arrn-e in Rome therp fn i^u ' *^r^*^^y would that he calls them also thi he tha^t fh^^ ^^^""^^ = «^^ most precious advantages S the cVn^^^^^^^^ ^^"^^^ *^« With these general observations, you will perfectly enter into the me»".ino- of thin beautilul and admirable Letter ot which the following- is the preamble. § 2.— MOTIVEH FOR THE CONVOCATION OF THE FUTURE (ECUMENICAL COUNCIL. Apostolic Letter of Our Holy Father Pope Pius IX, to all the Protestants and other Non-catholics. PIUS IX. " You are already aware, that having been raised in spite ol Our unworthiness, to this chair of Peter, placed con.soqueiitly oyer the supreme government of the entire tathoJic Church, and divinely entrusted with its preser- yation by Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, We have judged iittin- to call to Our presence Our Venerable Jirothers the Bishops ol the whole world, and to assemble them m order to celebrate, next year, an (Ecumenical Council, so tnat m concert with these same Venerable Brothers, called to share Our solicitude, we may take all the resolutions which shall seem the most fitting and ne- cessary, whether to dissipate the darkness of so many fatal errors which daily extend their empire more and more, and are being set loose to the great loss of souls, or to establish daily more and more, and to increase among the christian peoples coniided to Our vigilance, the reiSn of the true iaith, ol justice and of the true peace of &od P irmly relying on the strict and dear compact of union which so admirably attaches unto us and to this Holy bee, these same Venerable Brothers, who have never ceased during the who e course of Our supreme Pontificate, to give to IJs and to this Holy See the most convincing marks oHheir love and respect ; we entertain a well-found- ed hope that the (Ecumenical Council, convoked by Us m this present century, will, under the inspiration of di- vine grace, like the other General Councils in past ages, bring forth abundant fruits, a source of happiness, for the greater glory of God and the eternal salvation of men." § 3.— MARKS OF THE TRtJE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. I. ?^^^ ?i ^- -^•' *^®, *^® ^^s* words which the good shepherd addresses to those of his dear flock, whom he 6 sees wauderins outside th. tx^ld of tho l.ord. It [^ i'' «';|;'; to nroraro thi'in to receive those hnninous and nu;< nteH tal,U. truths Nvhich he ','ill propose nltor this ""^^i"''^';'''^^ preauihh!. For, as you are just goui- to see, he d»;clar38 hut there can only ie one true Church ol Jesus (hnst: that this Church h\,s been htult upon l^'^^'^^vlm is hk,> an immovalde rock hy the iimnutahh" sta .iht y ot her teaching , ha she is infalUlJh., because her divine founder has pro- nased to he with her until the end ol the wd. tha those who wish can always recognise her, bee uise she has stiikin.- and visible marks which distinguish her iron, uthe- Churches, being O.., //o//y, (^olln>lir 1- lowtheway traced out l)y the same .lesus Christ Ou Lm-d and which leads to eternal salvation. No one can deiiV or call in doubt, that Jesus Christ hiinseli, in order ?o apply the fruits of his liedemption to all human genc- •atS,^ has built upon Peter, in this world, his unuiue Church, that is to say, the One, Hol^/. CuhoUr a„d Apo.- loTciurch, and that he gave to him all the power neces- sary that the deposit of faith might be preserved inviolate and intact ; and that the same faith was taught to a peoples, to ill races and to all nations, in order that a 1 inen m ght, through baptism, becomv^ members of his SvstiTaf body ; and that in them might always be pre- ^rved and perfected this new life of grace without which no one can ever merit and obtain life everiastmg ; hnally IhaHhis same Church, which constitutes his mystical body, might ever remain stable and immovable m its owai natu?e until the consummation ot ages ; that she might livo over Itloomiiii^' and in n eondition to rurnish all her children vvilli the lucauN ol" \vt)rkim'- out thoir saivutioii." $ 4. — THAT N'ONK oK TIIK IMtOTESTANT CHUUCIIEm HAH THK MAUKH OK Till-: TKUK CHURCH OF JESUS CUIIIIST. But it wa8 not Hnfli(;ient for tho charity of the common I'athor, to have caused the distinjjfuisluun- characteristics oi' th(( True Church ol" Jesus Christ to shiiu' in all their hrilliaucy. helbro the