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We, by Ihemerey ofOod andlheappotnlment of the noly JlpoaioUc See, ^■rehMahop and Biahopn of the Eccleaiastieal Province of qttebee. To all the Ecclesiastics, to all the religious Communities of both sexes, and to all the faithful of the said Province, health and benediction in our Lord, 'llie {iront Apostle vi tlic ficntilcs, writinpf to liis door disci|)lc Tiinotliy, and tliroiifjli liiiii to ill! tito liiBlicips of the world, lays down the following iiiii)ortaiit ConiiBiils : " / rhanjc thci'. hr/ore Coil and Jfsua-Chrttt, icho shill jwhje the livlmj and "■ llir dcitd, 1 1/ his comliiij rove,entrrat, rchnkr. in (dl pati'tmx and dodn'ne. But hr fhoit viijilanl, labor " in all thi'ni/K, do l/ir work of an ^vontfelisl, fidfd thi/ ministn/." (II Tim. " IV. 1...) It is to accomplish this important duty, Dearly Beloved ISrcthrcn, that not saHsficd with often nddrc9sin}» you in our own dioceses, wc unite our voices to day in a j^eiiural i)aPtorrtl letter. For the remembrance of the terrible condamna- tion with which the great A]tostlo threuleus us, will not allow us to neglect any of tlic means luoi-t siiitablo to make you midorstaml the iiiiporfancc of tliu conn- scis which wo ha\ c to give you : ami whilst iistoMiiig to what we say to you, do not foij^i't that wo tij)cak to you by order *'/ (foil tin' Kd/ici; ami of Jrunx Clirld thii Son, vj/io will one dui/jti bo deceived by those tiireaclierous protestations. "We understand too well that : " It is l)\ " a particular design ofdivinc I'rovidi'nco, whoiules and governs all things, tlmt " this teni|)oral sovereignty has been given to the Konian Pontilf, in order that, " not being siibjccted to any civil power, he may exercise, with the most conipUtc " liberty and without any biiulrance, throughout the world, the supreme charge " of the apostolic ministry which has been contided to hi:ii by Christ our Lord." {Encyclical of \\)lh danuat ij iSOn.) " In fact, all know that the faithful would not have an entire confidence " iu, nor complete obedience towards, the Koman I'onlitf, if they saw iiim subject '' to .1 foreign i)rincc and deprived of his liberty. " {Allocution of 2i)th Jj)ril lS4'.t.) This temporal sovereignty being infende ii>iiiiArf^. — 3 — ncpomplishcd tli'm grand find urgent duty of filial piety towards the Sovereign i'ontifl", since, in tiie t'liltilnient ol'it, you gi;ncrously subscribed to the Peter's pence i'und, and sent a number of brave volunteers, who have gone to join in the ranks of the pontifical army. Yes ! ciiristian fathers and mothers, you nobly performed tliat duty when you allowed your eons to devote themselves to the defence of the Holy See. To you especially, brave soldiers of Christ, to you, who have without liesitati(m left your parents, your country, your hopes of a brilliant future, to ])rotestin tlio name of catholic (Canada, against the outrngos of the enemies of the Church, to you bo given immortal glory, and a reward in eternity, by Ilim who does not forget even a cup of cold icatcr fjivcn in his name to the leastamong his hrcthren ! (Matt., X. 42.) May God jirotect you, children of catholic Canada I Show yourselves ever worthy of the kindness of the Sovereign Pontiff, wortiiy of tho piety of your ancestors, worthy of the holy cause which you have sworn to defend ! In the midst of the anguish which the calamities of the Church cause ns to feel, Divine Goodness does not leave its cliildreu deprived of all consolation. The bonds of unity have never been so closely drawn together as in our days. We might imagine oureelvcs transported to those times wlien " the midtitude of chridiana had but mie heart and one soul. " (Acts, IV. 32.) In truth, Peter, in the person of his successor, is as, it were imprisoned in tliis narrow part of his patrimony that his enemies have not yet been able to wrest from iiiin ; but yet, what a cry of condemnation is heard from all parts Against the spoilers ! flow many prayers ascend each day from the two hundred millions of catholic hearts scattered over the entire universe I Feter therefore was kept in prison, lut prayer was made without ceasing, hy the Church vnto (jod far him (Acts, Xll. 5). Let us then have confidence : the arm of God is not shortened, and wo shall see the day when the successor of St. Peter shall cry out with transports of joy : Now 1 know in very deed, that die Lord hath sent his Avijd, anil hndt (hlivrinl me out of die hand u/ Ilurod, and from tdl the cxpec- tatiun of the people of the di tax. (Acts, XII. 11.) No doubt, this is wliat sustains tho admirable courage of Pius IX, in tho midst of those dangers. Ah ! to prove to tiio whole world, tlic divine mission of the catholic church, we iiave only to appeal to th ■ sublime spectacle of this feeble old man, dejirivcJ of hmnan ..uccor, facing w.i i .iicrgy, and with a calm brow, the most terrible storm that has as yet ass..'Icd the vessel of tho Church. Ble.