THE APOSTOLIC ,UNION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1645, 11 January 1913, Page 9

THE APOSTOLIC ,UNION.

'.AN AUDIENCE WITH THE.POPE. Not perhaps for 'many years has so representative a tody been received by the Holy Father as the delegation, of the Apostolic Union admitted to audience by his 'Holiness Pius X on November 18 (says the "Catholic Times"). The two hundred and fifty priests represented the twelve thousand that constitute the Apostolic, Union of clergymen in Spain, France, Germany, and Italy. As simple priest, Bishop and Cardinal, and now as Pope, tho Holy Father has'been and is a member of the grand association, tho objects of which are tho spiritual advancement of those belonging to it, and the.fostering amongst priests of devotion to tho Sovereign Pontiff. It was, then, specially fitting that the chief event of the celebration of its fiftieth year of. existence should be an nndieneo of its chief officers with' tho Head of the Church. A long and nfl'ectionato address from the Union having been read, his Holiness replied, as follows: "I congratulate you on being members of this Union which is intended to promote tho faithful fulfilment of all priestly obligations—obligations which I took care to sum up in my 'Exhortation to the Clergy' published on tho occasion of my Sacerdotal Jubilee—by carrying out which we shall be able to attain lo tho degree of 'holiness necessary for tho priesthood to which we have been called. You havo vory well said what is characteristic .of . tho Apostolio Union—that your aim must

bo and is to cherish lovo for the, Pope, Bince this is another means of sanctifying ourselves. To lovo the Pope it is enough to reflect who the Pope is. Tho Popo is tho guardian of dogma and of morality. He is the depositary of tho principles that make tho family honest, nations great, and souls holy. Ho is tho councilor of princes and Ho is tho chief under whom no one feels himself treated tyranieally, because ho roprcsouts God Himself. Uo is the father 'par excellence' who unites in himself all that there can be of things loving, sacred, and divine. . It seems incredible, and it is a sorrowful thing,, that there are priests to whom it is necessary to.recommend, this. But, unfortunately for our days, wo aro in this difficult, unhappy condition of having to say to some priests: Lovo tho Popei When one loves tho Pope, 'discussions aro not commenced about that which, ho disposes or exacts, or how far oliedience should go, and in what things obedience must be yielded. When'one loves the Pope, ho does not 6ay he has not spoken clearly enough, as if ho were obliged to repeat his will in tho ear of each ano. Nor are his orders, called in doubt by adducing tho easy pretext of him who does not wish to obey that it is not the Popo who has commanded, but those who 6urronnd him. No limit is set to tho field in which he can and must exercise his authority, and ; the authority of tho Popo is not placed after that of other persons, no matter how learned, who may dissent from tho Pope, and who, \if they aro learned, aro not holy, because he who is holy cannot dissent from the Pope. ■■ This comes from a heart saddened by tho conduct of many priests who, permit themselves to discuss and to censure the orders and the, words of the Pope. • But: yon, dear brothers, mako solemn profession of your' obedience, of your affection, of your ydovotion to tho Pope. May God keep you in these' holy resolutions, and comfort you by His blessing, that blessing'which I invoke upon you, your confreres, your families, nil persons dear to you, and whom you' have in mind, that to all it may bo the bearer of every consolation." Prior to the reading of tho address to the Pope, the president presented him with a medal struck in commemoration of-the semicentenary of tho Apostolic Union, and also with a money offering which, as ho explained to his'' Holiness, was 6mall by' reason of tho poverty of 60 many of tho members of tho Union. Mgr. Lebeurier was glad to he able to inform the Pontiff that the twelve thousand members of the Union had promised to celebrate one Mass each for the intention of his Holiness. ~