eyes of our separated hrethreu. For, uryed on hy an ardent desire of shovvinu' them the road of truth, which can alone lead to everlastini>' life, he clearly shows them that uoiu' of the churches separa ed fro»n the lioman Church, which alone is One, Ho///, Catholic and A/)osf(ilir, can attribute to ii self these terrible misfortune that awaits them if they continue to sail on this stormy ocean ' You must not be astonished then, if the common F'ather, seeing his children in such imminent danger of perishing eternally, raises his voice to make them hear such moving words which so well express his fatherly solicitude. This you are going to see in the following passage : "■ Now, whosoever wishes to examine wdth care and to meditate upon the condition in which are to be found the different religious societies divided among themselves and separated innn the Catholic Church, which ever since Our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles, has always exer- cised through her legitimate pastors, and still exercises the divine power which was giv( n to her by the same Jesus Our Lord, such a one ought easily to be convinced, that no one of these societies, nor all ol them together, consti- tute in any way, nor are they this Church One and Catho- lic which Our Lord has founded and built, and which he 8 wished to create. And «« ciedrly and manifesth- tldt .7." • • '"^i "very one «..„. "le to ail chaiiffe.m ordprf,. r. " stable and inaccps^i guardianship, the presenct-xml Vh *" ^^'' ^"^^^r whose ^iiost have been promised Cfb^^.l^J^^^^^^^ ^^ the Holy § 5-FROM THESE DlVisjoA^ ^HE rnrr. -ble -5L^&J^S^^rlr]^-V ^^«PP"iess would reiS attached to the true Church wM^^^'^^^^^' P^^P^^ we?e Holy Spirit, ceases not to Dre.\ '""^i ^^'^^^ '^"ided by the olloymg- his fellows, o^d^oh^^^^^^^^^ man the necUty holding revolutions in horror ^pl '^''''"» to any one cJ government. ^°" ^^' ^^ obeying every established ^fi^ndharniomlltLThhu'l'^ *« *h« Tope him oi the religious dis^entfons whf *^,^"''ble consequences" P-ntday,toovertunr^:'^i:^^-e.^.^^ i affirm in art of this iiom Ca- t^d of that ^'specially ' oi' mora- alvation ; and this ■'er cease, 3ne sees 'position ' in jhis laccessi- itact the ' whose le Holy ING UP deplo- ital di- lations [^^ither 3duce, .vorld. ocoa- ^ower ds at came ly for >erity ^eign were the ssity e, of shed lim- ices the roi' 9 past ages, like that of the present time, is also on hand to conhrm what onr Father is about to say of the sad effects produced among all peoples, by dissensions in religSiI^ "No one, besides, can be ignorant of the fact thit these dissensions about doctrines "and opinions have Vven rise to social schisms, th.sfe in their turn have given1>lrth to communions and sects without number which are S;fo^f ?r^"^"'^^ ^"^•r^« ^^^*«»<3«d to the S 3e- triment of Christian and civil society. In fact whosoever ^^^mf'''''^'''' '^ thefoLdati<;JrVhuri?so': ciuy cannot tail to perceive with what powerful influence this division ol principles, this opposition and his Set of religious societies among themselves act upon civil society; and with what vfolence this ne-at^n nf^fl authority established by God to govern thfw^^^^^^^^ Wan mmd and to dirLt the actions of man, as well bi ^s^Srlr^?;^^;^ '- P^e^ntday,^t ^ As you have just seen, D. 13 B O FT 1^^ the p«».„ u litltSLT hf "4'^ "' ''- of aUlh°eeh„Jchts^;?;aW irom Kome he, as the successor of 8t. Peter the univer- C^S^t-L!^7^'^'^ ''''''''' *^« Father 'o?lh:;^;^ which hi'^s ft?'''" *^''"' i^'^'^ ^^'' ^"^^^^^^i^ ^^i""-ch, of vvniciineiH the supreme head upon earth is the onKr true Church founded by Jesus Christ, tha she a one has truly the marks of unity, of sanctity, of Catholic kVand of Aposto icity, which incficate to serious, rXctiVmii^^^^ where they will find the truth ; that in th^Sch done s preserved mtact the deposit of heavenly truths vvth the mtallibilitv which is assured to her br the presence church, he causes them to see, as clearly as Ke sun at mid-day that this cannot be the case ; for tVy have varied the Zr?*i"^' *.'? "^^.^u^ "^.^"^^d *^«ir teaSg d.S the short space of time they have existed, to pretend that they possess the treasure o/truth,^8ince truth J^nnorvary! 