«sed be the (Jod if all consolation (II Cor., I. 3), who, while consoling and strengthening our Fiitiier, consoles and strengthens hii cliildrcn%nd eiuibles them to await with certainty, the fulfilment of these g»affiRTg m M tgmte )^ iUMi wi* 'r «i i' i ) i" ■ _ 4 — wards: The ijale* of hrll iJniU not prevail ai/ain$t her. (S. Matt., XVI. 18). llvaren aiul earth shntl ("im awiii/, hut m;/ iconl shall not pans axrity. (S. Luko, XX [. IKJ.) " We are eortaiii, siiya Pius IX, tlnit (iod will not bo waritiiij? to his word, " and that n day will conic, whon God, whoso works arc wonderful, will show " tliiit this st iriu hiia not boon excited to bury the vessel of the church, but " rather to rai.so it up. " {Allocution of?AHli Si2>tt'mhcr ISfil.) 15iit whilst cunliiliMi; in those proiniees ot the Eternal Word to await the tinul triain|>h of Holy Ciiureh, let ns not fori^et. Dearly Belovwl Brethren, that God wishes to a.*soeiate us with the i^lory of this triumph, by making us share in the events whiili must lirin;^ about this result. No one is crowned, says St. Paul, except he strive lau'fnlhj (II Tim, II., 5). God only calls a small number of choice souls to jionr out their blood f >r this noble cause, but all can and ouj^ht to keoj) their hatuls raised towards heaven to implore the divine assistance. It is to the prayers of the primitive Church that Saint Peter owed his delivery iVoiu prison. Let ns pray then with fervor for the sovereign Pontiff ; Ictus pniy with perseverance as the early Ciiristians. And that our j)rayers nuiy be judged worthy of being heard, let us keep our hearts free from sin, — let us also add almajivinij irhich tnal:e» usjhiil mrny Lrj'ore. the Lord. (Tobias, XII. J)). Oh ! would to (rod that tiio occ.isions of practising this holy charity Wt/cA ii the ffrvtt'st of' virtues (I. Cor., XIII. 13), were not too freijuent for our feeble resources I At least, let us do what wc can, in order that the measure of our tni:i-it mill/ bn ififid, and prii.ui-il dmrn, ani alutlcen tmjether and runnipij ovir. /«r, adds Jcsus-Christ, iciVA tin same meanure that i/ou thall mete withal, it nhall be meanuted to yuu again. (^S. Luke, VI. .'!S). This rule is short but cumprehensive : observe it ever, and in an especial manner when you are called upon to contribute towards the Peter's pence fund. Bear in mind that the blessings of heaven are jtromised to the child who honours, consoles and succors his father. Tin; i'i;oi'.\(;\r.i/chiiriti/, (^Gal. V. C) you will not want for zoul to coninumicate this inestimable SBSI^rwWSSSMttsaEKWww— benefit to so many ])Oor eonla stU.l seated in darkness and in the shadow of death, that thellijht of life may shine upon them. (S. Matt, IV. 10.) What better means of tcstifyinj; to God your gratitude for bo many graces that ho granted you in holy baptism, iti Confirmation, in the adorable Eucharist, in Penance, in the divine Word ! You are asked so little to enable the holy waters of Baptism to be poured out upon the thousands that, until then, had borne no other yoke than that of the devil : to open to innumerable sinners the saving bath of Penance, and to present to them the delicious banquet of the divine Eucharist, and finally to place them in the way of arriving at ctcrniil happincBs I Whoevrr, says Jesus-Christ, recelveth a prophet in the name of a propJul, thall receive tiie reward of a prophet ; and he tliat recciveth a Jmt man in the name of a just man, thall receive the rewinl of a Jnsl man. And whosoever thall give to drink to one of thc»e little ones a cup of cold water, only in the name of a disciple, amen 1 sai/ to you, he shall not lose his reward. (S. Matt., X. 41. 42.) What then shall not bo the reward of him, who by his prayers, and by his alms, shall have contribnted to draw into holy cliurch those thousands of souls upon whom arc poured out every year, the vivifying waters of IJaptism ? A reward even in this world, by the spiritual and temporal blessings which God will bestow ujjon tlie families and the parishes where those associations of the Propagation of the Faitii and of the lioly Childhood are encouraged with zeal. A reward by the sweet joy of having procured for our fellow men an in(»ti- mable benefit, and of having discliargcd a part of the debt of gratitude which wo owe to God. A reward at the hour of deatli and before the tribunal of the sovereign Judge, where good works alone can find favor for us. A reward, finally, for all eternity, by a new degree of glory and of happiness ; For, says the prophet Daniel, they