10 cannot change : that what was true when Jesus Christ and the Apostles preached throuhout the world is still true, and will always be true, unto the consummation of ages. Finally, he has drawn a moving picture ofthe inap- nreciable advantages for the governments oi the earth, Xhfiovvirom tlie principles of public order professed by the divine rehgion, the government oi which has been confided to him. § 6.— APPEAL TO OUR SEPARATED BRETHREN. After these frank, clear and himinous explanations^ the o-ood Pastor makes a fervent appeal to all the sheep whom he sees exposed to the fury of the wolves because^ unfortunately, they are given up to the errors of t^e human mind and are deprived of the divine assistance, which has been promised only to the Apostles and their legitimate successors, who alone, are the heirs to the infallible pro- mTses of God the Kedeemer. Observe in what moving fatherly terms, this truly grand and solemn appeal is conceived. For he who speaks is the Vicar ot Jesus ChiisCthe universal Pastor of the Church the commmi Fathei' of Christians ; and he speaks to children who have the misfortune to be in ^^^^or, through the aiilt of heir ancestors and the evil of the times. Whi st hstenmg, with religious attention, to this magmhcent appeal you will seem^ D. B. B , to hear Our Lord himsel repeating these words of charity and mercy which he has lett "i the UosDel • " And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold . Ihem also I must bring ; and they shall hear ^^'f voice: and there shall be made one fold and one shepherd. {John lU.lb.) - Let all those who do not possess the unity of truth ofthe Catholic Church, seize the occasion of this Council, wherehi the Catholic Church, to which their forefathers belonged, gives a new proof of her profound unity and of he Lvinci^le vitality, and giving satisfaction to the wants of their heart, let them endeavor to leave this state m which they cannot be assured ot their salvation. And let Them not cease to offer up the most f^^^'^nt prayers to he God of mercies, that he may break down the wall of divi- sion, may drive away the darkness oi error, and may lead ?hem back to their floly Mother the Church, m whose bosom alone is preserved and transmitted entire, the doc- 11 trine oi Josiis Christ, and the mvstorio.s of heavenly grace are dispensed." " For ourselves, to whom the same Christ Our Lord has confided the charo^e of the Supreme Apostolic Minis- try, and who ought, in consecjuence, to fulfil with the utmost zeal, all the functions of a good shepherd, and love with a fatherly love, and embrace in Our charity, all men scattered over the earth, we address this Letter to all the christians separated from Us, and we exhort them again and conjure them to hasten their return to the one fold of Christ. For We ardently desire their salvation in Christ Jesus, and We should fear to have one day to render an account to Him who is our judge, if we did not show them, and, as much as it lies in Our power, give them the assured means of rinding out the way which leads to eter- nal salvation. In all Our prayers, supplicating and giving thanks, we cease not, day or night, to ask for them, hum- bly and earnestly of the Eternal Pastor of souls, an abun- dance of light and heavenly grace. "And since, notwithstanding Our unworthiness, we are His Vicar upon earth, with hands uplifted, we await with the most ardent desire, the return of Our erring sons to the Catholic Church, in order that we may be able to receive them with love into the house of the Heavenly Fa- ther, and enrich them with his inexhaustible treasures. Upon this so ardently desired return to the truth and the communion of the Catholic Church, depends the salvation JJ^u* I' ^^ '"Jividuals, but also of all christian society. 1 he whole world is unable to enjoy true peace, if it does not become one flock under one shepherd. " Given at Rome, near St. Peter's, September 13th 1868, and the twenty-third year of Our Pontificate." Now, D B. B., since we have heard these moving words we shall further penetrate into the heart of Our Father, in order to be imbued with the sentiments that animate it. After his example, let us seize the occasion ol the future (Ecumenical Council to labor, as far as we can, to recall our separated brethren to the bosom of the Church, to which their forefathers belonged as well as our own. It is only three hundred years since they separated from it, and before that