that are learned shall shine as the lightness of the firmament : and thy that instruct many unto justice, as stars jor all eternity. (Daniel, XII. 3.) The associatiDU of tiie holy Cliildiiood ought to be specially dear to a'l christian parents who liave at lieart tiio true iiapi)incss of their children. " Indeed, says " tiie S-.vereign Pontill", by inviting children to labor according to their strength, " for the salvation uf these poor abandoned little ones, it procures for themselves, " by this act of <:!iari(y, the occasion of testifying to God their gratitude for the " i.riviloged grace by which the Lord has deigned to call them to the admirable " light of Faith. Ilence this new work of christian charity, far from injuring — c — " lliiit of tho PropagHtion of" tlic Fiiitli, Iioljis it in a woiidorfnl iiiniiiicr, l)cca\isp " In- cnkimllitii; in tlic hearts of tlio cIiiKlreii tliu first littlu sparks of cliaritv, it *' iml)uc8 tliein witii tlio truo Bi-nfimeiits of iiiorcy ami coinpassion, and (iisposca *' thcin to bocoino attached aftiTwards to the pious work of tho IVopayatiou of '' tho VaUhr {Brief of lH(h Julf/ ISM.) m. EDUt'ATION OK VOITII. By intcrc.-ifing your chiidren from au early aj,'e in those pious associations of the holy Childhood and of the Propagation of the Faith, Dearly Beloved Bre- thren, you will only fulfil one of the numerous duties, the neglecting of whieh would hakX' the most frightful conseipienees foryourselws, for your families, tor the entire country. You will not imitate those blind jiiirents who imagine timt everything is done, when they have wa*ehe). Strive, therefore, by your exaiu]ile8, still more than by your words, to develop in those young souls all the genus of tin- virtues that nature and the grace of holy Baptism havo depo- sited in them. Would to (ixl that each house of this province were, like tho blessed sanctuary of Nazareth, the dwelling place of a truly christian family, an imago of this holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph! What union of iiearts ! what mutual charity I what obciUence and filial piety! wliit gentleness in autho- rity, what gravity in the conduct of parents! what a happiness, in tine, both for jiarents and children I In this way, would soon disappear from our midst that deplorable tendency towards the contempt of parental authority, ami the jireinature emineipatiun i>i' youth. Tills destruction of the order established by Divini' Providence atlllcts and alarms ns, for it forsehudows in the future, many evil days and incalculahie woes, llow can those children be good citizens and fervent christians, who have bi'iii abandoned to all their own fancies, accustomed to despise the salutary yoke of jiaternal direction, luul allowed to plunge into that itiiivirml iiuilicc which idUncsH Laches. (^Ecel., XXXIII. 2!.».) ••»»»»iww»*w»««i«ora«rs*!S^^ ~ 7 - After having' foriiicil tlio hearts of your chiklrcn to virtue, 1»y yonr cxajnplce, i)early IJelovod Urethreii, endeavor to iirocurofor tlicm tlic ml vantages of a good ctlueatioii, and refuse not to make the saeriliccs tliat the fulfilment of this duty niiiy reijuire from you. N'o doubt, yon arc not bound to anything beyond your nieiinri, but take care not to exaggerate in your own ryc8 your inability or your indigence, lest Home day, when it will bo too late, you may have to regret that you neglected so important a duty ns that of instructing your chi'drcn. It would be a strange and deplorable contradiction, if, after having taken great caro to form the hearts of your children, by your teachings and by your examples, you allowed them all kinds of bookb and reviews, newspapers and novels, without troubling yourselves to keep away from them every thing that might corrupt their faith or their morals. But it would bo still more deplorable, if, in the choice of masters t > whom yon wIhIi to confide your children, you took no heed o.' moral securities, and if yoii looked before all to knowledge or cheapness. Of course, knowledge is ancccs- sary quality in a good teacher, but it is not the only one. " For, says the " Sovereign Pontifl", Gregory XVI, of happy memory, when youth is corrupted " by the maxims and examples of its teachers, the loss to religion is much greater, " and the perversity of morals becomes moro profound. " {Encyclical of Gregory XVI. the iMh. Attg. 1832.) This is why the Pontiff who now governs so gloriously the Church, earnestly recommends to all the bishops to watch " that the youths collected together in " schools, should have none but blameless masters, both in religion and in morals, " in order that, whilst teaching them true virtue, thr-y may enable them to discover " the snares laid for them by tho wicked, to avoid their deadly errors and to " serve with \itility both religion and country. " {Encyclical of Pius IX, 8 bo curried otf like a cowardly soldier, and destroyed by the enemy without a struggle ! This is the reason that satan, tc/to t'-s f childhood ought to have for error. Tlie same divine law which oldiges you to give to your children religious instruction and good examj'le, obliges yoii to remove with care, cs'ory thing that might destroy the cli'ect of your lessons and examples, and corrupt the faith and the morals of your children. IV. nOOKB AND NEWarAI'EKS. Already, on many occasiuns, we have exhorted you to form I'aroclind J.ilirariin. They C(>mj)leti' and supplement the Hclumlt*, by continuing and pni- piigating their fruits, ("hristiaii parents uugiit tu secund the zeal and ellurto of their parish priests to (stablish and niaintaiii so important a work. A good bnul; in a family is like the cclio of the divine word ; it is a friend wliieh tells the truth without either fear or tlattery ; it is a teacher always ready to instruct you : a di>interested adviser troni whom you will receive light in your doubts and Consolation in your pains. Dut, on the contrary, what tearful havoc a bad book can i)r"ns, tlio libraries wliero Uiesc iiii))i<)iiJ5 ,vorks are iVxiiid mixed up witli fijood books, wliicli arc jilaccd tliurc only thu more easily to deeuivo thu i'aiiliful. Avoid cspt'cially those impious or tibsccnc newspaper*-, which scciti to have issued I'rom Iiell to fd(isj)/ieme against the Z.vrJa\telf to the most contra- dictory reliirious bcliet'>, which claims t'O open the haven of eternal salvation to the followers of all religions whatever they nniy be. They readily praise every thing done ontr-ide of the catholic Clinrch, and even what is done against her. They reiieat with delight, the eahnnnies of heresy and intidelity, and too often, they invent some themselves. They become the echoes of all the lying accusatitwis against the catholic clergy, Imt they will not receive, or they distort the defence of the accused. The alt'ecled ^ilcnce which these men keep, in many circums- tances, when a true child of the Church cannot n'lnain .-ilent, is another proof of the anti-religious tendency of tl)c pajiers which they publi>li. Even the dcvo|cdne>s (jf iIiom' brave youths who have gone to light for the rau-e of the Holy Fatl;er, has not fonn. They have bnl wonl,^ v\' iiitU r reproach for tlnw courageous soldiers oft'hri*! • tor the :;ciHro>ily of the )>aients who have allowed their children to ^vtfU^^ -^gglg»9tij? i . >i »(i W Mi W i*' w e — 10 — ili'liart ; fur tlio zciil of those who, hy their alms-deeilt; have ei»ntrihnli'dlowim(4 tlie earryiiii; nut of thit> catlmlic itlea. Nay, iiave tlicy not been cyiiii'al eiioiij,'h to (leplorr the\ietory wliieh pri-veuted the tuiiib ol tlie ajKisileis I'roiu falliiij^ into tlie handts of liie eneiuiis of the Church i Such are tlie M'eii wlio cull thiiiise-lves catholics, and who, in tlieir hy[iocri^y, gtill dare to say that in all this, they only seek to remove iVoni the sanctuary, the abuses which would tarni.-li its beauty, and to i>revent liberty from being destroyed by the itriesthood. It must bo tiicn concluded, tliat no eatholie can, without mortal sin, ho the proprietors of, or editor jirint futh joiirnalB, or write in them, or help to dilViise them. We add witluxit hesitation, that every true patriot ouiijht to abstain from 8Ueh thinj:^. For sett nj^ jiside tiic in)piety of these newspaper.'', wliat must wo tiiink of men who f^ivo all their adiriiration to foreiji;n political institutions, Htid manifest only dislike and eonten)pt for those of their country ! What would be the tinal reanit of these diinf?cron>i doctrines, if tlioy succeeded in jraininj; j^'round amouL'St tis 'i The exi)erienco of all ajjcs, and especially of the last hundred years, tenches na that, when once religion is destroyetl atnonp^t a ])ei>ple, neither rei)ofe nor stability can any longer be ho|>ed ♦nr. The bond:' of christian charity once suntlered, aitarchy accompanies very closely the contempt of anthority, an.) Thanks be to Gud, the f^ieatcst number of ne\vspa)iers in this province, by tiieir religious and social principles, tend to the ])reservaMon of order In civil society, of good morals in fiimilies, ami of religion in all hearts. Wo find in them whatever it concerns n« to know of public allaifs, and of tho events which take i)lace in the wurld. There can, tlierefoie, bo no valid reason for encouraging, by subscriptions, tho detestable journals of wiiich wo havo (■[wken. •«*»'' j, >0iii \ mM i im u m iii m tni d iiiiw »i iai » '» »*at i i i iw i'ii iiii i mh i i i,.. Ma iii iai wi'ii < "itBiMHp«Mfi«-» iai ii . M»<«»«i i;i «inii '? iw— ■ '*"* « -; III \flf tm I III II ,)., I. |,|iimwi^w»iiW|wm>wiWi - 11 V. POLITICS AND ELECTIONS. " True ami perfect liberty, mid eiiiiality amongst men, Bays Pins IX, have " liccn placed under tlic safeguard of chri.'stiau law, since the Almighty loJio has, " made both the little and the great, and han care of both (Wisduiii, VI. 8), will " j'x'Kii without aceeptiou of persnur*, and will exempt no one from this universal "juihjmcnt of justice, ufirhirh he his fured ihn (% (Acts, XVII 31.), in wbich Jesus- " Christ trill come in the i/l',ri/ of his Either, and irith his aiifjcls, to render to each oac " aaordivg to his norks." (S. Matt., XVI. '11.) (Eari/<-Ucal of Sth December 184.9.) Men who wi.