time they were Catholics like ourselves Evidently their religion does not go back to the Apostles, and consequently, it is not Apostolical. Let us make them 12 understand that the Catholic Church, through this App^'ul which she makes to them, causes to shhie before their eyes her perfect unity and the spirit of hfe which animates her, in order to encourage them to go away from error to sa- tisfy the need they all feel of truth, and of assurmg their eternal salvation. Let us engage them to imite their prayers with ours, to obtain of the Leather of mercies the grace they so much stand in need of to cause the wall of division which sepa- rates them from liome to fall down, and to drive away the darkness of error which prevents thmn from entering the bosom of Mother Church, who fed their forefathers in the fertile pasturages of truth, and administered the sacra- ments which kept in them the lite of grace. & 7.— A.LL THE CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH OUOHT TO EN- TER INTO THESE SENTIMENTS OF THEIR FATHER IN .TESUS CHRIST. Following the example of Our Father, who fulfils with so much zeal the ApostoHc mhiistry confided to him by the Lord, let us sincerely love our separated brethren, and let us take all the means in our power, to cause them to enter into the fold of Christ, who is the Son of the living God. Like him, let us dread having to answer ior their souls at the tribunal of the Sovereign Judge, it, through our negligence, we do not give them assured means of discovering the way which leads to eternal sal- vation. Whilst ottering to God our sacrifices and our thanks- oivings, let us not cease, bv day or by night, to join our prayers with those of our common Father, foi those, who, being his children, are our brethren, that we may obtain for them from the eternal Pastor, the abundance of his «>-races and light, llow unworthy soever we may be, let us, with the Vicar of Jesus Christ upon the earth, hold up our hands towards heaven, and let us hope, whilst framing ardent desires, for the return of our separated brethren into the bosom of our holy Mother the Catholic Church. Let us continually breathe wishes that this good Fa- ther may at length have the consolation of receiving into the house of the heavenly Father, those dear children who have the misfortune of living so long a time in de- plorable errors, and of enriching them with the inexhaus- tible treasures of the divine mercy. 13 ) Appeal leir eyes ates her, •or to sa- ng their ith ours, so much ich sepa- A'e away entering athers in [he sacra- T TO EN- HEK ho fulfils id to him brethren, luse them Ion of the iswer for Fudge, if, 1 assured ternal sal- ar thanks- join our lose, who, tay obtain ice of his lay be, let h,hold up st framing 1 brethren Church, i good Fa- ivin^ into r children me in de- inexhaus- Let Uj well uuderstaud, as the Holy Father assures us, that the salvation not only of individuals, but also of all Christian society, depends upon this so ardently desired return of our separated brethren. The entire world in iact (Munot enjoy true peace, if it does not become one fold iinder one shepherd. It is by entering into these beautiful sentiments, thai we shall plainly prove to our separated brethren, that Catholics are very far from wish- ing to damn protectants, as thti latver are sometimes fond of repeating to throw odium on the former. It is true, that Catholics believe, and assert in conformity with their belief, that as there is but one God, there can only be one religion which is pleasing to him, and in which man can ))e saved ; they say of those who, knowing the true reli- gion neglect to embrace it, what they say of bad catholics, who, living in the true faith, do not live up to it, and die in their sins. It is also true that we do not say and cannot say that every religion is good, since this would be admitting that error and trvith, justice and iniquity are one and the same thing, which is revolting to faith and even to reason itself. IJut we nothing the less desire the salvation of our sepa- rated brethren, and we share the admirable sentiments which yt. Augustin felt in himself and expressed in the following terms so full of force and unction. " Let those treat you with ri^or, he said to the Donatists, who know not how difficult it is to find the truth and to avoid