^^h to deceive you, Dearly IJeloved Brethren, tell you that religion has nothing to do witii polities. Nothcing able, or not daring tod(niy the truth of this judgment that Jesus Christ will one day pronounce upon all men, they wish to limit its object to ])rivate life. They admit that in one's private conduct it is not lawful to think in an unreasonable manner, to speak like a madman, to act withouth truth, without lionor and without shame. They will acknowledge that the clergy are right when they appeal, in the name of God, against these disorders in private life ; but as soon as there is question of politics, these same men accuse us of tyranny and of intolerable des])otism, l)ecause wecoudemn the unbridled licence of thinking, of saying, of doing every thing. "What! will they refuse us the right of protesting against extravagant ideas, against licentious words, against theft, against jierjury, against unjust violence, against blasphemy, intemperance, and even murder itself, wheiie\'er these excesses are eonnnitted in the name of liberty, or of a political party, or of any ojiiuion i It is thus that they endeavor to flestroy in ]>olitics, every idea of justice, of truth, of right, of honor and of religion. " Now, says Pius IX, wherever religion is banished from civil society, " and the doctrine and authority of divine revelation rejected, the correct idea " of justice and of human law becomes obscured and lost, and material force " usurps the place of justice and of true law." {k'nri/<:h'cal of H'l Dtccnibcr 1S(14.) Thus they wish to banish (iod from civil society, and to emanci]>ate themselves fro n his holy law in pid)lic life. They forget that the s.imo God who will judge individuals is lie who will Judgi: the fiations (Ps,, VII. 9), and who will pro- nounce a terrible judgiiutiit upon those who govern them : " Oiue ear, says the Holy (ihosi, you that rid,- the p.ople. . .For power is glv,n yon by the Lord, and Htniu/th by the Must Iliijh, trho irill e.oimiiie t/uur rr-.rhs ,ind srarthout yonr llioiirized you to tranqilc under foot all divine and human laws. Ilememl)er that, one day, God will judge your elections ; he will ask an account of your intentions, of your ciioice, of your vote, of your words and of your acts, in the exercise of this important right. At tho samo time that tlu^ constitution gives you the rigiit of selecting J'our representatives, (iod imposes on you the obligation of using this liberty oidy for the public good, and of giving your votes inly to men capab'c of i)rocunng it, and sincerely disposed to do so. Hence arises another obligation for you: that of studying well those who solicit your votes. Von would certainly be guilty of very great innu-iidenec befire (iod and men, if you gave your sullViigc for tho first coiner who presents himself with fair words, without examining his capacity, or his princii)les. To defend yom- civil and religions rights, you cannot depend upon a man who is not religiiuis, and of proved honor and intcgrily. Wiiat c(mtidence coidd you have in iin unbeliever who huigiis lit coiiseienee, at religion and at (iod himself^ in a nuiii who oidy goes to churoli at election time ( who boasts of carrying the election by fraud, by violence, by calumny, by iK'rjury : who wishes to buy your votes with moneys Should y..u not dread that after having bought you, he will sell I'Wwimi — 13 — you ill Ilia turn, aiul with great pn-tit to himself, but to the great injury of your most precious iiitcrcbts ? « Oil ! Dear Brethren, ia it not a shame for our country that there should bo electoi-s so base as to sell their votes for iiiouey, to promise their suffrage to those who jtroinise them most money ? Some have gone still farther in this dishonorable career. They have sold their liberty and their indt'pcndcnco in order to satisfy their wretched passion for intoxicating liquors ! Because human justice ia powerless to punish those who arc guilty of such iniquity and infamy, can you imagine that the su |ieme Judge will require no account of them i Do you believe that, at the tribunal of infinite Justice, corrup- tion and calumny, and falsehood, violence, perjury, hatred, intemperance and other disorders will not be ])iinished because they are committed at election times '. No, no, Dearly Beloved I'rethren, thos3 who then do such things in order to ui)hold their cause, even if it were the best in the world, will infallibly bear the punishment of their crime. VI. OF OATnS. The name of Godis hnhj awl terrible (Ps., CX. 9), it ought to bo pronounced with the most profound respect ; for the Lord icill not hold him (juUtless that (.hull take the name oj the Lord his God in vain. (Exod., XX. 7.) It is also said in Scripture : Ami thou shall swear : Ai the Lord liveth, in truth and in judijment, t recall to yuur memory the sanctity of an oath i It is always a mortal sin to take an oath to atlinu any thinj? that wi; know- to lie tuUe. It is always a mortal sin to perjure one-self in order to affirm that one is an elector, or that ho possesses really, and in good faith, sufficient property, whilst his eoUBcience testifies to the enntrary. It is always a mortal sin to induce any one to commit perjury. Fear the <;reat Goil who holds your lives in his liands : fear ' • offend the sovereign Judgo wlio is the witness of all your thonj^lits, and' of all your words, and who has the poxrcr not only of comliinn'uKj i/nu U> death, hut also of castimj your souU into eternal flames. (S. Luke, XII. 5.) What will it then avail yon if having, by unlawful means, hy fraud, by violence, by perjury, gained an election, or even ^a/Hfr a simjiU' jiromise. Experience proves how dangerous they are both for Church and state. Morenver, common sense alone will tell us that truth and justice are not afraid of the light, and that any associatiou with a praiseworthy object in view would not conceal itself in imjieni'trablo mysteries. •' Close your ears ♦lien, siiys tlie Sovereign I'lintitf, Leo XII, of blessed " memory, close your ear^i to flu> words of tiiose who, in order to entice " yp. VIII. OF INTKMI'KKANCK. We must also forewarn you, Dearest Brethren, against an enemy, who under the most fcductivc outward forms, conspires agaii st your peace, your fortunes, vour health, your tamili, 8 and your eternal salvation. Oh ! what hideous rum loliows in tiu! wake of that infernal monster called drtmkamm ! IL.w many bitter tea.b has it not caused to be shed 1 Ot how n.any crimes has it not been ^gy^f^yj^-ffifcagia-ri ■"**.. .M««fc«WVS*afe6«*^af*»BSi« — It! — the fource ! ll'o to you t/iut rise up carJij in the viomhuj, cries out tlie projiliet Is:iia>, to J\>ll"W tfrunkruiioi^ and to drink till the coming. Wo lo tfiiu that are mi'i/li'i/ lo drink wiiii', iinil iloul m> n ul ilniukcniiin.i. (Isaiiis, V. 11. '2'i ) Wo ilu not by tliese WKi-tln, intend to j»rononnce nmlediclion against poor erriii;; cliildnii, I'lr \vlio(ie salviitii>ii we \soul(l willingly lay
  • \\ n our lives: it h always more grati'l'iil to us to jiardnn and liless, hut we eannot help bringing to mind '.he words by which the Holy Ghost announces, with intallible certainty, tho fate which awaits the drunkard. And what sluill we say of those retailers of sjiirituoiis li(juors wiio beconio the agents of Satan in this infanioiis and homicidal trallic ? "'' '" '/'"' ""«« I'i/ u-'hom iht gcaiufal ojnxelh ! [^S. Matt., XVllI. 7.) Wo to the drunkani ; but wo, a thousand times, to the retailer of spiri- tuous liquors win* is the iirtt cause of all tluve crimes ! How could it be otherwise since there is (lucstion lierc of a vice which degrades man ; and stilles within him every sentiment of honour shamo ami affection ; wliich ruins families and draws down on them the most dreadful chastisements, by reason of the ciiiiies and blasphemies of which it is the source! Does not t)iifl vice kill at once the soul and body ol the unfortunate man who becomes a i)rey to it ? Wetlierefore appeal to all those who liavc tlie interests of our religion, and of ourcoimtry at heart, to unite wit! us in arresting, or at least in diminishing as much as pos-iblc, the ravages of intemperance. Yea, we conjure you, by the love of onr Lord Jesus Chritt, wlio died to redeem our souls, to pray for those nnhappy men whom this fatal vice lias loaded with its chains ; pray that (tod may enlighten the hearts of those retailers of s)'irituou8 licjuors ; pray that they may understand the enormity of the scandal which they give : jiray that Ciud may direct our legislators to em[>loy such means as arc best calculated to eradi- cate an evil so preju(liciul to the welfare ot our country ; pray, in line, that the municipal and ]iariicliial authorities may fiillill their duties on this head, w itii courage and fidelity, since they must one day answer before the sovereign .Judge fur all the criui's they could have hinderef the CroKH establishtd in yuur ])arishes and mispions. llnw gi'eat will beynur liappines.s, your nn'rit and your jny in heaven, it viiu thus euiiiribute to tiie bulvation nf ^ouis I Finally, yon must hot only sigh in heciet, you niu.