error : let those treat you with rigor, who are igno- rant how painful it is to rise above the vain phantoms with which one has once been impressed ; let those treat you with rigor, who ::now not the extreme difficulties one meets with to purify the eye of the interior man, in order to render it capable of seeing the truth which is the sun of the soul. But for our part, we are very far from follow- ing this conduct towards persons estranged from us, not by errors which they have invented themselves, but because they were entangled in the wandering of others. On the contrary, we offer our prayers to God, that whilst refuting the false opinions of those whom you follow with a steadfastness wrhich we tax rather with imprudence than malice, he will grant us the grace to bring no other than the spirit of peace, which is touched with no other impressions than those of charity, with no other interests 14 than those of Jesus Christ, iio other desires than that of your salvation." These beautiful sentiments of the doctor of grace, we intend, ]). B. B., to appropriate to ourselves, whilst em- ploying all the ardor of our zeal for the conversion of our separated brethren. § 8.— ON THE ZEAL WI1I(!II SHOULD ANLMATE EVERY GOOD CHILD OF THE CHUUCH TO LABOR FOll THE CON- VERSION OF Ol'R SEPARATED BRETHREN. We shall exercise this zeal, we, j^astors of souls, by remaining- between the vestibule and the altar, to make our sighs be heard and to otfer the incense of our prayers ; by giving- to our i)eople solid instructions on the truths of faith ; by inciting- the faithful confided to our care, to live as true catholics, that our separated brethren may the better understand that the Church is holy ; by spreading- good books which tell the truth, without otlending- persons; by causing- g-ood souls to pray according- to the charitable intention of our common Father, whose sighs are now- heard throughout the entire world . You, likewise, will feel this divine zeal, you, religious souls, who live under the shadow of the altar, causing- day and night the sighs of the dove to be heard ; who, being- fed in the rich pastures of the good Shepherd, s6 keenly feel how happy it is to live under his crook ; who, being- called to the sublime state of virginity, live upon the house-top like the solitary sparrow, to give yourselves up more freely to the holy rigors of penance. You understand the price of souls, and to save a single one, you w^ould be ready to sacrifice a thousand lives. Make yourselves, therefore, victims of propitiation for so many millions of infidels, heretics, schismatics and sinners w^ho are being- lost ; mingle your tears with those of the Mother of Sor- row^, w ho has suffered so much for love of souls ;join your prayers wath those of Holy Church, who so earnestly prays for the conversion of these poor w^andering souls. Imitate the seraphic St, Theresa, who emitted so many sighs and sobs, on learning from the lips of missionaries that a great many souls were lost in their missions. Oh ! it is not now the voice of a simple missionary, but it is that of the Father of the great christian family which resounds throughout the entire w^orld, to invite it in union with 16 himself, to ask I'or the conversion of so many millions of schismatics, heretics and infidels who are being- lost before our eyes. You will have this holy zeal, you, uood christians, who, faithfully fuliiling the duties imposed upon you by religion, taste, by happy experience, the yreat happiness of living in truth, in justice and in piety, Alas ! It is not so with those who live in error or in sin. For their life is passed amid trou})le, remorse, fears and anxieties, which prevent them from enjoying- all the other advantages of life ; they are very unhappy and much to be pitied, even amidst the honors and wealth with which they are laden, because they are unable to taste peace of heart, which is to be found only in the practice of the true lleligion. It is (rod himself, who in his infinite goodness, urges them, solicits them, interiorly torments them, to make them enter into the good way which leads to heaven. For God, all good and all merciful, washes that all men should come to the knowledge of truth, be- cause He wishes all men to be saved. Now, such should likewise be our continual desire, if we are the true chil- dren