-;iiiiiiii "t iiiKiii'V, "T ill any otlu r i\'iatiini> wilii ymir m■i^lll)ulll•, imi>t iiut Ik- tnrj^iittfii. I'lulcr tlu' iiiofaiV ^li^|'^•ll^atill||, tlic .Ii'ws \\\ri' I'urliiililcii tu I'Xart tin umalli'st iiitiTi^t for t-uiii> ot' uu'iii'V lent to tlicir I'liluw ruiiiitrv iiii'ii. (Dciit., XXIII. lit.) (-I'xl \vi-!iiil tliii:? to (lr;i\v nioiv tloM'ly bitwtrii tlio tliililrcn ot Abrahaiii, tiii.' links ol' ciiaiity wiiiili .-lioiiltl Kiiul liritliivn together. Now, Diartst Urcllnvn, .-iiicc God the Father so loacd the world, m to y vc hia onhf Imjultoi iSon ^JoIim, HI. ki) ; Am-m Clui.st s,*' loved ns as to deliver h > Disci f up for tits ((lahitiaiis, II. lin); ciiKo tlic lluly Gliot^t /laj poured forth i/it^) our hearts a ro;/ chilihvn ot Gud and nuMulRTis of tho &aniu hmiily. Thi.s irt tho bocond law which we to day invoke, in favor of tho.■^o whose poverty obliges theni to boriH)W. Justice, iiuleod, allowri you to reijuiro a certain interest ; ImU do not turn a deaf oar, ilo not close your heurtb and jmrhos on Uie bWoot voice of charity. Strotoh forth a pitying hand to your uoody l)rothcr, and as charity ronietinies obligen you to givo aliu.s, so it may t-onietinics iuijxiso on you tho obligation of lending money at a lower rate, or without interest ; provided always you do not oxjwso youroolvofi to tho los.s of yoin- cajiital, or to make those o\traordinary bacrilicori which charity may, indeed, counsel, but which it doori not proscribe. On tho other hand, Dean-st brethren, religion and justice rotiniro that you do not contract debts UK'lesHly iirla'yond yoin* means. Thorcfore, avoid luxury which him caused tho ruin of ho many families. Do not endeavour to apj>ear richer than you really an. Uo t-toailfast in refusing to your children, pleasures and dross tif whicli your means do not allow. Should your liu-iiie.-s becoiiio embarrassed, it i.-* a.sfturedly better to come to a favorable agreement with your creditorts, uiul save at loiist tho relics of your fortune l»y compo^-ition, than to |)laco yourselves at tijo mercy of insatiable money-lenders who will ruin you inevitably : who will oblige you to ^cll out al the lowot liguri'; who will leave you on tin' ruacUidc without a farthing in your pobtoshion, ami often weighed down under the burden of an cuonnoue debt. — 19 — X. DIVEKS APMONITIONS. Ho ni>t siiriiri>;L'(1, Doarc-t Crotlircii, if \v(> tlius venture to counsel j-on with re!,'iU(l to your teiiiponil att'airs. Utligion iiiid charity are wolconu; every wlierc, and our pastoral fanctiona, which endear you to us, proinjit us to share in your troul lies and anxieties, as well as in your joy and prosjierit^'. We are pastors, not for ourselves, hut for yon. Jesus-Christ has conlided you to our care, and in you wc behold the mystic incnd)ers of the divine Saviour to whose service we have consecrated our lives. Say, Dearest I.rethren, have you ever had reason to repent for havinj^ fol- lowed the advice of your pastfirs? Is it not proven, on the contrary, that if some had liearkeiied to the voice of our counsel, they would have now less reason for regret i There have been, and tliert^ will always bo false friends of the people to accuse us of a dt'sire todoniineer andtyrtinnize overthe conscience of the peojilo; but we are very little moved by those calumnies ; they shall not deter us in the least, frtini fultilling towards you nur duty as fjiithi'ul friends, as fathers actuated by love, as ministers of Jesus-Christ, and resi)onsible for the souls rc- Iisiiment of the obligation we arc under, of sustaining " all sorts of coiubats for the love of Ood, and the salvation of souls. Let us have " constantly before our eyes, the e.xamploof lliin who, during his whole life, was " ex])osed to the contradictions of sinners; for if we giv(> way before the " audacity of the wicked, the strength of the Episcopacy, and the divine authority " of the Church will be iii danger. We can nohuiger call ourselves Christians, if " we trend)le in ])i-esence of the threats and snares of our enemies." {Encyclical Idler of Ckmcnt XI 1 1, l-illt Sri,f — (listriliiifi's clotliiiiir ami futxl, to roncilintc yuiir frieiul^Iiip; it Bench finth ainoiii.' you, fftl>itiet tin' sicds of pcrvtrsi" doctriiKs. < Hi I hcwan of thoso gift* of fiiiso fricinlsliip ; atoiulfastly rcfiiMc to rfceivo tluHc hooks, or cast tliiiii into tlio tlanits : if you KiiictTeiy (K-sire your own Miivation, ami that of your ( iiiidnn, do not allow those incssnijjorK of trror to fUtiT your houMs. For, as St. I'liul says, ulutt cnnrord hiilh Chritt with UcImI t Or irhal part hn/h the /iiilhf'iil in'th till' unlnlirirr f (II Cor., VI 15.) Tlif more precious our trt-asure is, tlie grcntiT bIiouIiI be our euro to avoid aiiytiiiiitr that may de>troy it. Learn henee witii what ie;don.tt:iiiowerfiil siistoniinec of all virtue; it " siu'ds the bounteous rays of its light on all nations, making them bow under " the yoke of Jesus-Christ, anuoiincing to them jjeace and hai>pinefb." (l-'iuy- clical htlcr, 9th Aoicmber 184G.) IJiit you mu.st bear in mind. Dearest Brethren, " that faitli nil accompanied " l>y hope and charity cannot unite us to Christ. Tlierefore it is true, in tiiemost " absolute sense, to eay tiiat faith witiiout good works is dead and useless." {CuHUcil of Trent, ut». V J I. chap. 7.) If thou vilt tntcr into h'/t, t;ays Christ, kerp the comiiiamliiuni.^. (Matthew, XIX. 17.) God who created man wlioliy, body and soul, de^-ires to be honoured by man wholly. Hence, he requires that man pay him, by faith, tiie homago of liis intelligence, and by his c.xterior works, manifest his submission to tlie supreme dominion of the Creator. " AVithout good works " faith cannot please God, nor will God accept g'od works without faitli. It is " not iu the sole practice of virtue, or in the exclusive obsi^rvatioii of the j>rcccpts " but in their union with taitli that we must seek out the path that leatls to life "eternal." {Letter >•/ I'im IX in iln' Jluho/m of Aimlrin, IT/A .Vnnh IhiJK.) To etfcctiiafe a union so de.-ir.dile, so iieeepsary, betwi en taitli and good works, yon should not neglect any I cciision of instructing yourselves in the christian doctrine, whether by attending regularly at the in>triietions givi^n to you, by your pH.itors on Sundays and Holidays, in aecordunci! with the ordinance of our mother tiie Chiiivh.ur by reading good books, cho.sen and ujipioved by your spi- ritual guides. Ajiproaeli l'ie'|Uently the holy sacrenicnt of I'cnaiice, in order to purify your 'j»>MM><« .■-- . i jaWiT i houIh from tlic least stain of t-in, and to receive tlio connacls specially adapted to itrt wants. Bo canfiil to rtvxive I'rui.i time to tinio the holy Eucharist, which is '• tiic spiritual noiirishiiiunt cf our souls, tlie antidote ai?ainst our daily faults, " tlu- i)re8ervativc a^r:ri8t mortal bin, the pledge of our future glory and eternal " happiness." iCouncili.j Trent, Sett. A/JI.r/iap. 'I). Trolit of the extraordinary ;,'ra(frt which art- given by heaven during the holy times of Advent, Lent, Jul. ikes and imroehial retreiitH. During those days, heaven is oin-ned, and the richest hlessings are showered down on yon with prodigality, to strengiiten the good in their \mty, unkeu by the Great Apostle: Fi;/ht the ijood Jh/ht of /tilth : hy hold on life eternal, whereuiito ihou art called... I chargf. thve hrfore (Sod, who ijiiickinelh all 'hini/s, and be/ore Jesus- C'hrifi who gave Irsliminiy uiiiirr PonliuK I'ilntf,... ihtit tlintt keep the commandment without spot, blameless unto the. ri.minij of our Lonl Jesus-VhrisI, which in his time he shall show ; who is Blessed and only Mighly ; the King of kings ; and Lord of lords ; Who only hath immortality and iuhiihitilh light iiiaictssiblr ; whom no man ha ih seen nor can sec ; to whom be honour and impirc cterlasting, Anun... Charge the rich of this world not to be highminded, nor to *'i>^i(fe«.3X's*aaaii^fi^ MM — 22 — trmt in the uncfrlainlj/ n/richfs, but in the living Oon t the time to come, that thejf mai/ hi/ hdd on the true li/c...ilrnce betcilh t/iee. Amen. (I. Tim., VI. 12). Tliis Pastoral Letter siiall bo read and publislied, either all at once, or hy parts, as it may be deemed advisable, at the prone, in alt the ])arislu'8 and missions ot'tiiis ecelesiastieal pruviuee, and in eiiiiplcr, in tlie Ueligioiia Coninm- nitiee, as soon as received. Given at tlic Archbishop's Palace, (Jnebec, under our sijjjiiaturps, and tiie seal of the Aruhdiotese, and the countersign of tlie Arciibi(*li(>pV Secretary, on the fourteenth day of May one thousand eight hundred and bi.\tyeight. t C. F., ARcunisnoi- of Quebec. t IG., P.lfllK)!' OK MoNTKKAU t JOS. EUGENK, IJisiiup OK Oitawa. t V'lTAL .1., J'isnoi" OK iSATAI.A, c(i(it/Jiilor ttid pro- curiior (i/ the liithop of S. Boni/nciiis. f L. F., Ih.siiol' OF Antmkuon, couiljulor and procu- Tutor of the llifhop of Three RiverB. f JUIIX, IJisnop OK IIamii.iun. t E. J. UlSnOP OK KiNOSTON. t JOHN J(JSEPU, Bisnor ok Toronw. t C, lilSllOI' OK S. livAUNIHi;. t John, JJlSllOI' ok S. G. UK KlMOUSKI. t JUllN, Bisiiui' OK Sandwkii. \\y order of their Lordships, AuolstkIIoxokk (it sski.in, IVt.. ArchliiJii'p's t^ccrrlary. ^^jS^^^Stfit^^^^T^i^jWIB'i^W"*^*^'"'''*^