of our Father who is in heaven, and if we well un- derstand what w^e ask of Him, when we so often repeat : Hallowed be thy name ; thu Kingdom come ; thy loill be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Our zeal will become more and more ardent, D. B. B.; if we- pay attention to the enormous difficulties which op- pose the conversion of our dear separated brethren. For we cannot doubt but that it costs them a great deal of sa- crifice, to rid themselves of the prejudice of their child- hood, to reform the ideas of their " earlier education, to overcome human respect w^hich forcibly retains them in the circle of their relations and friends, to expose them- selves to the persecution which aw aits them, if they change their religion, to profess themselves catholics at the risk of losing the good will of persons who are very dear to them, and even of being despoiled of their inheritance and reduced to want, to subject themselves to the mortifying practices of Religion, to fasting, abstinence, and especially to confession. Let us for a moment, put ourselves in their stead, and we shall be able to judge what a painful sacri- fice we should have to make in order to embrace the true 16 Ivelig'ion, and what speciou.s pretexts we should probably allege to draw back from this sacrifice. We shall help them then, D. B. B., with all our heart to take a step which, perhaps, to them seems impossib' and which is so in fact, if we merely consider huma^: strength, but which becomes easy, with the asssistance of Cxod's grace, which, without difficulty overcomes all obs- tacles, sweetens the bitterness of the darkest grief, keepM up the courage of the most feeble. Yes, we shall extend to them a helping hand, by making use of all the means which lleligion places at our disposition. These means, 1). B. B., you know them well, and yo\i will have recourse to them with renewed fervor. §<.V PRACTICES OF ZEAIi FOll THE CONVEHHlON OK DIMJ HEPAIIATED BKETllKEN. You will, therefore, D. B. B , embrace the practices oi' a prudent and enlightened zeal, to facilitate to cherished relatives, loved brothers and sisters, faithful friends, gene- rous protectors, amiable fellow-citizens, their return so ardently desired and so long waited for, to the bosom ol the true Church of Jesus Christ. Your daily prayers, your communions, your fasts. your austerities, your sacrifices, your alms, all will be offered, all will be performed with this intention. You will esijecially think of it, when with your assembled fa- mily you recite the holy Rosary^, that beautiful prayer of the Beads, which the Blessed Virgin herself taught to St. Do- minick, as a powerful means to convert the greatest sin- ners, and heretics the most obstinate in their errors. The marvellous success obtained by this great servant of Mary, through preaching the devotion of the Beads, is a convin- cing proof of the efficacy of this prayer. We shall there- fore, have recourse it with new fervor. Oh ! how many, many^ souls will be saved, if everywhere the Beads be said with true devotion whilst religiously meditating on the mysteries of the life, passion and resurrection of the Divine Savior, and on the dolours of his August Mother ! But it is absolutely necessary that we labor to make these practices salutary, by vivifying them with wood ex- ample and a life truly catholic. For that, assuredly, is the most moving instruction for all our separated brethren, and the one most capable of making an impression upon n their heart. Otherwise, wc should i-i vain seek to prove to them that the catholic reliirion is Holy in its faith and morality, il' the household of the faith live without res- traint, without morals and according" to the impulse of their passions. PenetratiKl with a profound sentiment of xeal for the conversion of so many souls that perish iji the ways of error, we are going, D. B. IJ., to so regulate our life," that it may be for all our separated In-ethren, as an exquisite perfume which may draw them to our holy religion, which may make them love and admire it, and' may espeeiallv engage them to inn brace it courageouslv and to observe all its duties with lidelity. Let our life then be such as that which our fathers in the faith used to lead ; and our separated brethren, like the pagans ot those days will exclaim with wonder : see, see the catholics, hoio fai'thfidli/ thej/ observe their reli}i;ion,hoir i he 1/ sanctify the Sundays and Festivals, by religiously assist- ing- at their solemn o/fices ; how respectfully they listen to their /mturs, v'hen they reproach them vith their vicked life ; hoir they amend tchen they "v to confession and communicate ; how happy and contented they seem when they have confessed their sins; hoir honest they are in all their deal inii;s ; hov) exact they are in repairinir any injury they may have done to their neighbour ; hoiv they fear false oaths in Court and elsewhere ; how they respect alt lawfully constituted authoritfj ; how well the parents bring up their children ; how obedient the children are to their parents ; haw scrupulously they avoid homes and associations dangerous to morality ; hoiv they abstain from all excess in eating and drinking ; how ivell their inns are kept ; how honest they are as workmen, how good as servants ; how charitable they are towards their poor ; how zealous they are to favor their educational establishments and charitable instiln- lions, which are so numerous and so maguijicent Oh ! yes, D. B. B., all this is lit to open the eves of those men w^ho are serious and capable of appre- ciating the grand spectacle which we should otter to our separated brethren, if we were all such as we ought to be ; and if we are not, we have reason to fear lest the name of G-od be blasphemed through our fault. But, no ; so great SI misfortune will not befall ue ; for w^e are immediately going to set to work, to acquit ourselves worthily of the \H honorable mission we have to I'ulfil with regard to our separated brethren. But, in order to incite us the more, let us reilect that now there is a question of the greatest glory to Grod, of the honor of our holy lieligion and of the salvation of many millions of souls. Let us take courage, too, in the exercise of our zeal, in the remembrance ot so many remarkable conversions which are taking place every day, and which evidently prove that the time of mercy has arrived for our dear se- parated brethren. Let us consider that Providence ever adorable and ever amiable, wishes at the present day to rejoice the atliicted heart of our common Father, by the conversion of our separated brethren, as it formerly rejoiced that of Peter, whose successor he is, by the conversion of the cen- turion Cornelius, which conversion has been consigned in the Holy Scripture, to show that the Lord is always with his Church and with those who govern it, for the sancti- tication of souls and the consolation of the Pastors. " Cornelius, says the author of the Acts of the Apos- tles, (Acts 10) was a religious man, and one thrft feared Grod with all his house, who gave much alms to the peo- l)le, and prayed to Grod always." How many of our separated brethren are making themselves pleasing in the eyes of Grod and men by simi- lar good works. Does it not suffice, to convince us of this fact, to see the great number afChurches they are building around us, and which they frequent not only on Sundays, but also several times during the week ? Let us hope they will be rewarded for this as Cornelius was. For the an- gel of the Lord appeared unto him and said ; " your prayers and your alms-deeds have ascended in remem- brance unto the presence of Grod." From this unquestion- able fact, must we not conclude that Grod will rather send one of his Angels, than allow those to perish who fear him and who sincerely desire to know the truth ? " And now, said the Angel to this religious Centurion, Send men to Joppe, and call hither one Simon, who is surnamed Peter :... he shall tell thee what thou must do." This Angel was well able af himself to instruct Cor- nelius. But ne does noc do so ; he sends him to the chief of the Apostles, in order that, in all ages, we may well 19 luulorstand that tho euro of souls hus boon coi,li,l..(I t<, th*. Apostles and thoir logitimut«.« successors. And has not the 7oZ> ?f "^'' 5«i»S- OH belore our eves lor sevc-ral V. ars ? Do we not see the nost celebrated doctors oftlu^ iinglish universities jvoing over to Koine, when, directed bjr extraordinary ways m their search after the true Keli- pon, thev liave come to pt-rceive that the Uonian Church Cahohr ,1,1,1 AposUth,' ; and that the h»oinan Ton till is the only true successor of Peter? him what he IS to do for the salvation of Cornelius and his whole lamilj. Ls it not also the Lord who has inspired ClCT'u ^n"*^""*" '''r '? '^"^ ^^^''P olour sepaial^d brethjon by addressniiv unto them with Apostolic xeal, a Letter which breathe.s nauo-ht but love and charity in .Itsub Cluist, outside ol which there can be no salvation ' 1 eter hastens to obey the voice Iroin Heaven and with some ot the brethrtMi goes down to Ciesarea, w'here Cornelius was awaiting him with his relations and Iriends whom h(| had assembled tooether, to make them partici- fn\V'\^u 'T''T^'^' h=vpp?ness. The Centurioircame p meet the Apostle and alter paying him fin. must pro- tound homage, he said : - Now therelbre, all n\(> are preient odlh^;iS!lhlri'^:[;" ^^""-^ whatsoever are coiimand. This is what so many new converts to the iaith have already done and this, we Ibndlv hope, is what they who have been left in error will also" do, those to whoni the leather ol the univ(>rsal Church makes on this day so solemn an appeal. ^ ''•^'^fu'\-':*;H^''i'""""^"'^^"«"^li' «aJiour Mother the Church, in her grand and devout Hotemiities ; receiving like us at the holy table, the IJread of life descended from Heaven; honoring as we do the Virgin Imnuiculate, the Angels and the Saints ; praying as we do for the repose of the holy 8ouls in Purgatfny ; inciting themselves as we do to true piety, in presence of the K' lies and Images of the Blessed Friends of (iod ; forming with us only one fold, iinder one and the . ame Shepherd ; lifting up as we do all their dcsnos, all their hopes, towards the heavenly country, reserved for those alone who will have died in the true faith and in the cha- rity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigueth for ever and ever. At thy sacred feet, O Virgin Immaculate, glorious Mother of Ood, w^e humbly p: ostrate ourselves, to lay be- fore thee this little work, and to beg of thee to bless it, that it may produce some happy result for the glory of thy adorable Son, and the advantage of his divine Iteli- gion. We have recourse to thee, O Virghi a thousand times blessed, because the holy Church teaches us to celebrate thy victories over the errors which have hitherto infested the guilty earth we inhabit, by placi)ig on our lips this beautiful canticle ; Rejoice, O Virgin Man/, thou alone hast destroyed all the heresies in the entire world. For thou art the sceptre of the orthodox faith. Through thee, the only Son of God, who is the way and the light, has shone upon the eyes of thos" who were seated in darkness and in the shadow of death. Through thee, all men have come to the knowledge of truth. I sec the joyous assembly of all saints, who have come together tvith eagerness, at the call of the Mother of God ever li: lllji 21 rZ/A'/w. Mill/ nil inttisr lh,',ij)f. rentkred to In,- (St. Cyril of A .'XiMKlriu). It w„,v nil this (lav. that by the lioli.'Kt of tilhiiiiccs, thoii waM .-oiilido,! to tlio g-iiurdiaii.ship ol'thv (Icar .spouM(., tht' nh.rious St. Josi.pli ; dcimi thoii, on this iic-ouiit, to charyc hiiii witli the caroM ol' the Church, ex- |">sf<| to so many ui'u u such iinniin(>iit (laiiircrs. Wcaro ni <»ur way totho.'i'>r-,.. city : Ix" our -ui.lin^^ «tar ami.l thy .storms ol ocoan. Wo are s(!ttinfr out tor the (Ecume- iiM-al CouiHiJ : 1„. loi- i/s, J,, hunun^• hiiup which uuiy cn- iiiiiitcu our wtcps iiii-l preserve us from all error. I'lace Us uiulcr the proteetiuii of the holy Aiijyels, that they may a.comjMuiv us III all (mr wavs, aiul niav brim.' us back with jieace, and heallli and Joy, to our "earthly country, there to Inush our course, by consecrating^ the remainder ol our strenoth to the. service of thv most holy and imma- eulate heart. * The present Pastoral Letter shall l)e read utthe prone 111 all the ( hurdles where the public olFice takes pla* and at the Chapter in each < 'ommunity, in the mannci ,)udi.(Ml best by the parish priests, U<'ctors and Sup. -\oxh eluirg-e_d with their administration. Criven on board the St(>amer " La Ville de Pan\ on our way to th(> eternal city, the twenty-third -ay ol he month ol .lanuary, under our hand and seai and iJM eountersi^-n of our Secretary nro feni/>ore. L. t S t K^N. IJISHOP OF MONTREAl By order of His Lordship, r. C. DUFRESNE, Si b-Deacon, Secretary /m) tempore .